Abstract P2-09-05: ICRP analysis: Obesity research in breast cancer
Authors: Wojtanik Kari , Aizenberg Rhonda , Higginbotham Susan , Davies Lynne 
Published: May 2015

The International Cancer Research Partnership (ICRP) is an alliance of governmental and charitable organizations from the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia and Japan, funding regional, national and international cancer research grants and awards. One key activity of the partnership is the ICRP database of information about member’s funded grant projects (N&gt;60,000 grants, from 80 members, totaling $13.6 billion USD). Each project is coded to a Common Scientific Outline (CSO) classification, a classification system of broad areas of cancer research. Obesity has been associated with an increased risk of developing several cancer types, including breast cancer. Worldwide, obesity rates have nearly doubled since 1980 (WHO), and there is significant concern that rising rates of obesity will result in additional obesity-related cancer incidence. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide and its incidence has risen in most countries in the last 30 years.1 In addition, there is convincing research evidence that body fatness is linked to breast cancer incidence (postmenopause).2 With this in mind, the ICRP has analyzed obesity-related breast cancer research in its portfolio over three time periods: 2006, 2008 and 2010. Methods: Using a combination of keyword searches and manual review, a total of over 1040 awards over the period 2006-2010 were found in the ICRP portfolio that were related to obesity and cancer. Of these, 353 awards were considered to be relevant to breast cancer (relevance ≥25%). These were assessed by Common Scientific Outline (CSO) areas.3  Results: The numbers of obesity-relevant awards and research investment were higher for breast cancer than for any other cancer type in the ICRP portfolio from 2006 to 2010. Research was being conducted across all CSO areas, from basic biology, etiology, prevention, early diagnosis/prognosis to treatment and cancer survivorship. Between 2006 and 2010, there was a slight decrease in etiology research (CSO2), and an increase in research into cancer survivorship (CSO6). It is notable that training awards are increasing, indicating that the research organizations contributing data to this analysis consider workforce training to be a priority area. Conclusion: We were able to use the ICRP database to identify trends in funded grant projects related to obesity research and breast cancer. Despite increased numbers of awards, the overall stasis in research funding over this period, and the decline in investment in etiology is concerning. As breast cancer incidence continues to increase, research efforts to understand the causes of increased incidence are essential. Further research investment in these areas may be required.

1 http://globocan.iarc.fr/Pages/fact_sheets_cancer.aspx (accessed 7th January 2014)

2 World Cancer Research Fund / American Institute for Cancer Research. Continuous Update Project Report. Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Breast Cancer, 2010

3 https://www.icrpartnership.org/CSO.cfm

Citation Format: Kari Wojtanik, Rhonda Aizenberg, Susan Higginbotham, Lynne Davies. ICRP analysis: Obesity research in breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-09-05.