- published: 06 May 2014
- views: 633270
Cancer research is basic research into cancer to identify causes and develop strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure.
Cancer research ranges from epidemiology, molecular bioscience to the performance of clinical trials to evaluate and compare applications of the various cancer treatment. These applications include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, Immunotherapy and combined treatment modalities such as chemo-radiotherapy. Starting in the mid-1990s, the emphasis in clinical cancer research shifted towards therapies derived from biotechnology research, such as cancer immunotherapy and gene therapy.
Early research on the cause of cancer was summarized by Haddow in 1958. The first chemical carcinogen was identified in 1928-29 as 1:2-5:6-dibenzanthracene, and the carcinogeneic substance in pitch was identified as 3:4-benzopyrene in 1933. Haddow concluded that “there can be little doubt of the importance of their [chemical] combination with the genetical material” as the source of the chemical mechanism of action of carcinogens. Brookes and Lawley, in 1964, summarized ongoing research into the causes of cancer. They referred to the competing hypotheses that carcinogens reacted mainly with proteins versus mainly with DNA. The direct research of Brookes and Lawley, testing carcinogenic hydrocarbons, indicated that they react with DNA. McCann et al. in 1975 and McCann and Ames, in 1976, tested 175 known carcinogens for interaction with DNA sufficient to cause mutations in their new Salmonella/microsome test. This test uses bacteria as sensitive indicators of DNA damage. They found that 90% of known carcinogens caused mutations in their test. They indicated that the carcinogens that did not cause mutations in their assay were likely due to the need for the carcinogens to be activated by enzymes not available in their system.
Cancer Research UK's vision is to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured. In the 1970s, less than a quarter of people with cancer survived. Today, half will beat cancer. Our ambition is to accelerate progress and see at least three quarters of people surviving the disease within the next 20 years. Watch our film to find out more and visit http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-us/our-organisation/beating-cancer-sooner-our-strategy. Let's beat cancer sooner.
Watch the experiences of real cancer patients in Cancer Research UK's new advert. Cancer is happening right now, Research is happening right now, Donate Right Now. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/support-us/donate
In this video, hear about 10-year-old Felix’s story and how he has coped being diagnosed with cancer at such a young age. To find out more about Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens, that is finding cures and kinder treatments for children like Felix, visit: cruk.org/kidsandteens.
Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens is our new campaign to raise more funds for research into cures and kinder treatments for cancers affecting children, teens and young adults. Find out more at www.cruk.org/kidsandteens
One day research will beat cancer. And the more research we do, the sooner that day will come. Please give now. Text BEAT to 70099 to donate £3 Share our latest TV ad with your friends and family and let us know what you think. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org
Radiotherapy is the use of high energy X-rays to treat cancer. It is a very common treatment for cancer. Learn what happens when you have radiotherapy for brain tumours and head and neck cancers. It is important when treating cancer to have the proper advice and to understand the treatments. This is a Cancer Research UK video. Learn more about radiotherapy at http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/radiotherapy/
Cancer Research UK scientists may have found the tools necessary to give immunotherapy the precision guidance that patients so desperately need. Read more about this research on our Science blog: http://po.st/YbfekN More than 150 years ago Charles Darwin first drew evolution like a tree, predicting that different species branch off from their ancestors. And we now know that as a tumour grows, it evolves too, leading to some parts being different from others. This makes it difficult for our immune system to tackle. Because, even though the body’s immune cells recognise there’s a problem and try to hold the cancer at bay, the tumour’s growing complexity can overwhelm them. But it’s become clear that even complex regions of tumours bear hallmarks of their origins, shown here in yellow. ...
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/ For the first time, as many people survive cancer as die from cancer. But we know that’s not good enough. We need to keep pushing. Keep striving. Keep fighting. So that one day, everyone will survive cancer. We will beat cancer sooner. Join the fight at cruk.org
Our vision is to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured. In the 1970s, less than a quarter of people with cancer survived. But over the last 40 years, survival has doubled -- today half will survive. Our ambition is to accelerate progress and see three-quarters of people surviving the disease within the next 20 years. Our new strategy will give us the foundations we need to tackle the challenges ahead.