interpreting data on cancer

• why it is difficult to interpret data on cancer:

  • characteristics are determined by many genes and environmental factors
  • hard to determine which factors are having the greatest effect on the risk of cancer
• types of risk factors:

  • genetic - some cancers linked to specific inherited alleles
  • environmental - exposure to radiation, lifestyle choices, increased alcohol consumption and a high-fat diet can all increase chances of cancer
• prevention of cancer:

  • if a cancer-causing mutation is known, it is possible to screen for the mutation
  • knowing about the increased risk allows for preventative steps
  • allows for more sensitive tests to be developed for faster diagnosis
• treatment and cure:

  • knowing how mutation causes cancer is useful for developing drugs to target them
  • develop best treatment plan as some cancers are more aggressive than others
  • gene therapy works by targeting specific mutated gene