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| 230 Shore Road, Suite 202, Old Lyme CT 06371 Tel: (860) 434-1650 Fax: (860) 434-5390 |
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| Oncology | |||
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Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Half of all men and a third of all women will develop cancer in their lifetimes (www.cancer.org accessed August 12, 2002). Most cancers result from alterations in signals that control cellular growth. A tumor may also result from a failure of cell death (apoptosis) rather than increased growth of the cancerous cells. Mistakes that occur in the DNA of genes that code for cellular growth are the common denominator of malignant cell transformation. Such "oncology genes" have now been identified in many cancers, and several types are common to malignancies that originate in different organs. | ||
| Development of effective therapies will take years of testing. Medications in development must be proven effective for the desired endpoints of halting cellular growth. They must be pharmaceutically and pharmacologically sound, bioavailable, and free of serious toxicity or adverse interactions with commonly used drugs. Researchers are making progress in identifying specific risk factors that may contribute to developing certain cancers. Often these risk factors are beyond our control. However, modifiable risk factors are within our control and are the result of life choices that can be avoided. The France Foundation recognizes this health concern and has dedicated educational activities in the field of oncology. To view available activities focusing on oncology, please visit our homepage. |
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