Cancer

Description

Cancer arises when cells are unable to repair DNA damage and experience abnormal cell growth and division. The process known as metastasis occurs when cancer cells travel to other parts of the body via the bloodstream and replace normal tissue. According to the American Cancer Society, this chronic disease is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. with half of all men and one-third of all women developing some form of cancer during their lifetimes.

Although cancer is responsible for 23% of all deaths in the U.S., millions of Americans have recovered from the disease. People may reduce their chances of getting cancer by employing prevention methods such as having regular screenings and living a healthy lifestyle.

The NIEHS is committed to understanding the connection between genetics and environmental exposures with regard to cancer. In addition to several Division of Intramural Research (DIR) (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/atniehs/index.cfm) groups studying the molecular mechanisms behind the disease, the NIEHS funds cancer research at other institutions.

What NIEHS is Doing on Cancer

• C. elegans Protect Chromosomes in Unique Way (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2008/celegans.cfm)
• Telomeres are Shorter in Liver Cancer Tissue than Non-tumor Tissue (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2007/telomeres.cfm)
• Bisphenol A Effects on Estrogen Receptor β Expression: Implications in Prostate Cancer (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2007/implications.cfm)
• Epigenetics vs. Gene Mutations in Colorectal Cancer (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2007/epigenetics.cfm)
• Inflammatory Protein May be Why Liver Cancer is More Prevalent in Men than Women (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2007/inflammatory.cfm)
• Death from Cancer Remains High Decades after Exposure to Arsenic is Reduced (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2007/death.cfm)
• Green Tea and Skin Cancer (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2007/greentea.cfm)
• Birth-bark Extract, Betulinic Acid, Inhibits Prostate Cancer Growth (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2007/birch.cfm)
• Glutathione Gene Polymorphism Protects Against Pancreatic Cancer in Elderly People (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2007/pancreas.cfm)
• Prostate Cancer Linked to High Levels of a Mismatched Repair Protein (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2007/prostate.cfm)
• Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/atniehs/labs/lmc/index.cfm)
• Cancer Biology: Skin Tumor Development (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/atniehs/labs/lmt/cb/index.cfm)
• Environmental Stress & Cancer Group: Regulatory Networks Involved in Environmental Stresses (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/atniehs/labs/lmt/esc/index.cfm)
• Molecular Endocrinology: Glucocorticoid Receptors and the Immune System (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/atniehs/labs/lst/molecular/index.cfm)
• Transgenic Carcinogenesis: Causes of Cancer (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/atniehs/labs/lmt/tc/index.cfm)
• DNA Replication Fidelity: DNA Damage & Repair (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/atniehs/labs/lmg/dnarf/index.cfm)
• Genetic Alterations in Cancer (GAC) (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/resources/databases/gac/index.cfm)
• National Toxicology Program: Report on Carcinogens (RoC) (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/index.cfm?objectid=72016262-BDB7-CEBA-FA60E922B18C2540)
• University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center: Center for Research on Environmental Disease (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/centers/core/grantees/anderson/index.cfm)
• University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston: Cellular Response Mechanisms to Environmental Challenge (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/centers/core/grantees/galveston/index.cfm)
• University of Pennsylvania: Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/centers/core/grantees/penn/index.cfm)
• Wayne State University: EHS Center in Molecular and Cellular Toxicology with Human Applications (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/centers/core/grantees/wayne/index.cfm)

General Information

• Cancer and the Environment (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/docs/cancer-enviro.pdf)   (598KB)
• Oceans of Discovery: Cancer Treatment and Marine Algae (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/docs/ocean-fs.pdf)   (460KB)
• Oncology (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/resources/library/research/med_sciences/oncology.cfm)
• Cancer (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/resources/library/consumer/conditions.cfm#can)

Related Topics

• Breast Cancer (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/conditions/breast-cancer/index.cfm)
• Consumer Health Links: General Health (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/resources/library/consumer/gen_health.cfm)
• Consumer Health Links: Diseases and Conditions(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/resources/library/consumer/conditions.cfm)
• Gene-Environment Interaction (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/science/gene-env/index.cfm)

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