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U.S. Cancer Death Rate Declines But Cure Still Out of Reach

Research efforts still needed as death rates continue to rise in certain cancer types.

Published January 16, 2014

U.S. Cancer Death Rate Declines But Cure Still Out of Reach

According to a joint report by the National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, death rates for all cancers in the U.S. have declined steadily over the past two decades, resulting in a 20% drop in cancer deaths since 1991. Declined death rates for lung, colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers in particular contribute greatly to this reduction, accounting for more than two-thirds of the overall death rate during this time.

While overall death rates decreased by 1.8% per year among men, 1.4% per year among women, and 1.9% per year among children ages 0–14 from 2001 to 2010, however, death rates for some cancers increased during this period, including liver and pancreas cancers for both sexes, uterine cancer in women, and cutaneous melanoma and soft tissue cancers in men.

Contributing to research efforts, the Academy offers a robust line-up of cancer-related events over the next few months, including conferences on biomarker-based companion diagnostics and anti-angiogenic cancer therapy. Below you'll also find recent publications and media presenting broad-based cancer research.

To receive regular updates about upcoming cancer-related events and publications at the Academy, subscribe to our topical Newsletter at www.nyas.org/Subscribe and choose keywords "Clinical Medicine" and "Translational Medicine."

Lung Cancer: Advances in Current Treatment Modalities and Patient Classification
Event

Lung Cancer: Advances in Current Treatment Modalities and Patient Classification

March 25, 2014
Recent treatment advances may improve lung cancer patient survival rates, as understanding genetic heterogeneity can improve trial patient selection. Hear updates on common mutations, intraoperative chemotherapy, and insights from clinical trials.

Companion Diagnostics: From Biomarker Identification to Market Entry
Event

Companion Diagnostics: From Biomarker Identification to Market Entry

April 28-29, 2014
This 2-day conference will explore research, financial, and regulatory strategies to facilitate the development and integration of biomarker-based companion diagnostics for personalized medicines targeting diverse therapeutic target areas including cancer.

Targeting VEGF-mediated Tumor Angiogenesis in Cancer Therapy
Event

Targeting VEGF-mediated Tumor Angiogenesis in Cancer Therapy

June 19-20, 2014
This 2-day conference will examine critical issues in anti-angiogenic cancer therapy such as inherent/acquired resistance, immunomodulation, vascular normalization, enhanced invasiveness/metastasis, and the lack of validated biomarkers.

Nutrition and Physical Activity in Aging, Obesity, and Cancer: The Third International Conference
Annals

Nutrition and Physical Activity in Aging, Obesity, and Cancer: The Third International Conference

Probing the connections of physical and nutritional factors with health and disease. The work presented here gives special attention to the deleterious effects of metabolic dysregulation and obesity as potential mechanisms that amplify the development and proliferation of cancer. Free online access provided by The Sackler Institute.

The Renaissance of Cancer Immunotherapy: The 7th International Cancer Vaccine Symposium
Annals

The Renaissance of Cancer Immunotherapy: The 7th International Cancer Vaccine Symposium

This volume presents progress in basic immunology research and translation to the development of cancer vaccines and pays tribute to the successes in the last few years that have led to the approval of new immunotherapies. The conference was dedicated to Nobel Laureate and Academy member Dr. Ralph Steinman, who shared the 2011 Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of dendritic cells, immune cells that are vital for immune responses and immunotherapies for cancer.

Unraveling the Obesity-Cancer Connection
Podcast

Unraveling the Obesity–Cancer Connection

You've heard it once; you've heard it a thousand times: the U.S. has a big problem with obesity. But did you know that there are demonstrated links between obesity and all kinds of serious health problems—including cancer? Explore the obesity–cancer connection through this Academy-sponsored podcast.

Nanotechnologies in Cancer Diagnosis, Therapy, and Prevention
eBriefing

Nanotechnologies in Cancer Diagnosis, Therapy, and Prevention

This conference report focuses on the promise of nanoparticles that home in on primary or metastatic tumors and mechanisms for targeting particles to specific tissues. Presented by the Mushett Family Foundation, the Nanotechnology Center at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and the New York Academy of Sciences.

Cancer Metabolomics: Elucidating the Biochemical Programs that Support Cancer Initiation and Progression
eBriefing

Cancer Metabolomics: Elucidating the Biochemical Programs that Support Cancer Initiation and Progression

The Warburg effect—that tumor tissues and normal tissues metabolize glucose differently—defined the field of cancer metabolomics. These metabolic differences could drive the formation of new cancers or speed their growth. Explore this eBriefing for the latest in cancer metabolomics research.