In a study conducted by Stony Brook University Cancer Center out of New York, researchers have found quantitative evidence proving that extrinsic risk factors, such as environmental exposures and behaviors weigh heavily on the development of a vast majority (approximately 70 to 90 percent) of cancers.
The study concluded that most cancers are a result of external risk factors.
“Cancer is caused by mutations in the DNA of cells, which leads to uncontrolled cell growth instead of orderly growth. But the development of cancer is a complex issue, and we as a scientific community need to have solid analytical models to investigate what intrinsic and extrinsic factors cause certain forms of cancer,” said Dr. Hannun, senior author of the paper.
The researchers used four approaches to reach their conclusion. These included tissue cell turnover, mutational signatures, SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiologic, and End Results Program) data, and computational modeling. The four methods involved both data- and model-driven quantitative analyses, with and without using the stem cell estimations. The idea behind the overall approach was to assess cancer risk by multiple methods and not by a single type of analysis.
For more information, read the full study.
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