title: Challenges and opportunities in international molecular cancer prevention research: An ASPO Molecular Epidemiology and the Environment and International Cancer Prevention Interest Groups Report.
abstract: The International Agency for Research on Cancer estimates that over half of the new cancer cases and almost two-thirds of the cancer deaths in 2012 occurred in low and middle income countries. To discuss the challenges and opportunities to reducing the burden of cancer worldwide, the Molecular Epidemiology and the Environment and the International Issues in Cancer Special Interest Groups joined forces to hold a session during the 38th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Preventive Oncology (March 2014, Arlington, Virginia). The session highlighted three topics of particular interest to molecular cancer prevention researchers working internationally, specifically: 1) biomarkers in cancer research; 2) environmental exposures and cancer; and 3) molecular pathological epidemiology. A major factor for successful collaboration illuminated during the discussion was the need for strong, committed, and reliable international partners. A key element of establishing such relationships is to thoroughly involve individual international collaborators in the development of the research question; engaged international collaborators are particularly motivated to champion and shepherd the project through all necessary steps, including issues relating to institutional review boards, political sensitivity, laboratory-based assays, and tumor subtyping. Also essential is allotting time for the building, maintaining, and investing in such relationships so that successful international collaborations may take root and bloom. While there are many challenges inherent to international molecular cancer research, the opportunities for furthering the science and prevention of cancer worldwide are great, particularly at this time of increasing cancer incidence and prevalence in low and middle income countries.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee. meira.epplein@vanderbilt.edu.
authors.forename: Meira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Epplein
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Roberd M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bostick
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts. Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ogino
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California - San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: Dejana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Braithwaite
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Kanetsky
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*