Science Talk

Blood cancer is an umbrella term for cancers of the blood, bone marrow and lymphatic system.

Karen Mawdsley’s daughter, Ellie, was diagnosed with DIPG (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma), an aggressive brain tumour, in December 2021. She sadly passed away in July 2023, aged 23. Ellie was determined to improve the lives of young people with brain cancer and selflessly donated her brain tissue to The Institute of Cancer Research. Her parents, Karen and Ian, are continuing her legacy and have set up The Ellie Mawdsley Foundation to raise awareness and fund further vital research into brain tumours in Ellie’s memory.

The 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, held from 30 May to 3 June, brought together leading oncologists and researchers from around the world for one of the most significant annual events in cancer research.

Markus was shocked when he was diagnosed with the blood cancer chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) in 2021. Determined to break down barriers and start conversations about cancer, Markus turned to art as a way of sharing his experiences.

From 30 May to 3 June, the world’s leading oncologists and researchers, including scientists from The Institute of Cancer Research, London, will converge at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. Here are some of the highlights of studies presented by or involving researchers from The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and our partners at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust at ASCO 2025.

Radiotheranostics is an exciting new field that has the potential to transform how cancers are detected and treated. Robbie Lockyer finds out more.

Clinical trials are an essential to part of cancer research. They allow researchers to test and refine promising treatments in people and potentially get them approved for wider use, to save lives. Without them, there would be no new drugs, no evidence-based care and no improvement in outcomes for people with cancer.

Dorian Burrows, 76, lives in Norfolk and was diagnosed with high-risk myeloma, a type of blood cancer, in 2019. As part of his treatment he was accepted onto the MUK9b OPTIMUM clinical trial, which was co-led by The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR). He has now been in remission for nearly four years.

Diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) are one of the most aggressive and hard-to-treat childhood cancers. These primary brain tumours, which are also sometimes called diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG), develop in the midline regions, including the thalamus, brainstem and spine, and most often affect children and young adolescents.

When personal trainer Gemma Seager, 45, injured her back while lifting weights, she assumed it would improve with rest. But after 10 months of pain, she was diagnosed with myeloma, a type of blood cancer, in June 2021. Thanks to treatment, she currently has no evidence of disease in her body and recently completed the London Marathon.

In April 2019, Claire Shepherd, now 34, began feeling unwell and constantly fatigued. Having initially put her symptoms down to her hectic lifestyle, she was shocked to be diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Now, six years on and following successful treatment, she is in remission and making the most of every day…

Despite significant advancements in cancer treatment, immunotherapy has shown limited success in treating prostate cancer due to the unique resistance mechanisms of its tumours. However, researchers at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, are optimistic about a new form of targeted immunotherapy that hopes to overcome these challenges.

Cecelia Brunott, 48, was diagnosed with myeloma in 2020. She had a stem cell transplant and is currently taking a targeted treatment to keep her cancer stable. She lives in Farnham, Surrey, with her wife Eva.

Blood cancer is an umbrella term for cancers affecting the blood, bone marrow or lymphatic system.

Karin Manchester, 65, was told she had a week to live after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), a type of blood cancer, in 2004. Thanks to successful treatment and taking part in a clinical trial, she has been in remission for over 20 years. 

Roslyn was 16 when she was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare soft tissue cancer. Now 27, and following successful treatment, she is running this year’s London Marathon to mark 10 years being cancer-free and to raise funds for our vital research.

Julius, 66, is a Black Belt 6th Dan karate instructor. Having been fit and healthy all his life, he was shocked to be diagnosed with stage 3 myeloma, a type of blood cancer, in September 2019. Now, thanks to treatment, he is in remission and continues to enjoy the martial arts that have been his passion for over 40 years.

In the Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, manual methods in research, such as pipetting, are taking a step back as sound waves help to deliver breakthroughs in cancer research. Robbie Lockyer spoke with the scientists using this pioneering technology.

Emma Godden, 51, has lost both her parents to cancer. Her dad, Arthur, passed away in 1986 when she was just 13 and her mum, Pauline, died in 2018. She reveals why she hopes to make a difference for cancer patients in the future by running this year’s London Marathon to fund our vital research.

The ICR, in collaboration with The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, has now taken delivery of the latest genome sequencing device, the NovaSeq X Plus. In this blog post, Mark Jones speaks with Shichina Kannambath, Manager of the ICR’s Genomics Facility, about what this technology will mean for our research capabilities.