ABSTRACT

According to the World Health Organization, cancer is a major cause of death worldwide, ≈ 13% of all deaths. Deaths by cancer are expected to rise to > 13.1 million in the next two decades, being ≈ 70% of all cancer deaths in low-and middle-income countries. Among women, the most frequent type is breast cancer, with an age-standardized rate per 100,000 of ≈ 66, while it is lung cancer among men, with an age-standardized rate of ≈ 62 (Jemal et al. 2011). The main objective of research in this fi eld is to develop therapeutic strategies that cure the disease, or signifi cantly prolong the life of the patient and improve its quality of life.