From creating treatments that target a person's unique cancer, to developing tests to monitor whether treatments are working, our scientists are working hard to make cancer treatment more pesonalised. Below are some examples of what our researchers are doing right now.
In Birmingham, Professor Gary Middleton is leading the National Lung Matrix Trial. It’s testing new treatments for non-small cell lung cancer that are targeted to specific genetic faults in tumours, to tackle individual cancers. The trial has a flexible design, meaning patients who are participating have access to new treatments as they’re developed. These treatments will be matched to the specific genetic faults in their tumours, personalising the treatment for each patient.
Professor Andrew Pettitt in Liverpool is focussed on follicular lymphoma, the most common form of low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He is testing if a new scan that measures the activity of tumours can help doctors decide how much treatment each patient needs. He is also leading several clinical trials to find the best combination of treatment specifically for older people with the disease.
Read more about one of his trials
Developing ways to monitor and understand an individual's cancer will help tailor treatments to each patient. Professor Caroline Dive is working with the Christie Hospital in Manchester to develop a blood test to hunt for ‘free’ cancer cells that have broken away from a tumour and entered the bloodstream. This blood test could help understand how lung cancer changes as it grows and spreads, and why sometimes treatment stops working. The researchers hope this could allow them to develop new treatments and tailor treatment for each patient.
Read more about her work on our blog
Thanks to research, we’ve helped develop personalised medicine techniques that are being used to treat cancer.
Meet people like Oliver who have experienced first-hand how our research is making a difference. The life-saving research we do wouldn’t be possible without your support.
Want to find more information about our research or personalised medicine?
