News and features

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Dr Joerg Mansfeld
Subtle chemical tweak helps determine whether cells grow, potentially affecting cancer risk

27/08/25

Researchers have discovered a tiny chemical switch inside our cells that helps control whether they keep dividing or stop for good – a finding that could influence future cancer therapies and deepen our understanding of ageing.
Tubulin (green) and DAPI (magenta) staining in H2228 lung cancer cells
Postdoc Maria Taskinen wins ICR Science and Medical Image Competition 2025

21/08/25

Seven images were shortlisted for this year’s annual Science and Medical Image competition, showcasing the eye-catching science being carried out at the ICR. Three winners were selected by a judging panel and the fourth was chosen by the public based on votes on social media.
New research reveals how combining viruses with targeted drugs can boost cancer-killing immune responses

20/08/25

Two studies have uncovered how combining a cancer-killing reovirus with targeted cancer drugs can dramatically boost immune responses and tumour destruction – offering a promising route to more effective, personalised cancer therapies.
How advances in microscopy are transforming structural biology at the ICR

07/08/25 - Robbie Lockyer

At The Institute of Cancer Research, London, our ability to visualise the intricate inner workings of cancer is going from strength to strength. Robbie Lockyer spoke with scientists using cutting-edge imaging techniques to uncover how these tools are helping us understand cancer in unprecedented detail.
Dame Stella Rimington
Dame Stella Rimington, former Chair of the ICR, dies aged 90

06/08/25

Dame Stella Rimington, who served as Chair of the Board of Trustees at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, from 1997 to 2005, died on 3 August 2025.
A picture of an MRI scanner
New MRI scan can spot tiny traces of blood cancer after treatment

04/08/25

Whole-body MRI scans provide powerful insights into treatment effectiveness and long-term outcomes for patients with myeloma, an incurable but treatable blood cancer.  Results from the iTIMM study led by The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research, London have shown that whole-body MRI scans (WB-MRI) can detect tiny traces of the disease, known as minimal residual disease (MRD), in the bone marrow after treatment. This can provide a crucial insight into how well patients with multiple myeloma are responding to treatment and whether they might relapse - offering a potential new standard in how this complex blood cancer is assessed. 
Small fragments, big impact: discovering the 'shearosomes' that drive cancer's spread

30/07/25

A collaborative study reveals an unexpected way cancer spreads through the body – by shedding tiny, previously unidentified fragments called shearosomes as tumour cells squeeze through narrow blood vessels. Shearosomes appear to actively influence their surroundings, supporting the growth of secondary tumours, offering new insights into how cancer spreads.
Turning cancer’s weakness into a weapon: 20 years of PARP inhibitors and BRCA research

29/07/25 - Robbie Lockyer

Two decades ago, a pivotal exchange between two scientists sparked a scientific and medical revolution. Professor Alan Ashworth, then Director of the Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and his collaborator Professor Steve Jackson had long known that inherited genetic mutations in the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 increase the risk of cancer. But, they wondered, what if those same mutations could be turned against the cancer itself?
Breast cancer cells (stained with anti-cytokeratin - green) invading through a layer of fibroblasts (stained for actin - red). Nuclei were counterstained with DAPI - blue
Breast cancer test predicts relapse risk in just two weeks – and could spare thousands of patients from unnecessary treatment

18/07/25

Thousands of women with breast cancer could be spared unnecessary treatment, thanks to a simple test which can identify whether or not their cancer is likely to return – just two weeks after starting treatment.
A picture of a radiotherapy machine in a hospital
Targeted radiotherapy just as effective for low-risk breast cancer and reduces risk of side effects

15/07/25

Thousands of women who undergo radiotherapy for low-risk breast cancer could be spared some of the side effects of treatment after a study confirmed that more targeted treatments are just as effective at controlling the disease in the long term.
Cells in pink are more clustered in the centre of the image, and spread out further away
Scientists discover how to remove skin cancer’s protective armour and stop it spreading

11/07/25

Scientists have uncovered a protein that acts like a ‘suit of armour’ for cancer cells, shielding them from hostile environments and allowing one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer to spread through the body.
New study reveals how oesophageal cancer adapts to treatment

03/07/25

Researchers have tracked how the most common form of oesophageal cancer and its immune environment change during a standard form of treatment – offering vital clues that could shape future therapies, so they work for longer.


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Through our close partnerships with The Royal Marsden and other key UK institutions, we're leading a wide breadth of cancer research across eight divisions and more than 25 research centres and strategic initiatives.