The winners of this year's Nobel Prize for Medicine say they expect substantial advances toward treating cancer in the next several decades, although it is unlikely the disease could be eradicated. James Allison of the United States and Tasuku Honjo of Japan made the assessments at a Thursday news conference, days before they will receive the 9 million-kronor ($999,000) prize. They were named winners of the prize in October for their work in immunotherapy — activating the body's natural defense system to fight tumors.
'Soon we'll get close with some cancers,' Allison said, citing progress against some forms including melanoma. But, he said, 'the world will never be cancer-free.'
Addressing their statement, experts said that is, unfortunately, a fair assessment for many unpreventable types of cancer. But there are scores of cancers that can be prevented simply by bringing an end to cigarettes, improving diets and physical activity, and increasing the rate of people who receive the HPV vaccine.
