Addressing behavioral risk factors in Translational Cancer Research

Advances in genomics and related technologies have raised expectations of improved population-level benefits for cancer patients. Such improvements, however, will not be realized quickly if research remains in “omic” silos, a factor that prevents translation of discoveries into reductions in the burden of cancer (1). Although less than 15% of basic science discoveries are translated into clinical practice, a process that can take 17 years (2), current approaches to translational cancer research do not provide sufficient consideration to the range of influences, including behavioral risk factors, which are likely to affect population health. These factors, which contribute to the development and prognosis of cancer, have not been adequately considered. This deficiency may be due, in part, to varying definitions of translational research, conceptual and methodological challenges to conducting such research, and the poorly articulated role of behavioral sciences in translational research.