Cancer discovery news

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Breast epithelial cells stained for DNA (magenta) and actin (green). Julia Sero / the ICR, 2011
Stress and adverse life events unlikely to cause breast cancer, major study finds

15/07/16

Day-to-day psychological stress and adverse life events are unlikely to increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer, according to a major new prospective study.
Photo: Jan Chlebik/ICR 2011
Simplifying access to gene testing for women with ovarian cancer improves treatment choices and could save lives

13/07/16

A new streamlined approach to genetic testing for women with ovarian cancer provides testing rapidly and affordably, allowing many more patients to benefit from personalised cancer management and their relatives to benefit from cancer prevention strategies.
Breast cancer cell
New test predicts breast cancer spread faster and more accurately than NHS test

10/07/16

A new test could predict the risk of a woman’s breast cancer spreading within 10 years of diagnosis more accurately than the current NICE-approved test, Oncotype DX, scientists have found.
Treated prostate cancer cells (Mateus Crespo/Prof Johann de Bono, the ICR)
Genetic testing can help deliver precision medicine to men with advanced prostate cancer

06/07/16

Genetic testing in men with advanced prostate cancer could pick up a significant proportion whose disease may be caused by inherited mutations in genes involved in repairing DNA damage, a major new study reveals.
Myeloma of sphenoid sinus. Wellcome Images / Creative Commons by-nc-nd 4.0
New genetic findings help explain inherited predisposition to myeloma

01/07/16

Researchers have identified eight new genetic variations in the human genome that could be linked to an increased risk of developing myeloma.
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Leukaemia drug shows potential for rarer type of ovarian cancer

30/06/16

A drug already approved for leukaemia patients could also be used to treat a specific type of ovarian cancer, according to new research.
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Using ultrasound to navigate the path of cancer treatment

28/06/16

Sound waves that the human ear can’t detect help animals create a picture of unfamiliar environments. Now, researchers believe sound waves could be a surprising way of helping us select the best cancer therapy for an individual.
Bioassay (Jan Chlebik for the ICR 2011)
Landmark study gives clearest picture of genetic causes of bowel cancer

22/06/16

A landmark study has given the most detailed picture yet of the genetics of bowel cancer — the UK's fourth most common cancer.
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New radiotherapy regime for prostate cancer could save NHS tens of millions per year

20/06/16

A shorter course of prostate cancer radiotherapy, involving fewer hospital visits and higher individual doses of radiotherapy, is as effective as the current standard treatment for both survival and quality of life, a major new study reports.
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UK first: microscope uses tractor beams to peer inside cells

16/06/16

The Institute of Cancer Research, London, will be the first research organisation in the UK to receive a new type of high-tech microscope, allowing scientists to view dynamic cellular processes in real time. Liz Burtally finds out how this powerful machine will help researchers to design a new generation of drugs that target cell division.
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Whole-body scans could track cancer in patients’ skeletons

15/06/16

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could monitor aggressive cancer that has spread to the bone anywhere in the body, a new study reveals.
Radiotherapy IMRT Jan Chlebik/the ICR
Targeted radiotherapy for head and neck cancer could reduce the risk of dry mouth

14/06/16

Changing the intensity of radiotherapy to protect the salivary glands could help treat a rare type of head and neck cancer and improve patients’ day-to-day lives, a new study shows.