Timeline

2002 

Cancer Research UK forms

Cancer Research UK forms from the merger of The Cancer Research Campaign and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, creating the largest independent cancer research organisation in the world. Read the press release.

Faulty melanoma gene found

Our scientists find that faults in a gene called BRAF are involved in more than half of all cases of melanoma – the most dangerous form of skin cancer. The work has led to the rapid discovery and development of new drugs to treat this disease. Read more on our blog.

2003

Better treatment for medulloblastoma

We fund a clinical trial showing that adding chemotherapy to radiotherapy can help improve survival from medulloblastoma, the most common type of brain tumour in children. Our impact in children's cancers.

HRT linked to breast cancer risk

Using information from over a million UK women, our researchers show that certain types of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer, especially when taken over a long time. Read the press release.

HPV testing could help cervical screening

Our researchers discover that the cervical screening programme could be improved by testing for HPV in women who have abnormal or borderline test results. HPV testing is now starting to be incorporated into the national cervical screening programme. Our impact in cervical cancer.

2004

Largest ever trial for pancreatic cancer

We funded the largest ever trial for people with operable pancreatic cancer, showing that giving chemotherapy after surgery could help reduce the risk of the disease returning or delay it. This has resulted in a worldwide change in the way that pancreatic cancer is treated, helping to extend the lives of patients. Read the press release.

Ten years lost to smoking

Our scientists publish a report based on 50 years of research, showing that lifelong smokers lose around ten years of life expectancy and all the benefits of increased longevity that come from improved healthcare. Read the press release.

Radon poses lung cancer risk 

Our scientists showed that a build-up of the naturally-occurring radioactive gas radon in people’s homes increases the risk of lung cancer, particularly among smokers and recent ex-smokers. Read the press release.

2005

Understanding the role of BRCA2

The discovery of the BRCA2 gene in the 90s – helped by funding from Cancer Research UK – led to genetic tests for those at risk, and even drugs specifically designed to target BRCA faults. Finally understanding role of BRCA2 in DNA repair is extremely important for cancer researchers around the world, as they work to understand the disease and develop more effective treatments. Read the press release.

2006

Unravelling the 3D structure of a crucial cancer protein

Our researchers unravel the three-dimensional structure of a protein called Hsp90, which is important in many types of cancer. Scientists are now developing and testing new cancer treatments based on this discovery. Read more about Professor Paul Workman, who's developing new cancer drugs against Hsp90 and other targets.

Network of Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres opens across the UK

Funded by Cancer Research UK and the Departments of Health in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, the ECMCs are designed to get new cancer treatments into clinical trials in patients as quickly as possible. Visit the ECMC website.

2007

Cambridge Research Institute opens

Opened by Her Majesty the Queen, our Cambridge Research Institute brings together some of the brightest researchers in the world to tackle cancer. The institute helps lab researchers to work together with cancer doctors, so new discoveries can be pushed through to patients as quickly as possible. Read the press release.

The UK goes smoke-free

Our campaigning work helps the push towards smoke free legislation, which is brought in across the UK in 2007 - a move that could prevent thousands of premature deaths over the next decade. Read our policy on smoke-free laws.

Results of bowel cancer trial

Our researchers report the results of QUASAR - one of the largest ever clinical trials testing the benefits of chemotherapy for bowel cancer. The trial showed for the first time that chemotherapy could help to improve survival for people whose cancer was less advanced, and changed the way that patients are treated. Read more about the trial on CancerHelp UK. 

2008

Improving breast cancer radiotherapy

Results from a Cancer Research UK-funded clinical trial called START show that using fewer but larger doses of radiotherapy is just as effective as the standard radiotherapy treatment used for treating early breast cancer. This means breast cancer patients can now benefit from a shorter treatment schedule with fewer hospital visits as a result of this research. Read the press release. 

Gray Institute for Radiation Oncology and Biology opens

Jointly funded by Cancer Research UK and the Medical Research Council, the Gray Institute is a world-leading centre for research into radiotherapy, bringing new advances in this vital cancer treatment. Visit the Gray Institute website.   

Bowel cancer stem cells

Researchers at our Beatson Institute in Glasgow discover that rogue stem cells can fuel the growth of bowel cancer, revealing more about how the disease starts and grows. Read more on our blog. 

2009

Early results from ovarian screening trial

Initial results from UKCTOCS - a trial we're helping to fund involving hundreds of thousands of women across the UK - are an important step forward in finding an effective screening test for ovarian cancer. Read more on our blog. 

Brain tumour genes found

We help to fund a major international study tracking down five gene variations that can increase the risk of glioma, a type of brain tumour. Understanding the gene faults that lie at the heart of brain tumours is the key to finding more effective ways to tackle these complex diseases in the future. Read the news story. 

Better radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

Our researchers show that a new technique for giving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer, known as IMRT, can reduce the side effects of treatment and dramatically improve quality of life for patients. Read more on our blog. 

2010

New test could improve bowel cancer screening

Results from a major clinical trial - which we helped to support - show that a bowel screening technique called flexi-scope could save thousands more lives. We campaigned for the UK government to introduce the test as soon as possible. In 2011 the Westminster Government agreed to introduce the test and we are working in the other three nations to ensure that flexi-scope is fully rolled out across the UK. Read more on our blog. 

Stopping breast cancer from coming back

Cancer Research UK-funded scientists lead an international trial confirming that the drug anastrozole can stop breast cancer from coming back even a decade later. Read the press release. 

Hope for children with leukaemia

Our doctors show that a new drug can improve survival to almost 70 per cent for children with leukaemia that has come back after treatment. Read more on our blog. 

2011

New breast cancer gene found

Scientists at our Cambridge Research Institute discover a new ‘accelerator’ gene involved in breast cancer, which could account for up to 4,000 cases of the disease every year in the UK. Read more on our blog. 

Protecting children from sunbeds

New legislation comes into force in England and Wales preventing under-18s from using sunbeds. Cancer Research UK and our supporters campaigned hard for the introduction of the legislation, which will help to save lives by protecting children from the damaging effects of sunbed use. Read more on our blog. 

Major genome projects launched

We announce our involvement in the International Cancer Genome Consortium – a multi-million pound international project aiming to read the entire DNA sequence of individual cancers taken from thousands of people. Our researchers will be studying the genetic code of hundreds of UK patients with prostate and oesophageal cancers. Read more on our blog. 

New prostate cancer drug licensed

Following promising results in large-scale clinical trials, abiraterone (Zytiga), a new drug for advanced prostate cancer that we helped to develop, is licensed in the UK - although NICE is yet to decide whether it will be available on the NHS. Read more on our blog. 

Our Stratified Medicine Programme starts recruiting

The first people are recruited into our Stratified Medicine Programme - an ambitious study aiming to find out how genetic testing can help to bring benefits to cancer patients, and how this could be incorporated into the NHS. Read more on our blog.