title: Priorities for development of research methods in occupational cancer.
abstract: Occupational cancer research methods was identified in 1996 as 1 of 21 priority research areas in the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA). To implement NORA, teams of experts from various sectors were formed and given the charge to further define research needs and develop strategies to enhance or augment research in each priority area. This article is a product of that process. Focus on occupational cancer research methods is important both because occupational factors play a significant role in a number of cancers, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality, and also because occupational cohorts (because of higher exposure levels) often provide unique opportunities to evaluate health effects of environmental toxicants and understand the carcinogenic process in humans. Despite an explosion of new methods for cancer research in general, these have not been widely applied to occupational cancer research. In this article we identify needs and gaps in occupational cancer research methods in four broad areas: identification of occupational carcinogens, design of epidemiologic studies, risk assessment, and primary and secondary prevention. Progress in occupational cancer will require interdisciplinary research involving epidemiologists, industrial hygienists, toxicologists, and molecular biologists.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Schulte
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bayard
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brandt-Rauf
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dankovic
authors.forename: Ann F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Hubbs
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Myra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karstadt
authors.forename: Gregory L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Kedderis
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Melnick
authors.forename: Carrie A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Redlich
authors.forename: Nathaniel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rothman
authors.forename: Russell E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Savage
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sprinker
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toraason
authors.forename: Ainsley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weston
authors.forename: Andrew F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Olshan
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Sheila Hoar
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Zahm
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015197:Carcinogenicity Tests; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012106:Research; D012107:Research Design; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014489:United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration