Cancer Epidemiology Research Unit

Acting Manager: Margaret I Urban
E-mail: margaret.urban@nhls.ac.za

The Cancer Epidemiology Research Unit (CERU) was established in 2000 under the directorship of Professor Freddy Sitas by the MRC, the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), the then South African Institute for Medical Research (SAIMR), and the University of the Witwatersrand.  Currently (2009) funding is received from the MRC, the NHLS (formerly the SAIMR), and Wits.

Earlier research took place within the National Cancer Registry (NCR) with whom CERG maintains strong links.  The NCR and the CERG are located on the Braamfontein campus of the NHLS.

An estimated one in four South Africans will develop a cancer in their lifetime.  Approximately 80% of these are thought to be the end result of external, non-inherited factors which could potentially have been prevented.  The initial aim of CERG was to quantify the impact of common known cancer-causing agents (such as tobacco) within the South African context, as well as potential and escalating causes of cancer (such as hormonal contraceptives). 

Since early in the HIV epidemic the Unit has examined the impact of the HI virus on cancer patterns. This continues to be of major public health importance in light of the magnitude of the epidemic and the recent rollout of anti-retroviral therapy in the public sector.

CERG was one of the key groups that contributed to the discovery of human herpes virus 8 (HHV8) as a necessary cause of Kaposi’s sarcoma.  The Unit has also studied other viruses in relation to specific cancers and will continue with this line of investigation. 

The CERG was involved in developing the current death notification form, and in the subsequent ground-breaking analysis of the effect of smoking on causes of death in South Africa.

The main platform for CERG’s research is an on-going case-control study which began in Johannesburg’s tertiary hospitals in 1995.  To date, over 17 000 patients have been interviewed; over 90% have also donated blood specimens.  This study has created a unique and growing ‘biobank’ that can be used for future analyses of any pathogens or genetic factors linked to cancer, and their interaction with the socio-demographic and environmental data collected via the questionnaire.

Studies are currently being initiated to use the blood samples and data to evaluate genetic susceptibility to various cancers in South African populations.

Data from the study are also useful for monitoring health behaviours such as the uptake of Pap smears and HIV testing.

Professor Sitas emigrated from South Africa to Australia in December 2002, where he is Director (Research and Registers) at the New South Wales Cancer Council.  He continues to be involved in CERG data analysis and publications.  Dr Lara Stein was Acting Director from Dec 2002 until June 2009.