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Understanding Cancer SeriesNovember 18, 2009, 11:00AM
A new study which uses modeling to summarize the benefits and harms of breast cancer screening finds that regular mammography screening for women ages 50 to 74 reduces the risk of dying due to breast cancer, with a smaller benefit for women 40 to 49. False-positives tests and overdiagnosis are of concern for all ages, although false positives are more common for women in their forties, and over-diagnosis is more of a concern for older women.
May 23, 2006
Advances in genetic research are transforming cancer diagnosis, and treatments that are tailored to the specific molecular changes that drive tumor growth are now being developed. Because most cancers result from several genetic mutations, NCI is focusing on developing diagnostic tests that identify a number of genetic markers that can be used to predict a person’s response to specific therapies and inform treatment decisions for these diseases.
May 23, 2006
Molecular diagnostics is a new approach to understanding the biology of cancer. It offers the ability to characterize the genes, proteins and biochemical pathways within a cancer cell. Using molecular diagnostics to define the genetic profiles of cancers has been a pivotal development in the delivery of more effective treatments for cancer. For some cancers, clinicians can select the most effective therapy based on the specific genes expressed in a patient’s tumor.