Scientia Issue #108
INNOVATIONS IN CANCER RESEARCH
Cancer survival rates continue to increase year after year. In the US, the 5-year survival rate for all cancer types increased from 50% in 1975 to a whopping 68% in 2007, according to the National Institutes of Health. Similarly, Cancer Research UK estimates that 10-year survival rates for all cancers have more than doubled in the past 40 years, from 24% in 1970 to 50% in 2010, here in the UK.
A significant factor driving our improving prognoses is the advances made in cancer research over the past few decades. These innovations have enormously increased our understanding of how this disease arises and progresses, in addition to improving our diagnostics and offering us a vast array of new therapies.
In this edition of Scientia, we applaud the scientists behind these huge leaps and bounds, by showcasing cancer research from across the globe. To open the issue, we have had the pleasure of speaking with Professor Peter Naredi, the President of the European Cancer Organisation (ECCO), who tells us about how the organisation collaborates with its member societies to accelerate cancer research, and to ensure that cancer remains at the top of the political agenda in Europe. Next, we emphasise the importance of health promotion and cancer awareness, by featuring an article describing the work of Drs Sheila Murphy and Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati. The pair cleverly employ the power of storytelling to successfully encourage Latina and African American women to undergo regular cervical screening, thus reducing the cancer disparities that exist in the US.
From here, we feature a wide variety of different research projects, ranging from unravelling the molecular pathways that lead to cancer, to investigating the latest immunotherapies, drug combinations and novel nanotechnologies to combat cancer. The heroic efforts of the scientists behind these studies are bringing us one-step closer to eradicating the terrible blight that is cancer.
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Published in the UK,
by Science Diffusion ltd
ISSN 2059-8971 (print)
ISSN 2059-898X (online)
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DIRECTOR
Nick Bagnall
nick@sciencediffusion.com
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Nelly Berg
nelly@sciencediffusion.com
PUBLICATION MANAGER
Nick Powers
npowers@sciencediffusion.com
Brett Langenberg
brett@sciencediffusion.com
Dion Rees
dion@sciencediffusion.com
DESIGN MANAGER
Mimi Jones
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Conn Hastings, PhD
Joseph Pastorek, MD, JD
Alma Ionescu, BSc
Kate Stewart, BSc
Chris Harrison, PhD
Mary Ziegler, PhD
Anna Fagre, DVM, MSc
Maaike van Gerwen, MD, MSc
Susana Ventura, PharmD
Jacob Monash, PhD
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Scientia Issue #108 Contents
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ECCO – THE EUROPEAN CANCER ORGANISATION
An exclusive interview with Professor Peter Naredi, the President of ECCO
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TRANSFORMING HEALTH PROMOTION THROUGH NARRATIVE
Dr Sheila Murphy and Dr Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati
Using the potency of narratives to increase cervical cancer awareness and reduce health disparities
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EXPLORING HOW TUMOURS ARISE AND METASTASISE
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MAKING MAPS OF SHIFTING SANDS
Dr Maria Stella Carro
Exploring genetic factors to find new opportunities for glioblastoma therapeutics
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INVESTIGATING BREAST CANCER AT THE MOLECULAR LEVEL
Dr Laura Gillespie and Dr Gary Paterno
Examining the role of the regulatory molecule, MIER1a, in breast cancer
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UNCOVERING GENETIC PATHWAYS TO PROSTATE CANCER
Dr Donald J. Vander Griend
Exploring the pathways behind prostate cancer development, progression and metastasis
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TARGETING THE TUMOUR STROMA TO COMBAT METASTATIC LUNG CANCER
Professor Jonathan M. Kurie
Studying the mechanisms of lung cancer metastasis to identify novel therapeutic targets
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IDENTIFICATION OF NERVE-GUIDING PROTEIN AND ITS ROLE IN THE METASTASIS OF PANCREATIC CANCER
Dr Lei Zheng
Understanding the role of the tumour microenvironment in cancer development and metastasis
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HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER
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CRI – THE CANCER RESEARCH INSTITUTE
An exclusive interview with Dr Jill O’Donnell-Tormey, chief executive officer of CRI
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BUILDING IMMUNITY AGAINST CANCER
Dr Stephanie K. Watkins
Exploring the role of gender on immune cell activation, to develop targeted immunotherapies
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TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE: FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH, DRUG DISCOVERY AND MORE!
Professor Seamas Donnelly and Dr Ciaran O’Reilly
Uncovering the role of MIF in cancer and investigating small molecule therapeutic approaches
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A SYNERGISTIC IMMUNOTHERAPY FOR SKIN CANCER
Professor Iraldo Bello Rivero
Investigating the potential of a synergistic interferon combination therapy for the treatment of skin cancer
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KILLING CANCER CELLS WITH NOVEL DRUG THERAPIES
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TARGETING AND ENHANCING THE EFFECTS OF DEACETYLASE INHIBITORS IN CANCER TREATMENT
Dr Catharine Smith
Identifying the mechanisms of deacetylase inhibitor action in the path to treating cancer
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NOVEL THERAPEUTICS FOR CHILDHOOD SOLID TUMOURS
Dr Peter Houghton
Investigating new drugs that may be effective and less toxic treatments against childhood cancers
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DEVELOPING CANCER KILLING COMBINATIONS
Professor Paul Dent
Designing clinical trials to investigate how drugs can combine and synergise to kill tumour cells
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THE GENETIC PUZZLE: WHY DO WE RESPOND DIFFERENTLY TO CANCER THERAPY?
Professor Jatinder Lamba
Studying the genetic basis for inter-individual variability in response to cancer drugs, and its application to the development of personalised medicine
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FIGHTING CANCER WITH PHYSICS
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TUMOURS IN THE CROSSHAIRS: NEW TOOLS TO RESURRECT AN OLD STRATEGY FOR TARGETED CANCER THERAPY
Professor Andrew Webb
A new nano-therapeutic employing boron neutron capture to kill tumours
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GETTING REALLY, REALLY SMALL TO TREAT LUNG CANCER
Dr Kazuhiro Yasufuku
Using the latest nanoparticle and high technology to treat lung cancer without major surgery
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PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY: AN ILLUMINATING APPROACH TO CANCER TREATMENT
Professor Eli Glatstein
Applying photodynamic therapy for the treatment of a variety of types of cancer
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EACR – THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH
An exclusive interview with Professor Richard Marais, President of the EACR