Stopping colon cancer

AT FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER RESEARCH CENTER, we want nothing more than to see cancer eliminated and to alleviate the suffering associated with it. So it is particularly frustrating to watch a disease like colon cancer take so many lives when it is easily preventable and highly curable in its early stages. The second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, colon cancer will kill more than 50,000 Americans this year, 90 percent of whom would have lived had their cancer been found early and treated.

This issue of Quest focuses on the many facets of colon-cancer research that our scientists are pursuing. They are working hard to create less invasive screening tests, to develop programs that focus on disease prevention instead of treatment, and to better understand who gets colon cancer and what people can do to increase their odds of staying healthy.

Current screening tests for colon cancer, like sigmoidoscopies and colonoscopies, are very effective ways to detect precancerous lesions or polyps well before they develop into malignancies. These tests also are able to find cancer in its early stages when it is highly treatable. But because these tests are invasive, many Americans avoid them.

Dr. Bill Grady wants to change that by developing a simple test to detect colon cancer, one that would use a blood, urine or stool sample, in hopes that people would get screened more consistently. The highly innovative nature of his work earned Grady the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers in 2005 — one of the highest U.S. honors for professionals at the outset of their independent-research careers.

The Center is fortunate to have many innovative researchers working on different aspects of colon cancer. In this issue, you'll also read about Dr. Polly Newcomb's studies on the environmental and lifestyle factors that may contribute to colon cancer, Dr. Anne McTiernan's groundbreaking research on the impact of exercise on cancer risk, Dr. Neli Ulrich's efforts to customize colon-cancer treatment, and Dr. Scott Ramsey's economic analysis of the cost-effectiveness of genetic screening for colon cancer.

While the Center pioneers new and better methods to prevent, detect and treat colon cancer, we also help lead public-policy efforts to encourage people to get screened with today's effective tests. Our researchers supported a new Washington law that requires insurers in the state to cover colon-cancer screening for people 50 and older and those at high risk. It's a critical step in eliminating financial barriers that might keep people from undergoing a lifesaving test.

We hope that you will take a close look at the special insert in this issue for information about how you can take action to prevent colon cancer. If you are over 50 or have a family history of colon cancer, we strongly encourage you to talk to your doctor about colon-cancer screening. It could save your life.

	From the Director
	Partner Spotlight
	Power of Private Support
	On the threshhold of a breakthrough
	On the trail of a needless killer
	Research Notes
	Partners in Progress
	Events
	Credits