SOMERVILLE, N.J., Dec. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 540 Somerset County residents will be asked to take part in the American Cancer Society's nationwide landmark study designed to learn more about how cancer risk can be reduced. Beginning last month, the Ame

The blood study, called LifeLink, is taking place in dozens of cities throughout the United States during 1999-2000 and ultimately will analyze the blood of as many as 40,000 or more Americans. One hundred and twenty-five hospitals nationwide have participated in the study to date and additional locations are being planned. ``We are pleased to partner with the American Cancer Society on this important project,'' says Stuart Vigdor, director of the Laboratory and Pharmacy. ``Study participants were afforded the opportunity to participate in a national cancer research project close to home.'' The LifeLink study is the latest phase of a larger nationwide research project initiated by the American Cancer Society in 1982. That project, called Cancer Prevention Study II (CPS II), recruited 1.2 million participants nationwide with the help of American Cancer Society volunteers. The study was brought to the medical center by Eugene Fazini, MD, director of the Department of Pathology; Sang M. Lee, MD, Cancer Center surgical liaison; and Kathleen Toomey MD, chairperson of the medical center's Cancer Committee. Laboratory staff members Joan Ceran, lab supervisor, and phlebotomists Syed Kazmi and Linda Ellis coordinated the volunteer donors and drew the blood supplies for the LifeLink study. Participants of CPS II were asked about a variety of lifestyle factors, including diet, use of vitamins and medications, tobacco and alcohol use, and activity level in order to learn if these factors play a part in reducing or increasing an individual's risk of cancer. More than 70 scientific publications have resulted from CPS II thus far, some of which describe the impact of tobacco, aspirin, hormones and alcohol on cancer risk. With LifeLink, the American Cancer Society is recruiting participants from the earlier phase of CPS II who will agree to have their blood drawn for future analysis. Combined with information obtained from each participant, the blood samples will help answer important questions about cancer risk, including: -- Do high levels of hormones (such as estrogen) in blood increase the risk of breast cancer? -- Do high levels of hormones (such as testosterone) in blood increase risk of prostate cancer? -- Do high blood levels of the vitamin folate (usually from vegetables/vitamins) protect against colorectal cancer? -- How might exercise protect against breast cancer? -- Do environmental cancer risk factors affect people differently depending on their genetic make-up? ``CPS II is one of the largest studies of its kind ever undertaken among the general population, and has already had a far-reaching effect on our ability to prevent cancer and save lives,'' said Sarah Bierman, American Cancer Society LifeLink coordinator. ``We're very grateful to the thousands of people who have taken the time to participate in this effort for the past 18 years.'' CPS II has already resulted in significant findings, including the determination that secondhand smoke increases risk of death from lung cancer and heart disease. CPS II also has shown that aspirin and eating fruits and vegetables can help reduce risk of colorectal cancer and postmenopausal hormones may reduce the risk of fatal colon cancer. For more information about the American Cancer Society LifeLink study, call Sarah Bierman at 800-889-3340 ext. 238. The American Cancer Society is the nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives from cancer and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. For more information about the American Cancer Society, call 800-ACS-2345 or visit its web site at http://www.cancer.org.

<< Prev	CIGoutlet.NET News Home	Next >>