Why do some people never get cancer?

Innovative Canadian Cancer Society study of extremely healthy "super seniors" aims to find out

VANCOUVER, March 12, 2015 /CNW/ - For more than 80 years, Dal Richards has entertained hundreds of thousands of fans as a big band leader in Vancouver. At 97 years old, the legendary Richards has no plans to tone down his busy schedule, and aims to host his 80th consecutive New Year's Eve party. "I walk a mile every day. I think my love of music and travel, as well as the fun of leading the band and entertaining audiences keeps me healthy," says Richards.

Richards is one of 500 super seniors taking part in a new research study to determine why some people live cancer-free into their 80s, 90s and beyond 100.

"Both my younger brother and sister died from cancer," he says, "and I'm hopeful that this study will find clues into why people like me don't get cancer."

"It appears that some of these amazingly healthy super seniors, who are still active and busy at an advanced age, could be genetically protected from cancer-causing mutations," says the study's lead investigator Dr. Angela Brooks-Wilson of the BC Cancer Agency and Simon Fraser University. "There is also lots of evidence from other studies that lifestyle behaviours, such as not smoking, eating a balanced diet, cutting down on alcohol and getting regular exercise, play a huge role in not getting cancer."

The super senior research project was named as the Canadian Cancer Society's first Great Canadian Innovation Grant. Funding comes from a generous group of donors who responded to the Society's appeal to raise $200,000 in one week to fund an innovation grant.

"We thought this would be an innovative way to engage Canadians directly in cancer research. We were overwhelmed with the support, and everyone who donated to make this grant possible can feel proud of the opportunity they are creating for the research community," says Dr Siân Bevan, Director of Research at the Canadian Cancer Society. "The Great Canadian Innovation Grant is a reflection of the strength we have when we come together from coast to coast to support Canadians touched by cancer."

"I would like to thank all the generous donors who make this research project possible. With their support, our goal is to provide more Canadians the chance to live longer, healthier lives" says Brooks-Wilson.

About the super seniors project
Brooks-Wilson and her team painstakingly gathered detailed information from 500 healthy people aged 85 to 109, mainly in the Vancouver area. The seniors provided medical, family and lifestyle information, as well as a blood sample, and were tested for physical and mental function. She and co-leader Dr. Denise Daley, of St. Paul's Hospital and UBC, will compare the genes of the super seniors to those of more than 100,000 people, some who have cancer and some who don't.

"We already know that many people who live to an incredibly healthy old age actually do have gene sequences that contribute to cancer in the general population, but for some reason they do not develop the disease. We suspect there is something that protects them from getting sick by overriding the cancer-causing genes," says Brooks-Wilson.

The ultimate goal of this research is to identify possible genetic "override switches," which could eventually lead to the development of anti-cancer drugs. It's possible that such drugs, combined with a healthy lifestyle, could help other people to have a lower risk of getting cancer.

The study is accepting new super seniors from across Canada and internationally. If you are 85 or older and have never been diagnosed with cancer, cardiovascular disease or stroke, dementia, major lung disease or diabetes, we welcome you to participate in the research study. We also welcome anyone over 100, regardless of their health. Visit the Canadian Cancer Society's website here for details.

Another super senior over 100
He's 106, but Dr Robert Wiener isn't ready to slow down. He's on his exercise bike every day, and does 2 exercise classes a week, plus yoga and tai chi. A retired oral surgeon and the oldest resident in his Montreal retirement home, he says his secret to a long, healthy life is a combination of good genes and a healthy lifestyle. "Laughter is the best medicine," he says. "Exercise a lot, eat properly and don't stop at the pub too often."

More about the Great Canadian Innovation Grant
On November 25, 2014, and the week leading up to GivingTuesday on December 2, 2014, Canada's leading cancer charity reached out to Canadians to join together and raise $200,000 to establish the Great Canadian Innovation Grant – a high-risk, high-reward, cancer research project.

About Canadian Cancer Society Innovation Grants
As competition for grant funding increases, expert-review panels become more conservative and risk averse, emphasizing feasibility more than innovation. "The goal of the Innovation grants program is to support unconventional concepts or approaches to address important problems in cancer," says Dr Bevan. Innovation projects will include elements of creativity, curiosity, investigation, exploration and opportunity. Successful projects may be based on high risk ideas, but will have the potential for high reward (i.e. to significantly increase our understanding of cancer and generate new approaches to combat the disease by introducing novel ideas into use or practice). Learn more about the Innovation grants here.

About the Canadian Cancer Society
The Canadian Cancer Society funds the best cancer research in Canada, thanks to our generous donors and our rigorous expert-review process. We are the largest national charitable funder of cancer research in Canada, funding hundreds of researchers in universities, hospitals and research centres every year. Together we are discovering new ways to change cancer forever. For more information or to donate, visit cancer.ca or call our toll-free bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1-888-939-3333 (TTY 1-866-786-3934).

SOURCE Canadian Cancer Society (National Office)

For further information: Christine Harminc, Manager, Communications, Canadian Cancer Society, 416 934-5340, [email protected]