In a plenary session scheduled for Monday, April 19 at 8 a.m. at the AACR annual meeting in Washington, D.C., Bert Vogelstein, M.D., will offer his definition of the landscape of cancer genetics research for an audience of more than 10,000 scientists.

According to Vogelstein, he will review what scientists have learned about the cancer genome and his predictions for the field's future. He will discuss the total number of cancer genes discovered and how many genes have yet to be found. He'll also review the small number of core pathways through which all of these genes operate to turn normal cells into cancer cells.

Vogelstein says, "The single biggest challenge we face is how to apply this knowledge. We now have a mountain of information about cancer and the most difficult part is figuring out how to use this knowledge to help people."

Vogelstein is very clear about one research direction that he believes is currently undervalued but critical for overcoming this challenge: "I believe that the primary way in which cancer deaths will be reduced in the future is through early detection and prevention rather than through the cure of advanced disease."