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Current cancer therapies have increased the survival of cancer patients, but unfortunately regardless of the cancer therapy used, cancer often recurs, because these therapies only extend cancer patients’ survival, but often fail to completely eliminate cancer cells, and do not correct the modifiable underlying causes of cancer. These therapies, especially chemotherapy cause morbidity, and long-term side effects. In young patients that are typically cancer survivors, chemotherapy increases the risk of developing metabolic syndrome. In adult patients, who are already presenting a cluster of metabolic abnormalities, traditional cancer treatments exacerbate these metabolic abnormalities (dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus), and other chronic diseases, such as COPD. These metabolic abnormalities are linked to carcinogenesis, and/or cancer progression.

The overall goal of my research program is to improve disease free survival of cancer patients, and decrease the side effects of currently used therapies, particularly radiotherapy, which are effective only to a certain degree. A better understanding of the impact of currently used cancer therapies, and chronic diseases therapies could help in the prevention of cancer progression and management of long-term side effects.