The Global Cancer Update Programme identifies critical gaps in cancer science as well as advancing new knowledge
13 October 2022
Leading cancer prevention and survival research organisation, World Cancer Research Fund International (WCRF International) has today launched the Global Cancer Update Programme – ahead of the World Cancer Congress on 18-20 October. The Global Cancer Update Programme is a new and updated version of its flagship research programme – previously known as the Continuous Update Project – which includes the largest global cancer prevention and survivorship database in the world.
The Global Cancer Update Programme database contains over 12,000 papers on cancer prevention and survival. These have been synthesised and critiqued by over 140 scientists from 17 different countries. The programme analyses the findings from all the existing research, including the most recent research papers, and this produces strong evidence. Previous work in this area helped to underpin the development of the ground-breaking Third Expert Report, which assessed the evidence across 17 cancer types and included updates to WCRF International’s Cancer Prevention Recommendations1.
The key areas of focus for the future will be cancer incidence, cancer survivorship, cancer mechanisms, and obesity. For the first time ever, WCRF International will also be looking at the impact of food, nutrition, body weight and physical activity on children with cancer, from diagnosis through to adult life.
The Global Cancer Update Programme will be expanding into other new areas, including the impact of different dietary and lifestyle patterns, as well as the impact of factors in early life on future cancer risk. WCRF International will also be undertaking a brand-new series of reviews on cancer survivorship that will primarily focus upon breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer, as well as childhood cancers. Determining the impact that diet, nutrition, physical activity and body weight have on children with cancer (from diagnosis into adult life) has also been identified by the Global Cancer Update Programme Panel as a particular area of importance.
The findings from all of the research undertaken within the Global Cancer Update Programme will be judged by a Panel of independent global experts. They will judge the evidence, draw conclusions and make recommendations after each systematic review. This will allow WCRF International to make recommendations for breast, colorectal, prostate, and childhood cancer survivors within the next five years.
The processes that have been established within the Global Cancer Update Programme offer a unique and efficient approach to synthesising evidence and establishing evidence-based recommendations. Through refocusing its efforts, WCRF International is aiming to advance new knowledge and address critical gaps in cancer research.
Professor Lord John Krebs, Chair of the Global Cancer Update Programme, said:
The Global Cancer Update Programme is a one-of-a-kind research programme in its field. The new developments in its aims and focus areas will allow WCRF International to build on its extensive and existing cancer knowledge, equipping the scientific community to achieve an even greater ability to prevent, treat and manage cancer.
Marilyn Gentry, President at WCRF International Network, said:
First and foremost, cancer prevention is the basis of what we do at WCRF International – but our increasing priority is also to see cancer survival rates improve. We’re extremely proud to be the first organisation to have focused on the link between cancer, diet and nutrition. Now we can strive further with our Global Cancer Update Programme and deepen our understanding of cancer prevention and survival.
Dr Helen Croker, Head of Research Interpretation at WCRF International, said:
One in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime, yet we know that around 40% of cancers could be prevented through maintaining a healthy diet, physical activity and body weight, along with not smoking and avoiding sun exposure. We are looking forward to further deepening our knowledge and understanding about cancer prevention and survival with the launch of the Global Cancer Update Programme, and ultimately helping to reduce the number of people developing cancer or surviving from it.
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For media enquiries contact: Marianne Kellner, Media & PR Officer at WCRF International on 07717131883 / m.kellner@wcrf.org
World Cancer Research Fund International examines how diet, nutrition, body weight and physical activity affect your risk of developing and surviving cancer. As part of an international network of charities, we have been funding life-saving research, influencing global public health policy, and educating the public since 1982. While society continues searching for a cure, our prevention and survival work is helping people live longer, happier, healthier lives – free from the devastating effects of cancer. www.wcrf.org and Twitter, Facebook, YouTube & LinkedIn.
World Cancer Research Fund International’s Global Cancer Update Programme provides an analysis of international scientific research into how diet, nutrition, physical activity and weight affect cancer risk and survival. The programme is produced in partnership with American Institute for Cancer Research, World Cancer Research Fund in the UK and Wereld Kanker Onderzoek Fonds in the Netherlands. As part of its development, the Global Cancer Update Programme has built the largest cancer prevention database in the world, housed at Imperial College in London. It is the only authoritative scientific resource of its kind, is evaluated by an independent panel of leading cancer experts, and to date contains approximately 12,000 papers on cancer prevention and survival. A copy of the Global Cancer Update Programme strategy is available via the Press Office.
Preventing Cancer. Saving Lives.
1 WCRF International’s Cancer Prevention Recommendations are the conclusion of an independent panel of experts and represent a package of healthy lifestyle choices that help to reduce the likelihood of developing cancer. These include eating healthily, being active, maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking. Other ways include avoiding drinking alcohol, eating no more than three portions of red meat a week and little, if any, processed meat, breastfeeding if you can, and being safe in the sun.
