2025: A Year of Breakthroughs and Hope in Cancer Research
As we bid farewell to 2025, it's time to reflect on a year that has left an indelible mark on the world of cancer research. From groundbreaking discoveries to inspiring stories of resilience, this year has been a testament to the power of scientific inquiry and human determination.
Unveiling the Heroes: Our Cancer Detectives
We began the year by shining a spotlight on our incredible scientists, the real-life cancer detectives, through the captivating documentary series, "Cancer Detectives: Finding the Cures." Their dedication and expertise have been instrumental in pushing the boundaries of what we know and how we treat this complex disease.
But here's where it gets controversial...
Exercise: The Unlikely Cancer Treatment?
One of the most intriguing findings of 2025 was the potential role of exercise in cancer treatment. Our researchers, through the CHALLENGE CO 21 trial, discovered that structured exercise routines, supported by a trainer, could significantly improve survival rates for colon cancer patients. Patients in this program were 37% less likely to succumb to the disease in the eight years following their treatment.
Professor Charles Swanton, our chief clinician, emphasized the remarkable benefits of exercise, stating, "For some people with colon cancer, physical activity can be a game-changer, altering the course of their recovery."
Keeping Bowel Cancer at Bay: A Collaborative Effort
Colon cancer, a form of bowel cancer, has been a focus of our efforts this year. With bowel cancer being the fourth most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in the UK, we made a significant investment to tackle this disease head-on.
In March, we committed Β£5.5 million to form CRC-STARS, an international consortium of scientists dedicated to developing precision medicine for bowel cancer. This ambitious initiative, supported by various partners, aims to bring together 40 research experts from across the UK, Spain, Italy, and Belgium to revolutionize bowel cancer treatment.
Precision medicine, a highly personalized approach, has shown remarkable success in treating certain cancers like BRCA breast cancers. However, its application to other common cancers, like bowel, has been slower. CRC-STARS aims to change that, offering hope for a kinder, more effective treatment approach.
Liver, Breast, and Blood Cancer: Breakthroughs in Precision Medicine
Our exploration of precision medicine extended beyond bowel cancer. Liver cancer, despite decreasing death rates for most cancer types, has emerged as one of the fastest-rising causes of cancer death. But this year, our researchers found a glimmer of hope with a new drug combination.
A study co-funded with Wellcome revealed that a combination of cladribine and lenvatinib almost completely eradicated the most common form of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, in lab models. This breakthrough offers a new way forward in the fight against liver cancer.
And the good news doesn't stop there. Our phase 3 PARTNER trial found that combining the targeted drug olaparib with chemotherapy before surgery was a safe and effective treatment for BRCA mutated breast cancers. All 39 patients who received this combination survived three years after treatment, highlighting the potential of this new approach.
Personalized Treatment: Minimizing Side Effects
While chemotherapy remains a highly effective cancer treatment, its side effects can be challenging. Our researchers at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute have developed a new DNA test that predicts whether cancers will resist the three most common chemotherapy drugs. This test allows doctors to prescribe the most effective therapy from the outset, reducing unnecessary side effects.
Dr. Iain Foulkes, our executive director of research and innovation, emphasized, "The days of chemotherapy as a one-size-fits-all treatment are coming to an end. We're moving towards a future where personalized cancer treatment is the norm."
Liquid Biopsies: A Non-Invasive Approach
Liquid biopsies, a non-invasive method of obtaining genomic insights into tumors, have the potential to revolutionize personalized treatment. Our SMPaeds program, co-funded with Children with Cancer UK, has developed a new blood test that acts like a high-tech fishing net, capturing and analyzing DNA scraps from small blood samples. This circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) provides valuable clues about a cancer without the need for surgery.
Additionally, Professor Beth Psaila and her team at the University of Oxford made a remarkable discovery. They found that platelets act as tiny sponges, absorbing and storing DNA scraps that enter the bloodstream, including DNA released by cancer cells. This extra genetic information could enhance the effectiveness of liquid biopsies, potentially detecting cancer at its earliest stages.
A Glimpse into the Future: 2026 and Beyond
Our journey continues, and with each research endeavor, we move closer to a world where cancer is prevented, detected, and treated more effectively. The potential for these breakthroughs to revolutionize cancer care is immense, and we are excited to see what the future holds.
Amal
CRC-STARS: Colorectal Cancer β Stratification of Therapies through Adaptive Responses
