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The Cure for Cancer Starts with Research - Research Starts with CAS

In the sport of bicycle racing, the "peloton" refers to the main group of riders in the field, often comprised of members of the same team strategically positioned around the team leader.  The team's cycling specialists - some who excel at climbing hills, others who are aggressive sprinters - work together to help the team leader win the race.

Success in a much different kind of race, the race to eradicate cancer, also relies on collaborative efforts.  Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. and is expected to claim more than 550,000 lives this year.  Discovering new ways to eradicate this disease requires a "cancer research peloton" in which specialists in drug discovery and development, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment contribute their expertise in the form of published research.

With chemistry as the foundation, CAS plays an important role in the cancer research peloton by providing pathways to published research in the world's journal and patent literature.  CAS databases are the world's largest and most current collection of chemical and related scientific information.  They include the most authoritative collection of disclosed chemical substance information, the CAS REGISTRY.  By combining these databases with advanced search and analysis technologies found in its key products, SciFinder and STN, CAS helps scientists find information that is vital to their research process. 

In the race to eradicate cancer, CAS and the cancer research peloton are leading the way to new cancer diagnostics, prevention strategies, and treatments.  The cure for cancer starts with research.  Research starts with CAS.

CAS recently hosted the opening ceremony of the inaugural Pelotonia Bike Tour for Cancer Research in Columbus, Ohio.  Lance Armstrong was among the riders who embarked on the Tour from the CAS lawn.  Proceeds from this fundraising event support cancer research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.

To learn more about the Pelotonia Bike Tour, visit www.pelotonia.org.

Contributed by
Peter S. Carlton, Ph.D.
CAS Communications

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Additional Resources

You can use SciFinder or STN to search the CAS databases for additional information about cancer research.  Examples of published research in the areas of drug discovery and development,¹ diagnosis,² prevention,³ and treatment⁴ are listed in the References below.  If your organization is enabled to use the web version of SciFinder, you can click the links to directly access reference details.

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References

1. Zimmermann, J. Pyrimidine derivatives and processes for the preparation thereof. U.S. Patent 5,521,184, May 28, 1996.
2. King, C. Richter; Kraus, Matthias H.; Aaronson, Stuart A. Amplification of a novel v-erbB-related gene in a human mammary carcinoma. Science 1985, 229, 974-976.
3. Fisher, B.; Costantino, J.P.; Wickerham, D.L.; Redmond, C.K.; Kavanah, M.; Cronin, W.M.; Vogel, V.; Robidoux, A.; Dimitrov, N.; Atkins, J.; Daly, M.; Wieand, S.; Tan-Chiu, E.; Ford, L.; Wolmark, N. Tamoxifen for prevention of breast cancer: Report of the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project P-1 study. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 1998, 90, 1371-1388.
4. Fong, P.C.; Boss, D.S.; Yap, T.A.; Tutt, A.; Wu, P.; Mergui-Roelvink, M.; Mortimer, P.; Swaisland, H.; Lau, A.; O'Connor, M.J.; Ashworth, A.; Carmichael, J.; Kaye, S.B.; Schellens, J.H.M.; de Bono, J.S. Inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase in tumors from BRCA mutation carriers. N. Engl. J. Med. 2009, 361, 123-134.
   

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