Global Cancer Update Programme

The aim of the Global Cancer Update Programme (CUP Global), formerly known as the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research Continuous Update Project (WCRF/AICR-CUP) is to regularly review the epidemiological evidence on the role of diet, nutrition and physical activity on cancer prevention and survival, by conducting updated systematic literature reviews and meta-analyses.  We summarise and critically appraise relevant research findings and assess the quality of the evidence that contributes to the evidence base that is evaluated and judged by the independent Expert Panel for the development of guidelines and public health policy for cancer prevention and survival. In 2018, the Third Expert Report was released along with ten updated WCRF/AICR Cancer Prevention Recommendations, which provides authoritative expert guidance on how best to reduce risk of cancer and improve outcome after diagnosis.

The Project has been on-going since 2007, led by Principal Investigator Dr Teresa Norat until January 2020, follows by co-Principal Investigators Drs Kostas Tsilidis and Doris Chan. Nearly 10,000 published research articles on 17 cancers have been collected, and more than 18 CUP Global systematic literature reviews have been conducted since 2007. For the next phases, we will expand our work from cancer development into cancer survival. Currently, we are reviewing the evidence on breast cancer survival, see below "CUP systematic literature review" for our protocols.

Funding

The Global Cancer Update Programme is funded by the World Cancer Research Fund network of charities:

American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) 

World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) 

Wereld Kanker Onderzoek Fonds (WKOF) 

Contacts

For further information on the CUP please contact:

Dr Kostas Tsilidis or Dr Doris Chan.

About the CUP

About Us

Current CUP Team Members
Co-Principal Investigator   
 Kostas Tsilidis Dr. Konstantinos (Kostas) K Tsilidis k.tsilidis@imperial.ac.uk https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/k.tsilidis
Doris Chan Dr. Doris SM Chan d.chan@imperial.ac.uk https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/d.chan
Research associates      
 Dagfinn Aune Dr. Dagfinn Aune d.aune@imperial.ac.uk https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/d.aune
  Dr. Georgios (George) Markozannes g.markozannes@imperial.ac.uk  
 Nerea Becerra Tomás Dr. Nerea Becerra Tomás n.becerra-tomas@imperial.ac.uk  

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/n.becerra-tomas
Research assistants      
  Ms Katia Balducci k.balducci@imperial.ac.uk https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/k.balducci
 Margarita Cariolou Ms Margarita Cariolou margarita.cariolou15@imperial.ac.uk https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/margarita.cariolou15
 Sonia Chemlal Mrs Sonia Chemlal  s.chemlal@imperial.ac.uk https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/s.chemlal
  Ms Britta Talumaa b.talumaa@imperial.ac.uk  
  Ms Rita Vieira a.vieira@imperial.ac.uk  
Data Manager      
 Lam Teng Mr. Lam Teng l.teng@imperial.ac.uk https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/l.teng
 
