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Encyclopedia of Cancer pp 1–4Cite as

Cancer Epidemiology

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Synonyms

Population-based cancer research

Definition

Knowledge about causes and preventive strategies for malignant neoplasms has greatly advanced during the last decades. This is largely attributable to the development of cancer epidemiology. In parallel to the identification of the causes of cancer, primary and secondary preventive strategies have been developed. A careful consideration of the achievements of cancer research, however, suggests that the advancements in knowledge about causes and mechanisms have not been followed by an equally important reduction in the burden of cancer. Part of this paradox is explained by the long latency occurring between exposure to carcinogens and development of the clinical disease. In addition, the most important risk factors of cancer are linked to lifestyle, and their modification entails cultural, societal, and economic consequences. The failure to identify valid biomarkers of cancer risk is another reason of the limited success in cancer...

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References

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  • Last JM (1983) A dictionary of epidemiology. Oxford University Press, New York

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  • STROBE Statement. STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology. http://www.strobe-statement.org/

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA

    Paolo Boffetta

Authors
  1. Paolo Boffetta
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paolo Boffetta .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Abt. Tumorgenetik, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany

    Manfred Schwab

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Boffetta, P. (2015). Cancer Epidemiology. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_806-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_806-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27841-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences

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