Senate Select Committee on Nutrition Produces Report on US Dietary Goals

Lead by Senator George McGovern, the Senate Select Committee on Nutrition produces a report on “The Dietary Goals for the United States.” This publication recommends a low-fat, high-fiber diet to lower the risk of diseases such as diabetes and cancer. The report stimulates interest and increased research in the area of nutrition.

Public Health Service Publication Provides Diet Guidelines

The Surgeon General publishes “Healthy People: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention,” which provides nutrition advice. This is the first public health service publication to provide diet guidelines.

NCI Provides Grants for Cancer Prevention Research under Small Business Innovation Law

Congress authorizes the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program under the Small Business Innovation Development Act (P.L. 97-219) to stimulate private sector contributions to federal research and development needs. NCI uses this program to provide grants for cancer prevention research.

New Prevention Research Program Begins

NCI begins a new program to address prevention research in diet, chemoprevention, early detection, and identification of high-risk occupations.

December: NCI Adds New Division Devoted to Prevention and Control

The NCI creates the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control (DCPC).

May: NCI Discusses Dietary Health Claims with Company           

NCI meets with the Kellogg Company to discuss health claims in a publicity campaign for All-Bran cereal that promotes the cancer prevention benefits of high-fiber, low-fat foods.

Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta Carotene (ATBC) Cancer Prevention Study Starts                           

The purpose of the ATBC study was to determine whether certain vitamin supplements would prevent lung cancer and other cancers in a group of 29,133 male smokers in Finland. The 50- to 69-year-old participants took a pill daily for five to eight years that contained either alpha-tocopherol (a form of vitamin E), beta-carotene (a precursor of vitamin A), both, or a placebo (inactive pill that looked like the vitamin).

NCI Develops Working Guidelines for Cervical and Breast Cancer Screenings

Along with other organizations, the NCI develops Working Guidelines for cervical and breast cancer screenings, including regular mammograms by age 40 and annual mammograms after age 50.

Law Mandates Medicare Coverage of Mammography Screenings

President Reagan signs P.L. 100-360, The Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988. It mandates that as of January 1, 1990, mammography provisions include biennial screening for women aged 65 and older and annual screenings for women aged 50 to 64. Women who are between the ages of 40 and 49 should have screenings available every other year, and by the time a woman is 40 she should have at least one mammogram.

Chemoprevention, Intervention Trials Underway

The Division of Cancer Prevention and Control (DCPC) is responsible for 27 intervention clinical trials, including synthetic retinoids and natural chemoprevention substances such as vitamins A, C, E, B12, folate, and beta-carotene.

October: NCI Convenes International Workshop on Breast Cancer Screening

An NCI-convened international workshop on breast cancer screening reviews published and unpublished data from eight randomized controlled clinical trials, including the HIP trial that was launched in 1963, and concludes that screening with mammography reduces breast cancer mortality among women ages 50-69.

December: NCI Drops Mammography Guidelines

The NCI drops its previous mammography guidelines by no longer advising that women under 50 should have annual mammograms. 

CCOP Network Helps with Colorectal Adenoma Prevention Study (CAPS)

The CCOP network assists the Cancer and Leukemia Group B in the CAPS. This study evaluates the effectiveness of aspirin in reducing early-stage colorectal tumors.

Trial Finds Beta-Carotene Increases Lung Cancer in Finnish Males

The Alpha-Tocopherol (vitamin E)/ Beta-Carotene Prevention Study (ATBC) findings indicate that beta-carotene in fact increases lung cancer incidence in Finnish males. 

NCI Establishes Separate Divisions for Prevention and Control/Population Sciences

The NCI reorganizes and divides the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control (DCPC) into the Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP) and the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS). The DCP focuses more exclusively on cancer prevention, while the DCCPS explores population genetics, epidemiology, behavior, society, and welfare of cancer survivors.

Early Detection Research Network (EDRN) is Founded

The EDRN is established to coordinate development, evaluation, and application of biomarkers of cancer and cancer risk in a network of institutions. EDRN includes biomarker developmental labs, clinical and epidemiologic centers, biomarker validation labs, and a data management and coordinating center.

