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) groups studying the molecular mechanisms behind the disease, the NIEHS funds cancer research at other institutions.
What NIEHS is Doing on Cancer
- NTP panel reviews outcomes of women treated for cancer while pregnant (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/11/science-ntp/index.htm)
- Getz uncovers exciting new trends in cancer genomes (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/11/science-getz/index.htm)
- Ginkgo (440KB)
- Report on Carcinogens - 12th Edition, The (243KB)
- Questions and Answers About the 12th Edition Report on Carcinogens
- Aristolochic Acids (229KB)
- Formaldehyde (373KB)
- Certain Glass Wool Fibers (Inhalable) (575KB)
- Styrene (248KB)
- New Substances Added to HHS Report on Carcinogens
- 12th Report on Carcinogens (RoC)
- Profile: Report on Carcinogens: Captafol
- Profile: Report on Carcinogens: Cobalt-Tungsten Carbide: Powders & Hard Metals
- Profile: Report on Carcinogens: o-Nitrotolulene
- Profile: Report on Carcinogens: Riddelliine
- Acrylamide (652KB)
- Addressing New Challenges in Children’s Environmental Health (314KB)
- Birth-bark Extract, Betulinic Acid, Inhibits Prostate Cancer Growth
- Bisphenol A Effects on Estrogen Receptor Beta Expression: Implications in Prostate Cancer
- Bisphenol A Reduces the Effectiveness of Chemotherapeutics
- Blood Type and Pancreatic Cancer Linked
- C. elegans Protect Chromosomes in Unique Way
- Child Development and Environmental Toxins (633KB)
- Chronic Glucocorticoid Use Raises Risk of Bladder Cancer
- Cytosine-DNA Methyltransferase Mediates Carcinogen-induced Gene Promoter Methylation
- Death from Cancer Remains High Decades after Exposure to Arsenic is Reduced
- Diesel Exhaust Linked to Cancer Development Through Blood Vessel Growth
- Discovery in Aflatoxin Formation
- DNA Replication Fidelity: DNA Damage & Repair
- Environmental Stress & Cancer Group: Regulatory Networks Involved in Environmental Stresses
- Epigenetics vs. Gene Mutations in Colorectal Cancer
- Gene Packaging is Important in Cancer
- Gene May Be Linked to Lung Cancer
- Genetic Alterations in Cancer (GAC)
- Glutathione S-Transferase Polymorphism Increases Risk of Second Primary Malignancy
- Glutathione Gene Polymorphism Protects Against Pancreatic Cancer in Elderly People
- Green Tea and Skin Cancer
- High-throughput Screening Finds Surprising Properties for Antioxidants (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/4/science-highthroughput/index.htm)
- Human Health Perspectives on Climate Change (4MB)
- Inflammatory Protein May be Why Liver Cancer is More Prevalent in Men than Women
- In Small Doses: Arsenic - a 10 min. video about the risks of arsenic exposure in private well water
- Key to Hormone-Resistant Prostate Tumors Discovered
- Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis
- Molecular Endocrinology: Glucocorticoid Receptors and the Immune System
- Nanotechnology Delivers - First Report of Targeted Killing of Tumor Cells
- National Toxicology Program: Report on Carcinogens (RoC)
- Natural Food Products Can Treat Cancer
- Obesity is a Tumor Promoter
- Of Mice and Women: Modeling Breast Cancer and the Environment - Scientific Glossary (PDF)
- p53 Inhibits Cell Growth As Well as Cell Proliferation
- Programs and Initiatives: Climate Change and Human Health
- Prostate Cancer Linked to High Levels of a Mismatched Repair Protein
- Prostate Gene Polymorphism Linked to Bladder Cancer
- Selenium May Prevent High-Rick Bladder Cancer
- Single Nucleotide Polymorphism is Associated with Neuroblastoma
- Study Suggests Nutritional Supplements Could One Day Prevent Skin Cancer (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/september/science-supplements/index.cfm)
- Telomeres are Shorter in Liver Cancer Tissue than Non-tumor Tissue
- Understanding the Links between Environmental Exposures and Cancer
- University of Pennsylvania: Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center: Center for Research on Environmental Disease
- University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston: Cellular Response Mechanisms to Environmental Challenge
General Information
- Cancer
- Cancer.gov - The National Cancer Institute's portal to information on the types of cancer, treatment options, methods for coping with cancer, support groups, screening and testing and prevention measures.
- Cancer and the Environment (685KB)
- Cancer News on the Net - Dedicated to bringing patients and their families the latest news and information on cancer diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
- Gene Toxicity and Cancer
- Household Products Database: Health Effects
- Oceans of Discovery: Cancer Treatment and Marine Algae (1MB)
- Oncology Research Links
- OncoLink - Good starting resource for information on the types of cancer, treatment options, coping with cancer, clinical trials, and bibliography of books, music and videotapes on cancer.
- Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms: Apoptosis
- Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms: Cancer
- Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms: Complex Disease
- Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms: Carcinogen
- Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms: Tumor Suppressor Gene
- Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms: Mutation
- Talking to Your Doctor - Resources from NIH
- The Interagency Working Group on Climate Change and Health (1MB)
