Cancer discovery news
Our researchers are making the discoveries that defeat cancer. Read the latest findings from our world-leading research.
Visit our main news hub to read about news on new funding, our fundraising activities and much more. If you want to keep updated on our news, you can follow us on social media or sign up for our Search newsletter.
If you’re a journalist and want to find out more, you can contact our media relations team.
Mathematical model maps out 'arms race' between cancer and immune system and predicts effectiveness of immunotherapy
Researchers have created a mathematical model that can determine the impact of the immune system on tumour evolution.
Major ‘plasmaMATCH’ trial uses blood test to match women with breast cancer to range of precision treatments
A blood test that can identify a variety of mutations in advanced breast cancer can reliably match women to effective targeted treatments, early results of a major clinical trial reveal.
ICR welcomes approval of immunotherapy for head and neck cancer in Scotland but warns of ‘home nations lottery’
The ICR has welcomed the approval by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) of the immunotherapy, pembrolizumab, as a first-line NHS treatment for some patients with head and neck cancer.
Children and young people with cancer who have relapsed can get rapid access to new treatments thanks to new clinical trial
Children and young people in the UK with cancers that have come back can now access new personalised treatments quicker than ever before thanks to a national tumour biopsy sequencing platform and clinical trial.
Hard-to-treat pancreatic cancer hijacks immune system and could be targeted with immunotherapies
Scientists have used artificial intelligence to reveal an aggressive form of pancreatic cancer that is more likely to respond to immunotherapy, in the most extensive analysis of the immune landscape of these tumours to date.
Teaching evolutionary theory to artificial intelligence reveals cancer’s life history
Scientists have developed the most accurate computing method to date to reconstruct the patchwork of genetic faults within tumours and their history during disease development.
Kick-starting the ICR: an interview with PhD student Iona Black
As our #KickstartICR appeal draws to a close, we spoke to PhD student Iona Black about her research and the importance of fundraising for cancer research.
ICR research ranks in top five globally for academic influence, collaboration and commercial impact
The Institute of Cancer Research has again ranked among the top higher education institutions in the world for the impact of our research academically and commercially.
Scientists discover three new genetic variants linked to male breast cancer
UK scientists have discovered three new genetic changes that increase the risk of breast cancer in men, in the world’s largest genetic study of the causes of male breast cancer to date.
Computer-assisted ultrasound imaging could help deliver more accurate radiotherapy for prostate cancer
A computer algorithm which helps radiographers interpret ultrasound images could improve radiotherapy treatment for patients with prostate cancer, a new study suggests.
Immune system could be trained to spot drug-resistant cancers
Aggressive cancers could be treated with immunotherapies that direct the immune system to kill cancer cells with specific drug resistance-causing mutations, a major new study suggests.
Study strengthens calls to clear cancer diagnosis backlog
Delays to cancer referral through reduced use of the urgent GP referral pathway during the coronavirus pandemic could result in more than a thousand additional deaths in England, a new study reports.