Adenoma Prevention with Celecoxib (APC) Trial Starts Enrollment

Enrollment for the APC clinical trial begins, assigning more than 2,000 participants 200 mg of celecoxib (Celebrex®) twice a day. The drug is expected to block cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, which are turned on by precancerous and cancerous tissues. The trial is part of a larger search for effective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs acting as cancer-preventing mechanisms.

National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) Begins

The NLST trial is launched. It is aimed at comparing the effectiveness of two early lung cancer detection tests, single-view chest x-ray and spiral-computed tomography.

Initial Results Released from the ASCUS/LSIL Triage Study (ALTS) on HPV Testing

Initial results from the ALTS indicate that HPV testing can determine whether atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) will progress into cervical cancer. HPV testing is found not useful for women with low-grade lesions due to the high incidence of HPV in women with these specific abnormalities.

August: “Decades of Progress 1983 to 2003” Published

The first 20 years of the NCI Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP), the precursor to the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP), are documented. (View the Report (PDF, 2 MB))

November: Results of the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial (BCPT) Updated

Updated BCPT results show a continued reduction of invasive breast cancer incidence as well as a decrease in some negative side effects. These side effects, first noted following the 1998 study, include increased risk of stroke, pulmonary embolism, and deep vein thrombosis.

April: Initial Results of the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR) Released

Initial results of the STAR clinical trial show that postmenopausal women who are at increased risk of breast cancer can reduce their risk of developing the disease if they take the drug raloxifene, an antiestrogen agent already approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis. Mature results from STAR later show that raloxifene is somewhat less effective than tamoxifen in preventing breast cancer but that it also has less toxicity, including a substantially lower risk of endometrial cancer.

July: Adopting Diet High in Vegetables, Fruit, Fiber, Low in Fat Did Not Reduce Breast Cancer Events or Mortality for Early Stage Breast Cancer Survivors

The published results of the Women's Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) randomized trial show that among survivors of early stage breast cancer, adoption of a diet that was very high in vegetables, fruit, and fiber and low in fat did not reduce additional breast cancer events or mortality during a 7.3-year follow-up period.

November: Initial Results of the Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NLST) Released

Initial results of the NLST clinical trial show that screening with low-dose helical computerized tomography (CT) reduced lung cancer deaths by about 20% among current and former heavy smokers. (Read the NCI Q&A)

June: Ovarian Results from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial Released

PLCO results show that screening for ovarian cancer with transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) and the CA-125 blood test did not result in fewer deaths from the disease compared with usual care. In addition, false-positive results from the two screening methods often led to unnecessary surgeries and other serious complications.

January: Prostate Data Updated from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial

PLCO trial data show that after 13 years of follow-up, men who underwent annual prostate cancer screening with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and digital rectal examination had a 12% higher incidence of prostate cancer than men in the control group, but had the same rate of death from the disease. No evidence of a mortality benefit from screening was seen in subgroups defined by age, the presence of other illnesses, or pre-trial PSA testing. (Read the NCI Q&A)

June: NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Approved for Start              

NCORP is approved by the NCI Board of Scientific Advisors, opening the way for the program to bring state-of-the art cancer prevention, control, treatment and imaging clinical trials, cancer care delivery research, and disparities studies to individuals in their own communities. It replaces, but expands on the success of the Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP), including the Minority-Based CCOPs; supersedes, but adds elements of the NCI Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP); and creates a network for cancer care delivery research.

December: National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) Researchers Issue Finding on Overdiagnosis

A detailed analysis of the primary NLST findings showed that screening can detect slow-growing tumors that otherwise may not cause clinical symptoms, and can lead to overdiagnosis. The probability was 18.5% that any lung cancer detected by screening with low-dose CT was an overdiagnosis, and 22.5% that a non-small cell lung cancer, the most common form, detected by low-dose CT was an overdiagnosis.  Overdiagnosis represents the potential harm of additional cost, anxiety, and morbidity associated with treatment. (Read the NCI Q&A)

May: Prevention of Early Menopause Study (POEMS) Clinical Trial Results Announced

The POEMS clinical trial results show young women with breast cancer were able to better preserve their fertility during cancer treatments by using hormone-blocking drug injections that put them into temporary menopause. (Read the NCI Press Release)

August: NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Gets Underway

The NCORP awards 53 new 5-year grants to researchers across the country to conduct multi-site cancer clinical trials and cancer care delivery research studies in their communities. (Read the NCI News Note) 

July: Olanzapine Helps Prevent Nausea and Vomiting Caused by Chemotherapy

Findings from a large phase III clinical trial show a drug currently used to treat several psychiatric conditions can help prevent nausea and vomiting in patients receiving chemotherapy. (Read the NCI Blog)

July:  DCP Leads a Key Initiative in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Glycoscience Common Fund Program

The program supports the development of accessible and affordable new tools and technologies for studying the role complex carbohydrates in health and disease. (Read the DCP News Note.)

