China, US anticancer cooperation inked

Washington D.C. (CNS) -- Official Chinese and American cancer institutes signed a cooperation agreement on Wednesday to share resources in cancer prevention, control and diagnosis.

This is the first example of bilateral cooperation on an anticancer campaign in 30 years, inked by Dr. He Jie at the Chinese Anti-cancer Association and Dr. Harold Varmus at the National Cancer Institute of the U.S.

China, home to a large number of cancer victims, and the U.S. with a fully developed pharmaceutical industry, are in a complementary relationship in the cooperation, Dr. He said.

For instance, victims of esophagus cancer, the fourth most common victim group in China, show different symptoms in the two countries, which had not been noticed until the two authorities established deep contact recently.

There are several programs included in the agreement; some, such as those regarding cervical carcinoma, breast and esophagus cancers, will be activated within the year. There will also be mutual exchanges on applying basic research to clinical practice.