In a recent article by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), researchers highlighted basic, translational, and clinical cancer research and cancer-related population sciences in the 12th edition of its annual report. on the progress of cancer.
The AACR Cancer Progress Report highlights innovative cancer research that improves, extends and saves lives. Image Credit: ESB Professional / Shutterstock
The detailed report covered the most recent research on the biology, diagnosis, early detection, treatment and prevention of cancer, including the use of tools such as artificial intelligence-based early detection systems ( IA) as well as liquid biopsies that are rapidly making their way into the clinic. It also provided up-to-date statistics on cancer incidence, mortality rates and survival. The report also included individual testimonials from patients who have benefited from newly approved cutting-edge cancer drugs. In addition, he introduced legislative proposals to ensure that the United States maintains its momentum against cancer for all patients, including cancer-related health inequalities and the physical, mental and financial burdens endured by survivors. cancer.
Continuous advances in cancer research
Progress made during the 12 months covered by the report for the period between August 1, 2021 and July 31, 2022 is highlighted in the section below:
- More than 18 million Americans have a history of cancer as of January 2022. Yet more people than ever are enjoying longer, more fulfilling lives after being diagnosed with cancer.
- As evidenced by a decrease in cancer deaths of 2.3% each year between 2016 and 2019, the cancer death rate has declined rapidly in recent years.
- Eight new cancer therapies have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including the first drug for uveal melanoma, the most common form of adult eye cancer, and the first therapy molecule targeted for cancer patients with Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, which is a rare inherited genetic disease, and the first immune checkpoint inhibitor discovered in the last eight years that attacks a new target.
- Additionally, the FDA cleared two new diagnostic imaging agents and increased the use of 10 cancer treatments.
- Numerous FDA approvals for AI-based tools that can help doctors detect tumors earlier in their progression and provide more in-depth diagnoses with possibly curative results are the result of intensive research and breakthroughs. promising in the application of AI in the clinic.
The challenges of cancer research
Despite the extraordinary advances in the fight against cancer in recent years, this complicated disease still poses a serious threat to the health of people around the world. In 2022, cancer is predicted to kill more than 600,000 people in the United States alone.
Cancer research and patient care face many challenges, which are addressed in the 2022 AACR Cancer Progress Report.
Racial and ethnic minorities and other medically underserved American groups have a disproportionately higher incidence of cancer, a chronic public health problem. Although some of these discrepancies have been better identified, understood and addressed, more research and policy solutions are urgently needed to achieve equitable progress against cancer.
The recent Supreme Court ruling and related legislative restrictions on reproductive rights in many states will have a significant negative impact on access to high quality health care, including for cancer patients. Since cancer therapy can end a pregnancy, delaying or refusing to start cancer treatment could cause the disease to progress, making it harder to treat and more likely to be life-threatening.
Global crises affect all facets of cancer research and patient treatment, including ongoing wars and the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the researchers warn that, combined with an aging global population, the burden of cancer could dramatically increase globally in the coming decades.
Conclusion
Overall, the 2022 AACR Cancer Progress Report presented explicit policy recommendations and urged Congress to take specific action to address these and other issues and ensure continued progress for all patients. These suggestions include:
- Increase the NIH and NCI base budgets by at least $4.1 billion and $853 million, respectively, to maintain significant, continuous, and predictable annual funding growth.
- Fully funded programs authorized under the 21st Century Cures Act, such as the National Cancer Moonshot.
- Renew the sweeping Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research (STAR) Act and allocate at least $30 million for its enforcement.
- FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funding of cancer-related initiatives.
- Expand Medicaid to ensure that all cancer patients have equitable access to high-quality, reasonably priced health care.
- Tax rules should be designed to promote charitable donations to allow nonprofit cancer research groups to continue to fund high-risk, high-reward research ideas and accelerate the development of new therapies. and new remedies.