Science Talk
With our Science Talk blog, we hope to lift the lid on the black box that is the ICR: to show you inside our labs, to introduce you to a few of the people here who make the discoveries, and to allow them to tell some of the stories behind the science. We try to put our discoveries in a wider scientific context, and give an idea of how our science is actually done. We also give you the view from the ICR of important developments in the wider world of cancer research.
ESMO 2022: Cancer researchers rendezvous in Paris
ICR scientists will be presenting at this years ESMO annual meeting. We take a look at some of the presentations.
What are combination therapies for cancer treatment?
Combination therapies combine two or more different types of treatments for cancer patients. Hattie Hayeck interviewed Professor Chris Jones and Professor Udai Banerji to delve into some of the challenges and opportunities of combination therapies.
“I want to raise awareness of sarcoma” – Janine’s story
During Sarcoma Awareness Month, Janine tells us about her son, Harry, and why raising awareness of rarer cancers is so important.
What is discovery science?
When cancer research hits the headlines, it’s often clinical trial results or a potential new test or treatment for patients. However, these breakthroughs would never be possible without earlier fundamental discoveries by scientists in the lab. Hannah Taylor Lewis takes a look at the role of discovery science in cancer research.
‘Immunotherapy is giving hope to cancer patients like me’: Alison’s story
Alison, 61, was diagnosed with advanced non-small cell lung cancer in 2018. After four years of treatment on a combination therapy of immunotherapy and chemotherapy, she has no cancer on her scans.
ASCO 2022: ICR researchers hit the headlines with innovative approaches to cancer treatment and care
The first in-person ASCO conference since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic took place in Chicago over the weekend. Many researchers from the ICR and The Royal Marsden presented their work in the form of talks or posters. Here we look back over some of our highlights of this year’s meeting.
ASCO 2022: Cancer researchers unite for in-person meeting
World-leading cancer researchers will be gathering in Chicago from 3 to 7 June for the ASCO Annual Meeting – the first to take place in person since the Covid-19 pandemic. We look ahead at some of the ICR’s research highlights that will be presented at this year’s meeting.
“Seven years ago I was told I had just months to live” – Karen’s story of living well with cancer
Karen, 59, was told she only had months to live when she was diagnosed with bowel cancer seven years ago. Now, she lives 'near normal life' on a combination of chemotherapy and the targeted drug cetuximab. Here she tells her story.
The Chemical Probes Portal: helping scientists find the right tools for their research
Chemical probes have become increasingly important in understanding protein function and drug discovery, but they vary in quality. Alisa Crisp spoke to the team behind the Chemical Probes Portal, who hope to change how scientists use these essential tools to improve the robustness of cancer research.
AACR 2022: Major cancer conference aims to decode cancer's complexity
With the 2022 AACR Annual Meeting kicking off later this week, Alisa Crisp, Diana Cano and Hattie Hayeck look at some of the pioneering research that will be presented by our researchers at the conference.
“I think the cancer is done now” – Gerry’s story
Gerry was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2000. During Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, he tells us what research has brought him.
International Women’s Day 2022: meet ICR entrepreneur-in-residence Heather King
Heather King is one of the entrepreneurs-in-residence here at The Institute of Cancer Research. As part of a programme of entrepreneurial activities overseen by our Business and Innovation Office, Heather is working closely with our researchers – ultimately, aiming to help develop more new products, services and companies to benefit cancer patients. For International Women’s Day, she spoke to Rose Wu about her journey in science and industry, and her advice for the women leaders of the future.
"Being diagnosed with cancer changed the way I work" – Surinder’s story
Nurse consultant Surinder tells us how her experience of cancer changed the way she cares for patients.
How reliable are direct-to-consumer genetic tests when interpreting cancer risk?
At-home genetic testing has gained a lot of traction in recent years, raising many ethical issues. Diana Cano talked to world-leading cancer genetics expert Professor Ros Eeles to find out more about the promises and dangers of direct-to-consumer tests in helping to manage cancer risk.
A different point of view: finding new ways to image cancer
Professor James O’Connor and his team work on developing new ways to image cancer, with a particular focus on imaging tumour cells that don’t receive enough oxygen – a phenomenon called hypoxia that can lead to treatment resistance. Céleste Nilges spoke to him to find out more.
Why we’re giving Lucas a legacy – Jo’s story of losing her son to a brain tumour
Jo Williams and her husband set up the charity Lucas’ Legacy after losing their son, Lucas, to a brain tumour when he was nearly seven years old. Their support has helped fund our life-changing research into childhood brain tumours. Jo shares their story.
Applying Charles Darwin’s theories to expose cancer’s secrets
To celebrate Darwin Day, we spoke to Professor Trevor Graham who soon joins us as the new Director of our Centre for Evolution and Cancer. Julia Bakker found out more about his research, how he’s inspired by Charles Darwin, and where he hopes to take our Centre in years to come.
International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2022: thoughts from our researchers to the next generation
To mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science this year, we're sharing some words of encouragement and advice from our scientists to inspire the next generation of young women starting out in STEM.
The exciting potential of radioactive elements in cancer treatment
The element lutetium has made headlines around the world recently. In its radioactive ‘Lu-177’ form, as part of the drug Lu-177-PSMA, it has exciting potential as a cancer treatment – as our researchers here at The Institute of Cancer Research have helped to demonstrate.
So how does it work – and what other radioactive elements have been used as cancer treatments?
Sequencing, drugging and interpreting genomes: Where is genomics going next?
The 2022 Festival of Genomics and Biodata took place last week. Our Media Officer Diana Cano reports on some of the talks, with topics ranging from cancer genomics to drug development.