Medication use and cancer
Drugs play a key role in medicine, including the treatment and prevention of cancer. We know that some medicines used to treat a disease other than cancer may increase the risk of developing cancer, while others may protect against cancer.
In pharmacoepidemiology, the use, safety, and effect (positive and negative) of drugs after they have been used in the population are studied.
The Cancer Registry conducts several pharmacoepidemiology research studies. Some of our researchers are studying the safety of drugs used in cancer treatment. An example is a study of the side effects of a drug used in the spread of cancer to the skeleton.
Some researchers study how common prescripted drugs affect the risk of cancer, while others study specifically, for example, how certain medicines can affect the immune system or sensitivity to UV radiation, which in turn can have an effect on mole cancer.
The Cancer Registry also has its own research group that focuses on vaccines against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that causes cervical cancer, among other things.
Ongoing projects
Cost and treatment of patients with lung cancer
Using data compiled from several Norwegian registries, this study will investigate health service costs and treatment patterns in patients with locally advanced and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer
New cancer treatment and survival
The number of cancer survivors is increasing and this is partly due to improved cancer treatment. In this study, we investigate whether new, expensive cancer treatments reduce the need for other palliative treatments and how much new cancer drugs increase overall survival in the population.
Mapping of drugs and cancer
This large-scale, registry-based project will investigate whether drugs are associated with cancer incidence. The project will also develop a statistical tool for monitoring prescription drugs with regard to cancer risk.
Prescribed drugs and cutaneous melanoma
In this project, we examine whether some of the most commonly used groups of medications can increase the risk of developing melanoma by affecting the immune system or our sensitivity to UV rays.
Drugs and prognosis for melanoma
Melanoma is the fastest-growing form of cancer in Norway, and the country has the highest mortality rate in Europe. In this study, we are investigating whether blood pressure-regulating medications can slow down the progression of melanoma and be beneficial in terms of prognosis (recurrence, development of metastases, and mortality).
Use of presripted drugs and cancer
Medications can affect cancer risk; menopausal hormone therapy can for instance influence the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. The aim of the project is to study associations between medication use and the risk of cancer and prognosis after a cancer diagnosis.
INSPIRE
The Cancer Registry of Norway now has information on drug cancer treatment, thanks to the INSPIRE project. There are data from both drug cancer treatment given in hospitals and drugs given on H-prescription.
Gene activity in testicular cancer
Testicular cancer is the most frequent cancer among young men. The cause of the disease is largely unknown, but hereditary factors and conditions during pregnancy are important. Insight into gene activity in testicular cancer can provide better biomarkers and more precise diagnostics.
