International Agency for Research on Cancer

About: International Agency for Research on Cancer is a government organization based out in Lyon, France. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cancer & Population. The organization has 2989 authors who have published 9010 publications receiving 929752 citations. The organization is also known as: IARC.

Ablation of PARP-1 does not interfere with the repair of DNA double-strand breaks, but compromises the reactivation of stalled replication forks

Abstract: Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is an abundant DNA end-sensing and binding molecule. Inactivation of PARP-1 by chemicals and genetic mutations slows cell proliferation, increases sister chromatid exchange (SCE), micronuclei formation and chromosome instability, and shortens telomeres. Given its affinity to DNA breaks and temporal occupation on DNA strand break sites, PARP-1 is proposed to prevent inappropriate DNA recombination. We investigated the potential role of PARP-1 in repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and stalled replication forks. PARP-1-/- embryonic stem cells and embryonic fibroblast cells exhibited normal repair of DNA DSBs by either homologous recombination (HR) or nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathways. Inactivation of PARP-1 did not interfere with gene-targeting efficiency in ES cells. However, PARP-1-/- cells were hypersensitive to the replication damage agent hydroxyurea (HU)-induced cell death and exhibited enhanced SCE formation. Ablation of PARP-1 delayed reactivation of stalled replication forks imposed by HU and re-entry into the G2-M phase after HU release. These data indicate that PARP-1 is dispensable in HR induced by DSBs, but is involved in the repair and reactivation of stalled replication forks.

Mobile phone use and risk of acoustic neuroma: results of the Interphone case-control study in five North European countries.

Abstract: There is public concern that use of mobile phones could increase the risk of brain tumours. If such an effect exists, acoustic neuroma would be of particular concern because of the proximity of the acoustic nerve to the handset. We conducted, to a shared protocol, six population-based case–control studies in four Nordic countries and the UK to assess the risk of acoustic neuroma in relation to mobile phone use. Data were collected by personal interview from 678 cases of acoustic neuroma and 3553 controls. The risk of acoustic neuroma in relation to regular mobile phone use in the pooled data set was not raised (odds ratio (OR)=0.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.7–1.1). There was no association of risk with duration of use, lifetime cumulative hours of use or number of calls, for phone use overall or for analogue or digital phones separately. Risk of a tumour on the same side of the head as reported phone use was raised for use for 10 years or longer (OR=1.8, 95% CI: 1.1–3.1). The study suggests that there is no substantial risk of acoustic neuroma in the first decade after starting mobile phone use. However, an increase in risk after longer term use or after a longer lag period could not be ruled out.

Dietary Fibre Intake and Risks of Cancers of the Colon and Rectum in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)

Abstract: Background: Earlier analyses within the EPIC study showed that dietary fibre intake was inversely associated with colorectal cancer risk, but results from some large cohort studies do not support this finding. We explored whether the association remained after longer follow-up with a near threefold increase in colorectal cancer cases, and if the association varied by gender and tumour location. Methodology/Principal Findings: After a mean follow-up of 11.0 years, 4,517 incident cases of colorectal cancer were documented. Total, cereal, fruit, and vegetable fibre intakes were estimated from dietary questionnaires at baseline. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models stratified by age, sex, and centre, and adjusted for total energy intake, body mass index, physical activity, smoking, education, menopausal status, hormone replacement therapy, oral contraceptive use, and intakes of alcohol, folate, red and processed meats, and calcium. After multivariable adjustments, total dietary fibre was inversely associated with colorectal cancer (HR per 10 g/day increase in fibre 0.87, 95% CI: 0.79–0.96). Similar linear associations were observed for colon and rectal cancers. The association between total dietary fibre and risk of colorectal cancer risk did not differ by age, sex, or anthropometric, lifestyle, and dietary variables. Fibre from cereals and fibre from fruit and vegetables were similarly associated with colon cancer; but for rectal cancer, the inverse association was only evident for fibre from cereals. Conclusions/Significance: Our results strengthen the evidence for the role of high dietary fibre intake in colorectal cancer prevention.

Risk factors for lung cancer in Singapore Chinese, a population with high female incidence rates.

Abstract: The high incidence of lung cancer in Chinese females in Singapore, especially among those belonging to the Cantonese dialect group, and the relatively high rates in Chinese males have been studied by means of interviews of cases and controls. A significant dose-response effect of cigarette smoking was found for all male and female groups, but neither smoking nor any other exposure explains the high incidence of lung cancer observed in Cantonese females who exhibit high rates of adenocarcinoma appraently unrelated to smoking. In general, persons with a low consumption of green vegetables were at higher risk for lung cancer. This finding might be due to an increased susceptibility in the presence of a relative deficiency of vitamin A.

Baseline status of paediatric oncology care in ten low-income or mid-income countries receiving My Child Matters support: a descriptive study

Abstract: Summary Background Childhood-cancer survival is dismal in most low-income countries, but initiatives for treating paediatric cancer have substantially improved care in some of these countries. The My Child Matters programme was launched to fund projects aimed at controlling paediatric cancer in low-income and mid-income countries. We aimed to assess baseline status of paediatric cancer care in ten countries that were receiving support (Bangladesh, Egypt, Honduras, Morocco, the Philippines, Senegal, Tanzania, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Vietnam). Methods Between Sept 5, 2005, and May 26, 2006, qualitative face-to-face interviews with clinicians, hospital managers, health officials, and other health-care professionals were done by a multidisciplinary public-health research company as a field survey. Estimates of expected numbers of patients with paediatric cancer from population-based data were used to project the number of current and future patients for comparison with survey-based data. 5-year survival was postulated on the basis of the findings of the interviews. Data from the field survey were statistically compared with demographic, health, and socioeconomic data from global health organisations. The main outcomes were to assess baseline status of paediatric cancer care in the countries and postulated 5-year survival. Findings The baseline status of paediatric oncology care varied substantially between the surveyed countries. The number of patients reportedly receiving medical care (obtained from survey data) differed markedly from that predicted by population-based incidence data. Management of paediatric cancer and access to care were poor or deficient (ie, nonexistent, unavailable, or inconsistent access for most children with cancer) in seven of the ten countries surveyed, and accurate baseline data on incidence and outcome were very sparse. Postulated 5-year survival were: 5–10% in Bangladesh, the Philippines, Senegal, Tanzania, and Vietnam; 30% in Morocco; and 40–60% in Egypt, Honduras, Ukraine, and Venezuela. Postulated 5-year survival was directly proportional to several health indicators (per capita annual total health-care expenditure [Pearson's r 2 =0·760, p=0·001], per capita gross domestic product [ r 2 =0·603, p=0·008], per capita gross national income [ r 2 =0·572, p=0·011], number of physicians [ r 2 =0·560, p=0·013] and nurses [ r 2 =0·506, p=0·032] per 1000 population, and most significantly, annual government health-care expenditure per capita [ r 2 =0·882, p Interpretation Detailed surveys can provide useful data for baseline assessment of the status of paediatric oncology, but cannot substitute for national cancer registration. Alliances between public, private, and international agencies might rapidly improve the outcome of children with cancer in these countries. Funding National Institutes of Health (grant CA21765; Bethesda, MD, USA), American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC; Memphis, TN, USA), and Sanofi-Aventis Sponsorship Department (Paris, France).