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New
Findings on Breast and Lung Cancer from the
American-Italian Cancer Foundation's International Roundtable |
On Tuesday, June 11, the American-Italian Cancer Foundation's (AICF) International Roundtable on Breast and Lung Cancer was held in New York. The latest information about new research and experimental therapies in Breast and Lung Cancer was discussed, and the following conclusions were presented:
Dr. Boyle, European Institute of Oncology stated at the Summit, "the reduction in mortality in women invited to screening is between 21 and 23%, and the reduction in mortality for women who actively participate is substantially greater." The findings clearly illustrate that "doctors can be reassured that mammography screening is a valuable public health measure with a solid evidence base and should actively encourage participation in mammography programs."
Dr. Pastorino, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, commented at the roundtable on advances over the next five years in the treatment of lung cancer. "For lung cancer," he stated, "early detection is the most promising area. We have a chance for the first time to reverse the trend of poor survival that has characterized lung cancer [in which 90% of patients die] as compared to breast cancer [in which 25% of patients die]. Improvements in survival will result from a combination of scientific and technical advances…we have the chance to be able to anticipate the onset of lung cancer by 4 to 5 years."
Dr. Bunn, President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, added, "getting people to stop smoking and getting young people never to start, is also key. What many people do not realize is that half of lung cancer patients are ex-smokers; quitting doesn't make the risk go away, it just freezes the risk."
The Role of AICF
AICF is dedicated to developing and encouraging international cooperation among physicians and researchers in the fight against cancer. AICF also provides free mammograms and prostate cancer screenings to underserved women and men throughout the greater New York City area. The Foundation has sponsored over 28,000 free mammograms and 4,000 free prostate cancer screenings since 1987.
Dr. Boyle stated at the Summit, "Forty years of clinical trials, the contribution of hundreds of scientists and health workers and the dedication of hundreds of thousands of women to participate in studies lasting for decades has resulted in adequate evidence to support the efficacy of mammographic screening and its transfer from the research arena to that of Public Health policy."
Dr. Decensi, Director of the Chemoprevention Division, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, praised the Foundation at the roundtable for its role in international cooperation and sharing of research. "I think that the Foundation has made tremendous contributions in this area," he said. "There is a growing perspective that significant achievements will come only through increasing cooperation among countries. This is not rhetorical, but actual fact born out by the important advances that have come out of joint studies and cross-talk between the scientific communities of different countries."
Dr. Pastorino agreed, "International cooperation is required…to get bigger numbers for clinical trials. To progress we need this collaboration. When different people work on different aspects of the same problem, it diffuses both the risk and the cost of finding new treatments. Also, cultural and geographic differences help us to better understand the different aspects of the same problem."
For more information International Roundtable on Breast and Lung Cancer or
to received a free cd-rom containing the video and transcripts of the International
Roundtable on Breast and Lung Cancer, please E-mail aicf@aicfonline.org