Summary of the table's contents

CUP Global Publications

  1. World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research. Diet, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Cancer: a Global Perspective. Continuous Update Project Expert Report, 2018. Available at: https://www.wcrf.org/diet-and-cancer/. Accessed on 20 September 2021.  
  2. Papadimitriou N, Markozannes G, Kanellopoulou A et al. An umbrella review of the evidence associating diet and cancer risk at 11 anatomical sites. Nat Commun 2021;12:4579. 
  3. Solans M, Chan DSM, Mitrou P et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the 2007 WCRF/AICR score in relation to cancer-related health outcomes. Ann Oncol 2020; 31(3): 352-368. 
  4. Abar L, Sobiecki JG, Cariolou M et al. Body size and obesity during adulthood, and risk of lympho-haematopoietic cancers: an update of the WCRF-AICR systematic review of published prospective studies. Ann Oncol 2019; 30(4): 528-541. 
  5. Chan DSM, Abar L, Cariolou M et al. World Cancer Research Fund International: Continuous Update Project-systematic literature review and meta-analysis of observational cohort studies on physical activity, sedentary behavior, adiposity, and weight change and breast cancer risk. Cancer Causes Control 2019; 30(11): 1183-1200. 
  6. Abar L, Vieira AR, Aune D et al. Height and body fatness and colorectal cancer risk: an update of the WCRF-AICR systematic review of published prospective studies. Eur J Nutr 2018; 57(5): 1701-1720. 
  7. Schlesinger S, Chan DSM, Vingeliene S et al. Carbohydrates, glycemic index, glycemic load, and breast cancer risk: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. Nutr Rev 2017; 75(6): 420-441. 
  8. Schlesinger S, Aleksandrova K, Abar L et al. Adult weight gain and colorectal adenomas-a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Oncol 2017; 28(6): 1217-1229. 
  9. Vieira AR, Abar L, Chan D et al. Foods and beverages and colorectal cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies, an update of the evidence of the WCRF-AICR Continuous Update Project. Ann Oncol 2017. 
  10. Vingeliene S, Chan DSM, Vieira AR et al. An update of the WCRF/AICR systematic literature review and meta-analysis on dietary and anthropometric factors and esophageal cancer risk. Ann Oncol 2017. 
  11. Abar L, Vieira AR, Aune D et al. Blood concentrations of carotenoids and retinol and lung cancer risk: an update of the WCRF-AICR systematic review of published prospective studies. Cancer Med 2016; 5(8): 2069-2083. 
  12. Vieira AR, Abar L, Vingeliene S et al. Fruits, vegetables and lung cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Oncol 2016; 27(1): 81-96. 
  13. Vingeliene S, Chan DS, Aune D et al. An update of the WCRF/AICR systematic literature review on esophageal and gastric cancers and citrus fruits intake. Cancer Causes Control 2016; 27(7): 837-851. 
  14. Aune D, Navarro Rosenblatt DA, Chan DS et al. Anthropometric factors and endometrial cancer risk: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. Ann Oncol 2015; 26(8): 1635-1648. 
  15. Aune D, Navarro Rosenblatt DA, Chan DS et al. Anthropometric factors and ovarian cancer risk: a systematic review and nonlinear dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. Int J Cancer 2015; 136(8): 1888-1898. 
  16. Aune D, Navarro Rosenblatt DA, Chan DS et al. Dairy products, calcium, and prostate cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. Am J Clin Nutr 2015; 101(1): 87-117. 
  17. Chan DS, Bandera EV, Greenwood DC et al. Circulating C-Reactive Protein and Breast Cancer Risk-Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015; 24(10): 1439-1449. 
  18. Chan DS, Norat T. Obesity and breast cancer: not only a risk factor of the disease. Curr Treat Options Oncol 2015; 16(5): 22. 
  19. Heine-Broring RC, Winkels RM, Renkema JM et al. Dietary supplement use and colorectal cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analyses of prospective cohort studies. Int J Cancer 2015; 136(10): 2388-2401. 
  20. Vieira AR, Vingeliene S, Chan DS et al. Fruits, vegetables, and bladder cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis.  Cancer Med 2015; 4(1): 136-146. 
  21. Chan DS, Vieira AR, Aune D et al. Body mass index and survival in women with breast cancer-systematic literature review and meta-analysis of 82 follow-up studies. Ann Oncol 2014; 25(10): 1901-1914. 
  22. Norat T, Aune D, Chan D et al. Fruits and vegetables: updating the epidemiologic evidence for the WCRF/AICR lifestyle recommendations for cancer prevention. Cancer Treat Res 2014; 159 35-50. 
  23. Aune D, Chan DS, Vieira AR et al. Red and processed meat intake and risk of colorectal adenomas: a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies. Cancer Causes Control 2013; 24(4): 611-627. 
  24. Doris SM Chan, Dagfinn Aune, Teresa Norat. Red meat intake and colorectal cancer risk: a summary of epidemiological studies. Curr Nutr Rep 2013; 2(1): 56-62. 
  25. Aune D, Rosenblatt DN, Chan DSM et al.  Dietary carbohydrates, glycemic index, glycemic load and endometrial cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 71, E170. 2012.  
  26. Aune D, Lau R, Chan DS et al. Dairy products and colorectal cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. Ann Oncol 2012; 23(1): 37-45. 
  27. Aune D, Chan DS, Vieira AR et al. Dietary compared with blood concentrations of carotenoids and breast cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. Am J Clin Nutr 2012; 96(2): 356-373. 
  28. Aune D, Chan DS, Vieira AR et al. Fruits, vegetables and breast cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2012; 134(2): 479-493. 
  29. Aune D, Chan DS, Greenwood DC et al. Dietary fiber and breast cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. Ann Oncol 2012; 23(6): 1394-1402. 
  30. Aune D, Vieira AR, Chan DS et al. Height and pancreatic cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. Cancer Causes Control 2012; 23(8): 1213-1222. 
  31. Aune D, Chan DS, Lau R et al. Carbohydrates, glycemic index, glycemic load, and colorectal cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. Cancer Causes Control 2012; 23(4): 521-535. 
  32. Aune D, Chan DS, Vieira AR et al. Dietary fructose, carbohydrates, glycemic indices and pancreatic cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. Ann Oncol 2012; 23(10): 2536-2546. 
  33. Aune D, Greenwood DC, Chan DS et al. Body mass index, abdominal fatness and pancreatic cancer risk: a systematic review and non-linear dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. Ann Oncol 2012; 23(4): 843-852. 
  34. Druesne-Pecollo N, Touvier M, Barrandon E et al. Excess body weight and second primary cancer risk after breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2012; 135(3): 647-654. 
  35. Aune D, Lau R, Chan DS et al. Nonlinear reduction in risk for colorectal cancer by fruit and vegetable intake based on meta-analysis of prospective studies. Gastroenterology 2011; 141(1): 106-118. 
  36. Aune D, Chan DS, Lau R et al. Dietary fibre, whole grains, and risk of colorectal cancer: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. BMJ 2011; 343 d6617. 
  37. Chan DS, Lau R, Aune D et al. Red and processed meat and colorectal cancer incidence: meta-analysis of prospective studies.  PLoS One 2011; 6(6): e20456. 
  38. Touvier M, Chan DS, Lau R et al. Meta-analyses of vitamin D intake, 25-hydroxyvitamin D status, vitamin D receptor polymorphisms, and colorectal cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2011; 20(5): 1003-1016. 

