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Strategy for detection of cancer hazards to man†

Nature volume 265, pages 589–596 (1977)Cite this article

Abstract

Forty-four years ago, Sir Ernest Kennaway and his colleagues identified, for the first time, a pure chemical that was capable of causing cancer in animals, and a year later isolated another from material that was widespread in the environment. At that time, and even after these crucial observations, it was commonly assumed that cancers were an inevitable accompaniment of ageing and that little could be done to reduce the mortality they caused. It is now clear, however, that most, if not all cancers have environmental causes and can in principle be prevented. The identification of environmental hazards and clarification of the mechanisms through which they cause disease are thus among the highest priorities in cancer research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Regius, Professor of Medicine, University of Oxford,

    Richard Doll

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  1. Richard Doll
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Doll, R. Strategy for detection of cancer hazards to man†. Nature 265, 589–596 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/265589a0

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