Continuously Updating the Evidence

The CUP is the world’s largest central resource for scientific evidence on diet, physical activity, body weight and cancer. To date, the CUP has added more than 2,600 papers on eight cancers – breast, prostate, colon, pancreatic, endometrial, ovarian, bladder and kidney – and is in the early stages of reviewing new research on breast cancer survivors.

All relevant research on the topic is systematically identified and gathered by a team of scientists at Imperial College, London. An independent panel of expert scientists then analyzes all the research to reach a conclusion that gives people evidence-based recommendations on reducing their cancer risk. The CUP is the only project logging and analyzing these data.

For some cancers, there has been as much research on lifestyle factors conducted in the past seven years as was carried out over the preceding fifty.

Thus far, the CUP reports have produced clear evidence about the risk factors for breast and colorectal cancer – two of the most common cancers in the world. It found that a high level of red and processed meat consumption and greater body fatness increase colorectal cancer risk, while being physically active and eating a fiber-rich diet reduce it. Similarly, greater body fatness and alcohol intake increase breast cancer risk, and physical activity and breastfeeding reduce risk.

The panel also continually reviews analytic methods as the process evolves, ensuring the scientific community can be confident that the most up-to-date information is available.