World Cancer Research Day: CAEME highlights global achievements and challenges

World Cancer Research Day, commemorated this Sunday, September 24, reminds us of the importance of the continuous search for solutions to combat this disease that manifests itself in more than 200 different types. The collaboration between researchers from all over the world, both in public and private institutions, as well as the active participation of patients and healthy volunteers, are fundamental pillars in this tireless fight. The Argentine Chamber of Medicinal Specialties (CAEME), representing pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies that research and develop innovative medicines in the country, underlines the positive impact that research and development in cancer had in transforming the fight against this disease.” Cancer research has allowed the progressive development of increasingly effective and safe treatments and better ways to care for people with cancer, always with the aim of increasing their survival and quality of life, with the maximum goal of curing this disease or making it chronic,” said Susana Baldini, medical director of CAEME. One of the crucial aspects that the research revealed is that up to 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle. This includes regular physical exercise, a balanced and varied diet, limiting or eliminating alcohol and tobacco consumption, as well as adequate sun protection. These changes in habits can make all the difference in preventing numerous cancers and promoting healthier lives.” Today we know that almost half of all cancer cases can be prevented through these measures. Another equally forceful measure is to keep the vaccination schedule up to date, because this way many cases of liver cancer secondary to hepatitis B, for example, or cervical-uterine cancer, can be avoided through the HPV vaccine, “explained the specialist. In 2022, 75% of clinical trials in the oncology field were oriented towards the evaluation of potential treatments for solid tumors, reflecting a predominant approach in this field. In turn, although the proportion of trials in oncohematology is relatively smaller, there was a remarkable growth of 30% between 2017 and 2022, with more than 550 new trials started in the last year. By 2040, approximately 29.5 million new cases of cancer are projected worldwide. However, thanks to the considerable impact of research in this field, the National Cancer Institute of the United States estimates that by 2030 there will be a total of 22.2 million people who will have successfully overcome the battle against cancer, becoming survivors of this disease globally.

Original source in Spanish