Research within this theme, under the direction of Christine Ambrosone, PhD, is comprised of programs in Epidemiology and Chemoprevention.

The epidemiology program focuses on studies of cancer risk and prognosis, with an emphasis on the role of nutrition and other factors, as well as genetics, in carcinogenesis, with case-control or cohort studies in cancers of the breast, prostate, lung, and ovary, as well as melanoma and leukemia. The role that lifestyle factors, such as diet and supplement use, play in treatment outcomes, including toxicity during cancer therapy and long-term outcomes, is also a key area of research.

Molecular epidemiological studies of cancer prognosis include research on pharmacogenetics, and genetic variability in a number of other biological and genetic pathways.

A key resource for research within Cancer Prevention and Control is the Data Bank and Biorepository (DBBR), a CCSG Core Resource which provides biological specimens and epidemiological and clinical data to investigators for studies of etiology, early detection, and treatment outcomes. The DBBR has enrolled thousands of patients from numerous cancer site clinics, as well as community controls, providing a rich resource of data for numerous moleculare epidemiological studies.