Cancer research

Cancer research investigates the causes, biology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. It spans laboratory studies, clinical trials, population research, and the development of new therapies.

Somatic mutation theory: The theory that cancer develops through accumulated mutations in the DNA of somatic cells. It frames how researchers connect genetic changes to cancer initiation and progression.
Cancer screening: Testing people without symptoms to identify cancer or precancerous changes early. Research tests whether screening lowers deaths while limiting harms from false positives and overdiagnosis.
Percivall Pott: An English surgeon whose 1775 account linked chimney-sweep exposure to soot with scrotal cancer. His observation became an early landmark in research on occupational cancer causes.
Tissue organization field theory: A theory that treats disrupted tissue organization, rather than mutation alone, as the primary cause of cancer. It challenges mutation-centered explanations of how cancer begins.
Cancer survival rate: A statistical measure of the proportion of people with cancer who remain alive after a specified period. It tracks outcomes associated with advances in research and treatment.
Oncogene: A gene whose altered or excessive activity can promote cancerous growth. Oncogenes reveal how specific growth signals become persistently active in tumors.
Liquid biopsy: A test that analyzes tumor-derived material, such as DNA, in blood or another body fluid. Studies assess its use for detection, treatment selection, and monitoring.
Rous sarcoma virus: A retrovirus discovered to cause sarcoma in chickens, providing early evidence that viruses can cause cancer. Its discovery opened research into viral contributions to tumor formation.
Cancer stem cell: A cancer cell proposed to self-renew and generate the diverse cell types within a tumor. The model differs over which tumor cells sustain growth and relapse.
Overdiagnosis: The diagnosis of a condition that would not have caused symptoms or death during a person’s lifetime. Screening research must measure this harm alongside earlier detection.

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