Although we have made important advances in our knowledge of brain tumors, much remains unknown about their etiology, prevention, diagnosis, and optimal treatment, as well as the rehabilitation of brain tumor survivors, who may experience significant deficits as a result of their tumor or their treatment. This group, which first convened in March 2000, identified scientific opportunities and needs for the field of brain tumor research and developed a set of research priorities to expedite progress against the disease. Through intensive research efforts over the last two decades we have made much progress in understanding the genetics and biology of breast cancer. We have improved technologies for detection and diagnosis, expanded the potential strategies for preventing the development of the disease, and developed more effective treatments and improved quality of life for breast cancer patients and survivors. However, the burden of breast cancer remains high for women throughout the world.
Colorectal cancer remains the third most common cancer in incidence and mortality for men and women.
Although these rates have decreased in recent years, this is not true for all populations and colorectal cancer places a substantial burden of disease on people in this country. This group which first convened late in 1999, identified scientific opportunities and needs for the field of colorectal cancer research and developed a set of research priorities to expedite progress against the disease. Although scientific discovery has given us new insights into cancer biology, etiology, prevention, detection, and treatment, it is estimated that 30,200 new cases of head and neck cancer will be diagnosed in 2000 and that there will be 7,800 deaths from the disease. The report on the 1999 Priority Setting Workshop on Head and Neck Cancer and the Executive Summary , describe the research questions which need to be investigated in order to improve the prevention, detection, and treatment of head and neck cancer. Although scientific discovery has given us new insights into cancer biology, etiology, prevention, detection, and treatment, ovarian cancer in the United States accounts for the highest number of deaths from gynecologic cancers and the second highest incidence.