Hiru Corporation (HIRU)

[frenchi]

Combating Multidrug Resistance in Cancer


Background

Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. If the spread is not controlled, it can result in death. Cancer is caused by both external factors (tobacco, chemicals, radiation, and infectious organisms) and internal factors (inherited mutations, hormones, immune conditions, and mutations that occur from metabolism). Cancer is treated with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, biological therapy, and targeted therapy.

Anyone can develop cancer. Since the risk of being diagnosed with cancer increases with the age of an individual, most cases occur in adults who are middle-aged or older. About 77% of all cancers are diagnosed in persons 55 and older.

About 5% of all cancers are strongly hereditary, in that an inherited genetic alteration confers a very high risk of developing one or more specific types of cancer. Women who have a first-degree relative (mother, sister or daughter) with a history of breast cancer have about twice the risk of developing breast cancer compared to women who do not have a family history.

However, most cancers do not result from inherited genes but from damage (mutation) that occurs during one’s lifetime. Mutations may result from internal factors such as hormones or the metabolism of nutrients within cells, or external factors such as tobacco, chemicals, and sunlight. Male smokers are about 23 times more likely to develop lung cancer than nonsmokers