Integrating the geographic information system into cancer research.

Cancer control researchers seek to reduce the burden of cancer by studying interventions, their impact on defined populations, and the means by which they can be better used. The first step in cancer control is identifying where the cancer burden is elevated, which suggests locations where interventions are needed. Geographic information systems (GIS) and other spatial analytic methods provide such a solution and thus can play a major role in cancer control. The purpose of this article is to examine the impact of GIS on the direction of cancer research. It will consider the application of GIS techniques to research in cancer etiology.