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A major focus of the Division is research on Cancer Survivorship and Pharmacogenetics, with active participation in translational studies within US-based clinical trials (SWOG 9304), as well as leadership in large-scale international consortia (ColoCare Consortium, HEAL Study). The aim of this work is to tailor treatment strategies and develop scientifically-based guidelines for cancer patients and clinicians on health behavior interventions after a cancer diagnosis.
The scientific themes of the Division include the effects of nutrition, inflammation/DNA damage and energy balance on cancer risk and prognosis. Energy balance includes body composition, adiposity and, perhaps most importantly, physical activity and exercise. The impact of these factors on cancer risk is well known. Yet exercise appears to play an even more striking role in influencing quality of life and prognosis among cancer patients.