Annual Review 2008/09 - Cancer Research UK

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Research highlights for the yearOur world-class researchThis year has seen some fantastic progressin the understanding, prevention, diagnosisand treatment of cancer. Here are just a fewof the many achievements of our scientists,doctors and nurses.Computers to boost breast cancer detectionUsing a new way of interpreting breast X-rays, our scientistsdiscovered that a single trained expert plus a computer is justas effective as two experts at detecting breast cancer. Forcountries that rely on single ‘readers’, using a computer toowill make breast screening programmes even more effectiveand accurate. And in the UK, where two radiologists are usedto interpret results, this new approach would allow the samenumber of experts to read more mammograms in a givenperiod of time, freeing up valuable time for radiologists tocarry out more screening.Bowel screening set to save livesOur scientists predict that bowel cancer screening willsave over 2,500 lives every year in the UK by 2025. Hometesting is currently being rolled out across England, Scotland,Northern Ireland and Wales. The simple test detectsnon-visible blood in the stool, which can be an early signof bowel cancer. We know that when cancer is diagnosedearlier, the treatment is more likely to be successful.Breakthrough in understanding a common childhood cancerOur scientists pinpointed the first genetic link to the mostcommon type of brain tumour in 5 to 19 year-olds. Thisresearch provides a crucial lead to help doctors diagnose thedisease more accurately and treat it more effectively.Towards effective cancer vaccinesOur researchers located a key molecule that could be usedto direct the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells.By investigating specific parts of the immune system, called‘dendritic cells’, they pinpointed an important protein ‘tag’.Researchers now hope to build on this exciting discovery anddevelop a vaccine that homes in on the tag, so that a patient’sown immune system can be activated to seek out anddestroy cancer cells.On the pathway to new treatmentsBy studying tumour cells in the laboratory, our scientistsdiscovered a promising new approach to beating cancer.Drugs that block a specific protein are already being testedin clinical trials. These drugs work by stopping cancer-causingprocesses in the cell that are controlled by the protein.Our researchers also studied other proteins that ‘team up’with it and discovered that blocking their activity could alsoeffectively kill-off tumour cells. This work opens up excitingopportunities for the drug discoveries of tomorrow.06 / Annual Review / Research highlights for the year
‘I investigate how theimmune system detects andresponds to infection. Thiswork could help us developnew treatments, using thepatient’s own immunesystem to fight their cancer’Caetano Reis e SousaLondon Research InstituteAnnual Review / Research highlights for the year / 07
Page 1 and 2: Making an impactAnnual Review2008/0
Page 3 and 4: Welcome to ourreview of the yearThi
Page 5 and 6: Our vision,purpose and goalsOur vis
Page 7: Progress againstour goalsWe introdu
Page 11 and 12: Focusing on the individualOur world
Page 13 and 14: ‘My research on howcells repair D
Page 15 and 16: Last year, our specialistcancer inf
Page 17 and 18: This year, we’ve seen realchange
Page 19: Last year, we spentnearly £13m on
Page 22 and 23: Fundraising andsupporting our workO
Page 24 and 25: Our financesWhat you raised and wha
Page 26 and 27: Our objectivesfor next yearHere are
Page 28 and 29: The Executive BoardOur Executive Bo
Page 30 and 31: Thank youWe would also like to than
Page 32: Cancer Research UKRegistered addres

Annual Review 2008/09 - Cancer Research UK

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