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Open research questions in Cancer Risks and Factors

100 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 584 Cancer Risks and Factors papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • Comparisons across studies are, however, limited by the heterogeneous retail food environment exposures used, and should be replicated in other settings to understand generalizability.

    Characteristics of the Retail Food Environment and Associations With Cancer Outcomes: A Scoping Review · 2026 · DOI

  • Obesity is a well-established risk factor for several cancers, yet the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood.

    Hyperplasia Functions as a Link between Obesity and Cancer · 2026 · DOI

  • However, although it is known to have negative effects during breastfeeding, it has not been examined in detail as the pregnancy period.

    Effects of prenatal maternal smoking on placental IGF-1, leptin, and HPL expression and breastfeeding practices · 2026 · DOI

  • Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are approved to treat these comorbidities; however, their associations with BC survival and recurrence remain unclear.

    Survival and Recurrence With GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Breast Cancer · 2026 · DOI

  • No standardized protocol exists for stage IB3 cervical cancer diagnosed at 21 weeks of gestation.

    Multimodality therapy for stage IB3 cervical cancer with a delayed diagnosis at 21 weeks of gestation: from neoadjuvant chemotherapy to adjuvant chemoradiotherapy—a case report · 2026 · DOI

  • Our review, coupled with new case data, fills a current gap in the literature and provides practical insights.

    Vulvar and vaginal cancer during pregnancy: A pooled analysis of 15 cases from the International Network on Cancer, Infertility and Pregnancy and review of the literature · 2025 · DOI

  • However, the long-term trends and demographic patterns of total cancer burden attributable to high BMI in China have not been fully characterized.

    Long-term trends in the burden of cancer attributable to high body mass index in China from 1990 to 2021 · 2025 · DOI

  • The role of carbohydrates remains unclear, but women may benefit from reducing their intake of high glycemic index foods.

    Lifestyle and Breast Cancer: Prevention and Treatment Support · 2025 · DOI

  • BACKGROUND: Literature on the effects of prenatal exposure to platinum-based chemotherapy on the auditory capacity of the offspring is scarce.

    Hearing assesment in children after intrauterine exposure to platinum-based treatment of pregnant cancer patients: A study from the International Network on Cancer, Infertility and Pregnancy · 2025 · DOI

  • BACKGROUND: The intricate mechanisms that associate obesity with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remain to be disclosed.

    Interleukin-1β mediates a tumor-supporting environment prompted by IGF1 in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) · 2025 · DOI

  • This research sought to explore opportunities to improve future care for pregnant women with cancer, by describing the outcomes of a survey distributed to physicians all over the world focusing on clinical experience with pregnant women with cancer, the organization of care and current gaps in knowledge.

    Results of an international survey on the current organization of care for pregnant women with cancer · 2024 · DOI

  • Responses demonstrate a wide variation in the organization of care - generally lacking centralization, and the physicians' acknowledgement of insufficient knowledge on the management of pregnant women with cancer.

    Results of an international survey on the current organization of care for pregnant women with cancer · 2024 · DOI

  • There is limited information about the sociodemographic characteristics and alcohol use correlates of awareness of the alcohol use and breast cancer link, and this is critically important for health promotion and intervention efforts.

    Demographic disparities in the limited awareness of alcohol use as a breast cancer risk factor: empirical findings from a cross-sectional study of U.S. women · 2024 · DOI

  • However, a detailed understanding of the disease burden of high BMI and CRC remains lacking.

    The global burden of colorectal cancer attributable to high body-mass index in 204 countries and territories: findings from 1990 to 2021 and predictions to 2035 · 2024 · DOI

  • BACKGROUND: During the last decade, there has been a growing number of cases of children born from pregnancy-associated cancer (PAC), however there are currently insufficient data on the follow up to be observed in this category of newborns.

    Neonatal outcomes and follow-up of children born to women with pregnancy-associated cancer: a prospective observational study · 2024 · DOI

  • Thus, respondents with colon cancer tend to consume sweets, pastries and even fast food or fried foods more often, while the daily consumption of vegetables and fruits is insufficient, according to the recommendations of nutrition guidelines (a minimum of four portions per day).

    An Assessment of Behavioral Risk Factors in Oncology Patients · 2024 · DOI

  • Importance: With the widespread use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), concerns about their pregnancy outcomes through maternal exposure have emerged, and clinical comparative data are lacking.

    Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Use During Pregnancy and Outcomes in Pregnant Individuals and Newborns · 2024 · DOI

  • The optimal choice between conventional chemotherapy and immunotherapy for first-line treatment remains uncertain in patients with obesity who potentially have an inadequate therapeutic response to immunotherapy.

    Immunotherapy and Overall Survival Among Patients With Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer and Obesity · 2024 · DOI

  • IMPORTANCE: The association between obesity and response to cancer treatment and survival remains unclear, with conflicting findings from various studies.

    Immunotherapy and Overall Survival Among Patients With Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer and Obesity · 2024 · DOI

  • Importance: The risk factors for interval breast cancer (IBC) compared with those for screen-detected breast cancer (SBC) and their association with mortality outcomes have not yet been evaluated among Korean women.

    Risk Factors and Mortality Among Women With Interval Breast Cancer vs Screen-Detected Breast Cancer · 2024 · DOI

  • The current classification of BCAAT is incomplete and does not fully capture its heterogeneity. There is a need for a more detailed understanding of the stromal cellular elements within peritumoral adipose tissue and their impact on breast cancer.

    Breast Cancer-Associated Adipose Tissue Histologic Subtypes: Microscopic Characterization and Their Impact on Prognosis and Survival, Depending on Age · 2026 · DOI

  • The combined impact of obesity and type 2 diabetes on adiposity-related cancer risk is less understood. The study aims to address this gap by investigating the synergistic effects of obesity and type 2 diabetes on cancer risk.

    Synergistic effects of obesity and type 2 diabetes on adiposity-related cancer risk across age strata · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need for further research into the association between pregnancy complications and cancer risk. The review highlights the need for further studies to confirm the findings and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

    The association of pregnancy complications/risk factors with the development of cancer in women: an umbrella review · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should investigate additional pregnancy complications and risk factors and clarify the underlying mechanisms linking GDM and pre-eclampsia with cancer in later life.

    The association of pregnancy complications/risk factors with the development of cancer in women: an umbrella review · 2026 · DOI

  • Ensuring psychological safety and pregnancy status during diagnosis and treatment. Managing the risks of chemotherapy to the fetus during pregnancy. Balancing the need for effective cancer treatment with the need to preserve the pregnancy.

    Diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer during pregnancy: a comprehensive review · 2026 · DOI

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100 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 584 Cancer Risks and Factors papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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