Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide: about 12.7 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer every year, and 7.6 million of the diagnosed patients die because of this disease. It is estimated that in 2030, there will be 26 million new cases, and 17 million deaths per year worldwide [1]. This number of deaths is two and a half times higher than the number of deaths worldwide caused by complications from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria (all combined) [2]. The costs of cancer in global economy, including disability of patients, deaths and medical costs, are estimated at one trillion dollars [3], and approximately 57% of all types of cancer occur in developing countries and 43% in developed countries (excluding skin cancer)
Author(s): Paolo Ruggero Errante, Alberto Andrade Leite, Francisco Sandro Menezes-Rodrigues, Afonso Caricati-Neto and Leandro Bueno Bergantin