Cancer Prevention and Control Postdoctoral Fellowship

Summary | History | Goals | Director | Mentors | Research | Training | Application

Research

COLON CANCER PREVENTION
Colon cancer prevention has been a major research focus at the AZCC since the early 1980s. Dr. David Alberts has led the Colon Cancer Prevention Program Project through three funding cycles. During the past 15 years, scientifically-based research interventions have included dietary fiber supplementation, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., piroxicam, ibuprofen, sulindac, sulindac sulfone, celecoxib), the polyamine synthesis inhibitor, a difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), selenium, and ursodeoxycholic acid (the stereoisomer of the bile acid chenodeoxycholic acid). Drs. Lance, Martinez, Gerner, and Einspahr, are active in these projects.

SKIN CANCER PREVENTION
Skin cancer prevention has been a priority of the CPC faculty since the late 1970s, with research efforts in laboratory-based skin carcinogenesis, epidemiology, nutritional sciences, behavioral sciences, and chemoprevention drug development. These research efforts are supported by Dr. Alberts' large program project grant that was renewed in July 1998. Drs. Bowden, Stratton, Harris, Hakim, Einspahr, and Dorr are active in this project.

BREAST CANCER PREVENTION
The CPC Program continues to target breast cancer for clinical, nutritional, behavioral, and basic science prevention research efforts. Research in this area includes several nutritional interventions for prevention of recurrence studies, screening projects for prevention, and stress reduction in breast cancer patients. Drs. Lopez, Martinez, Thomson, Chen, and Staten are active in breast cancer-related projects.

CERVICAL CANCER PREVENTION
Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women in developing countries, and the incidence of serious cervical dysplasia continues to rise alarmingly in the U.S., especially in minority populations. Investigators at the Cancer Center have taken significant advantage of the "promotora" model, relying mainly on the use of indigenous lay health workers to implement innovative health promotion initiatives in Native American and Hispanic populations.

PROSTATE CANCER PREVENTION
The Arizona Cancer Center is the site of one of the landmark studies regarding prostate cancer prevention: Dr. Larry Clark's finding that selenized Brewer's yeast significantly lessens prostate cancer incidence and mortality. Two other research programs involving phase I and II investigations of chemopreventive agents are underway. This mechanism provides an ideal environment for fostering collaboration among the clinical and pharmacology faculty to investigate new chemopreventive agents. Drs. Ahmann, Nagle, Nelson, Powis, and Stratton are involved in projects related to prostate cancer.

WOMEN'S HEALTH INITIATIVE
The Arizona site is a vanguard clinic for the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), which investigates how diet, hormone replacement therapy, calcium, and Vitamin D may prevent heart disease, bone fractures, and cancer incidence. Local patient accrual, consisting of a sample representing the diverse populations of the Southwest has been completed.  Dr. Thomson is  the local principal investigator for this project.

CANCER REGISTRIES AND SURVEILLANCE
The Cancer Center has worked closely with the Arizona Department of Health Services to develop a cancer registry data-base for site specific cancer rates for Native Americans.  Dr. Harris directs a three-county registry focused solely on the incidence of skin cancer. Dr. Lance directs the Arizona Colon Cancer Family Registry as part of a multi-center, national study.

EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH
Since 1992, research on breast and cervical cancer education has been ongoing among Hispanic women living in Arizona. More extensive educational outreach programs among Native American women and in the community of Nogales, Arizona, are ongoing. The effectiveness of these controlled educational interventions is being evaluated.

 

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