Prelude
Cancer is a common, often life-threatening, disease involving the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world, particularly in developed nations such as the United States. Cancer is really a group of diseases; it can arise in any organ of the body and has differing characteristics that depend on the site of the cancer, the degree of spread, and other factors. Mutations in certain genes within cells—called protooncogenes and tumor suppressor genes—are the primary cause of cancer (1).
Sadly, almost every college student has some knowledge of cancer, gained through experience with classmates, family members, or friends. Cancer occurs in people from all countries of the world, all segments of society, and people of all ages, although it is relatively rare in childhood. Some cancers can be inherited, but most cancers are strongly linked to environmental factors such as exposure to radiation, tobacco, viruses, or chemicals. Cancer can occur many years after exposure, making it difficult to find precise links between factors and disease. However, much is now known about the risk of exposure to certain toxins and infectious agents: Cigarette smoking increases the risk of lung cancer by 23 times in males and by a similar factor in females (2) and infection with human papilloma virus (HPV) is the cause of almost all cervical cancers and many oropharyngeal (mouth and throat) cancers in men and women.
Biomedical engineers have played important roles in the development of methods for cancer treatment, and many biomedical engineers are working on new approaches that they hope will prevent or treat cancers in the future. Cancer is a worldwide problem, with over 12 million newly diagnosed cancers each year: A 2012 meeting of leaders from groups that fund and perform cancer research in 15 different countries around the world led to a concensus that reduction in cancer mortality and improvement in cancer care requires improved methods for cancer prevention, detection, and treatment, and outlined some of the most important next steps (3).