Aims:
Cancer is a leading global cause of death. Nearly half of all cancers can be prevented through the avoidance of risk factors and the implementation of prevention strategies. Furthermore, early diagnosis and timely treatment increase the chances of curing many types of cancer. This research aims to identify the factors responsible for genetic changes that lead to cancer and to create early detection methods for various cancer types.
Scientific rationale:
Cancer evolves through stages, starting from normal cells transforming into pre-cancerous lesions and eventually forming malignant tumors. This multi-stage process is influenced by genetic and environmental factors interactions. Identifying the interplay of these genetic and environmental causal factors is crucial for effective cancer prevention. Moreover, reducing cancer mortality is more likely when cases are identified and treated early. Early detection is mainly based on two key approaches: early diagnosis and screening. Early diagnosis relies on identifying early symptoms of different forms of cancer. The early symptoms consist of changes in the characteristics of organs with lesions and adverse impacts on cognitive functions, physical ability, visual acuity, etc. On the other hand, the goal of screening is to pinpoint individuals with specific pre-cancer before symptoms appear. Screening is more resource-intensive than early diagnosis, demanding more precise targeted population identification and biomarker threshold detections. The identification of the cancer causal factors and the development of early cancer detection methods involve a thorough review of existing literature; integrating data from various sources like genomics, biomarkers, environment data, imaging data; using machine learning and statistical methods. The UK Biobank will be the source of the dataset.
Project duration:
We are proposing a project duration of 36 months for our research. The consideration of the timeframe is based on the time needed for processing and preparing the dataset for analysis, conducting statistical analyses, and drafting manuscripts for publication. We believe this duration will allow us to conduct a thorough and comprehensive investigation, ensuring the quality and impact of our research findings.
Public health impact:
The expected impact of the research is its potential to prevent cancers through targeted risk reduction and increase cure rates by enabling earlier intervention. By addressing crucial aspects of cancer control, the research aims to lessen the burden of cancer on individuals and healthcare systems.