CANCER RESEARCH

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY - RESEARCH FACTS:

As the largest source of private, not-for-profit cancer research funds in the United States, the American Cancer Society dedicates almost $120 million each year to research and health professional training. Since 1946, when the Society awarded its first research grants, we’ve invested more than $2.5 billion in research. Our overall investment has paid rich dividends: the 5-year survival rate has almost tripled since 1946, and the new case rate and death rate from cancer have declined every year since 1990.
Impact of Our Research Program
Scientists supported by the American Cancer Society have made great contributions.
For example, they:

· Established the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer.
· Demonstrated the effectiveness of the Pap smear in detecting cervical cancer at an early stage.
· Dramatically increased the cure rate for childhood leukemia.
· Showed that tamoxifen reduces risk of breast cancer in high-risk women.
· Showed that a genetically engineered monoclonal antibody, HerceptinÔ, improves survival of women
with advanced breast cancer.
· Proved the safety and effectiveness of mammograms.
· Developed the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test for prostate cancer.
· Defined the structure of DNA.
· Discovered cancer-causing genes and tumor suppressor genes.
· Discovered genes for inherited forms of breast and colon cancer.Demonstrated that GleevecÔ
specifically targets leukemia cells.