The goal is to double the survival rate of people with advanced cancer by using new lines of attack.
Speaking at the launch of a joint five-year research strategy by the Institute of Cancer Research, experts said that targeting non-cancerous cells within tumours could open up new frontiers in the fight against the disease.
The environment of a tumours affects its growth and spread. Prof Helin said that the disease is a complex ecosystems in which cancer cells evolve amid a mesh of cells and signals from surrounding tissue. Cancer is a challenge and opportunity for the next five years.
They plan to break the ability of cancer cells to give instructions to other cells. Cancer cells sometimes send signals to the bone marrow, instructing "slave cells" to create "nests" in other parts of the body where cancer cells could migrate to and set up secondary tumors. Interrupting these systems will stop the spread of cancer.
Experts are learning how they might use drugs that talk to the immune system, increasing its ability to recognise and destroy cancer cells, and blunting the activities of immune cells that are co-opted into protecting the cancer cells.
Genetically modified viruses can be used to target cancer cells and to drive a signal to reject the cancer and to kill those cancer cells.
In order to identify the disease in its earliest stages, scientists will expand their research. Tumours can leave tiny fragments of genetic material in the bloodstream which can be detected and used to inform treatment. Blood tests are being used to diagnose and treat cancer.
The Royal Marsden believes that this technology has the potential to transform cancer diagnosis, particularly for traditionally hard-to- detect tumours, so could lead to improvements in patient outcomes.
Artificial intelligence will be used to design new ways to combine drugs or adjust their dosages in order to increase the lifespan of people with advanced cancer.
You have to sign up for the first edition.
Every weekday morning, Archie and Nimo take you through the top stories.
"We plan to open up completely new lines of attack against cancer so we can overcome cancer's deadly ability to evolve and become resistant to treatment."
We want to find better targets for the drugs we can use. Powerful new ways to eradicate cancer proteins completely and discovering smarter combination treatments that attack cancer on multiple fronts are being discovered.
This three-pronged approach can help patients live longer with less side effects.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
