It is estimated that 60-90% of cancer comes from the environment, where the environment is defined in the broadest sense. Cancer can come not only from exposure to pollution, but also exposures associated with diet, occupation, residence and personal habits. Each of these environmental exposures can add to the burden of carcinogens for a person, increasing cancer risk.
ENVIRONMENTAL CANCER RESEARCH PROGRAM
Northeastern University
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Boston, MA 02115
617.373.3227
Defeating carcinogens begins with their detection. Unfortunately, detecting carcinogens is very difficult, especially after they attach to a person’s DNA. But this is where carcinogens most need to be detected. Carcinogens which build up on a person's DNA are actively trying to convert it into cancerous DNA. The Environmental Cancer Research Program is developing ultrasensitive tests, based on mass spectrometry, for detecting and identifying carcinogens on DNA. The tests will become new weapons against cancer.
Exciting advances are being made in the development of new and better drugs for treating cancer. Nevertheless, anti-cancer drugs too often can help only a little, have side effects, or are expensive. While it is very important to improve the treatment of cancer, best of all is to prevent cancer in the first place. The Environmental Cancer Research Program seeks to help prevent cancer by defeating the carcinogens that cause it.
The mission of the Environmental Cancer Research Program (ECRP) is to help defeat cancer by fighting environmental carcinogens. To fight carcinogens we first need to identify them and learn their origins. Much remains to be learned about the carcinogens to which humans are exposed. The ECRP seeks to develop and apply tests that discover, measure and characterize carcinogens, including the pathways for their toxicity. The tests will find carcinogens no matter where they are, but will especially look for them in the worst place, which is on the DNA of people. Human DNA is the ultimate target in the body for carcinogens. Damage to DNA is the basis of all cancer. Defeating carcinogens is an important way to prevent cancer. The Environmental Cancer Research Program is part of the prevention war against cancer.
Ultra-sensitive detection technology is needed to fight carcinogens. This is because very tiny amounts of carcinogens can bring on cancer. There is a great need for advances in detection technology in order to better test blood and tissue samples from humans for evidence of carcinogen exposure or susceptibility. The ECRP is special because it builds and tests new detection technology for monitoring carcinogens. Some of the world-record detection limits in the field of organic chemical analysis are held by the ECRP.
The ECRP also is special in its team approach to fighting carcinogens. A diversity of scientists from three departments at Northeastern University make up the ECRP team. These ECRP scientists in turn work in collaboration with scientists at other institutions who are also part of the war against carcinogens. Detection technology is very important for every scientist fighting carcinogens. This means that there is a great need for the detection research of the ECRP. The ECRP is engaged in a broad program of team research against carcinogens.
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