Our objective is to contribute to the definition of efficient prevention policies. Regarding primary prevention, our work will characterise the cancer risk related to precancerous states (such as colorectal adenomas or cirrhosis), and contribute to a better understanding of the role of nutrition and metabolic factors in carcinogenesis.

Regarding secondary prevention, our objective is to reduce both the incidence and mortality from these cancers by improving prevention strategies in the general population and high risk groups.

We will continue our studies on health care patterns and practices. They are essential for assessing how new diagnostic and therapeutic methods have spread as well as for organising the health care system. Methodological developments are crucial in order to optimize survival analyses.

The introduction of molecular biology and proteomics in the field of cancer epidemiology is promising for identify according to their molecular profiles high risk relapse patients, for the development of new therapeutic treatments and for treatment strategy.

The coordination of large trials in digestive oncology remains an important part of our activity. Next to trials dealing with the evaluation of therapeutic strategies or with patient’s groups often neglected by pharmaceutical industry, we develop trials concerning innovative drugs or including satellite studies in the fiels of molecular biology, economic evaluation or quality of life, whose results are increasingly essential in therapeutic decision.