CUP systematic literature review

Previous SLRs

More than 18 CUP SLRs have been conducted since 2007.

They are available for download at https://www.wcrf.org/diet-and-cancer/

Current SLRs

As part of the on-going work for the CUP Global, we are currently reviewing: 

Our review process and methods are as described in the SLR Specification Manual (version 15) (Systematic Literature Review Specification Manual (PDF). 

Latest News

25 October 2022.

Our series of systematic literature reviews on body weight, physical activity, diet and breast cancer prognosis are finally out, thanks to the hard work of the CUP Global Team, WCRF/AICR Expert Panel, WCRF Secretariats, and many more.
 

Our four reviews have been published in the International Journal of Cancer and can be find via the links below: 

Post-diagnosis body fatness, recreational physical activity, dietary factors and breast cancer prognosis: Global Cancer Update Programme summary of evidence grading. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.34320 

Post-diagnosis recreational physical activity and breast cancer prognosis: Global Cancer Update Programme systematic literature review and meta-analysis. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.34324 

Post-diagnosis body fatness, weight change and breast cancer prognosis: Global Cancer Update Programme systematic literature review and meta-analysis. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.34322

Post-diagnosis dietary factors, supplement use and breast cancer prognosis: Global Cancer Update Programme systematic literature review and meta-analysis. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.34321 

24 October 2022.
 

The CUP Global Team and the Team from World Cancer Research Fund International were at the World Cancer Congress, 18-20 Oct 2022. Attendees of the conference had shown great interest in our work on cancer prevention and survival. 

Link: https://www.worldcancercongress.org/about/wcc2022-geneva

10 November 2021.

CUP team member Nerea Becerra Tomás will be speaking at the "XXI Congreso Argentino de Nutrición / 1st Virtual SAN Congress", which will be held entirely online from 10-13 November 2021.

She will talk about the myths and truths behind dairy products and their impact on chronic diseases.

The pre-recorded plenary session will take place from 11:15 - 12:00 GMT-3 on 12 November 2021.

Link: http://sanutricion.org.ar/evento.html

8 November 2021.

CUP team members, Margarita Cariolou and George Markozannes will each be giving an oral presentation at the National Cancer Research Institute Festival that is taken place online from 8-12 November 2021.

They will be presenting the findings from our latest WCRF/AICR CUP systematic literature reviews on diet, nutrition and physical activity and breast cancer survival, and on physical activity interventions and health-related quality of life in women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Their sessions – Focus on breast cancer – will be live from 17:15-18.15 GMT on 9 November 2021, and their posters will be available for viewing anytime during the festival.

See you there.

Link: https://conference.ncri.org.uk/

1 November 2021.

Co-Principal Investigator of the CUP, Doris Chan, will be speaking at the 2021 AICR Research Conference, taking place fully virtually from 1st to 3rd November 2021.

She will talk about the WCRF/AICR CUP approach to assessing the strength of evidence on diet, nutrition and physical activity and cancer. The pre-recorded session will be freely accessible during the conference and she will be attending the allocated Q&A session.

Link: https://www.aicr.org/research/aicr-research-conference/