October: NCI Awards Grants to Create the Consortium for Molecular Characterization of Screen-Detected Lesions

Supported by the Division of Cancer Prevention and the Division of Cancer Biology, the consortium has seven molecular characterization laboratories and a coordinating center, and focuses on the critical areas of characterizing molecular and cellular features of screen-detected pre-cancers and early cancers, and the tumor microenvironment. (Read the DCP News Note.)

May: Largest Ever US Study to Research Causes and Genetics of Blood Diseases Launched

NCI and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute fund the study of myelodysplastic syndromes ( MDS) and unexplained, persistent low red blood cell count (anemia) to build a national research resource. Patients are being recruited through NCI’s Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) and National Clinical Trials Network.

June: Data from the Interactive Diet and Activity Tracking in AARP Study (IDATA) Are Made Available to Qualified Investigators  

Investigators looking into the relationship between physical activity, diet, and disease can request access to IDATA Study data via the Cancer Data Access System. (Read the DCP News Note) 

December: Think Tank Emphasizes Identifying and Creating the Next Generation of Community-Based Cancer Prevention Studies

Cancer prevention research experts and stakeholders discuss the state of cancer prevention research, identify key prevention research priorities for NCI, and identify studies that could be conducted within the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP). (Read the DCP News Note)

July: NCI Joins Leading Groups on Disparities Statement

NCI joins the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Association for Cancer Research and the American Cancer Society in releasing a statement in the Journal of Clinical Oncology to guide cancer health disparities research.

October: Pre-Cancer Atlas and Other Human Tumor Atlas Network Funding Opportunity Announcements Released

Three funding opportunity announcements about the Pre-Cancer Atlas, associated with the Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot^SM Initiative, are released with a goal to accelerate cancer research.

May: Finasteride is Found to be Safe in Long-Term Study Results

Twenty-five years after it opened for enrollment, the landmark Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT) showed that finasteride, a common hormone-blocking drug, reduces men's risk of getting prostate cancer without increasing their risk of dying from the disease.

September: Daily Low-dose of Aspirin Found to Have No Effect on Healthy Life Span in Older People

Initial findings from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial showed that daily low-dose aspirin did not prolong healthy, independent living (life free of dementia or persistent physical disability) in healthy older adults without previous cardiovascular events.  (Read the NIH News Release)

November: Vitamin D Supplements Don’t Reduce Cancer Incidence

In the largest-ever randomized clinical trial testing vitamin D for cancer prevention, the supplement did not reduce the risk of developing cancer. The main goal of the Vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial (VITAL) was to see if there’s benefit to getting above the recommended dietary allowance, more than what is considered necessary for bone health. (Read the NCI Blog)

January: Final Verdict on Finasteride Published

Long-term data published on finasteride, a generic hormone-blocking drug that reduced the risk of prostate cancer by 25% in the landmark Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT), showed that reduction in prostate cancer risk has continued since results were previously published and that finasteride has the lasting effect of reducing prostate cancer risk. Fewer than 100 men on the trial had died from the disease. (Read the NCI Blog)

April: Researchers take First Steps Toward Developing a Vaccine to Prevent Cancer in People with Lynch Syndrome

DCP’s PREVENT Cancer Preclinical Drug Development Program, which focuses on unmet needs in cancer prevention, recognized the potential of a vaccine to prevent cancer in individuals with Lynch syndrome, an inherited condition that elevates a person’s risk of colorectal, endometrial, and other types of cancer. Scientists reported results showing that the vaccine prevented the growth of colorectal tumors in a mouse model of Lynch syndrome and prolonged the mice’s survival compared with unvaccinated mice. (Read the NCI Blog)