In the developed world, cancer will affect one in three people at some stage in their life. Many of us have already been touched by the disease, in one way or another. However, you would be wrong to think that progress is not being made.
In recent years, there have been great advances made in the fight against cancer. In 1975 the 5 year survival rate for breast cancer was 52% - by 1993 it had risen to 74%. Latest figures to 1999 show a further increase to 77.5%.
Similarly, in the early 1970's, few children survived the most common form of childhood leukaemia. This figure is now 76%. A wide variety of new drugs and treatments is vital to ensure that this trend continues. However, it is only through fundamental research carried out 10 or more years ago that these treatments exist today.
Without research we are condemning tomorrow's generation to today's treatments. That is why it is vitally important that AICR's funding of cutting edge projects continues - so that new treatments can be developed for the next generation. Here are some of the success stories our donors' money has funded:
Putting Cancer Cells in a Permanent "Coma"
Current treatments are based on cutting out or killing cancer cells. Now scientists based at the Marie Curie Research Institute, in England, believe the work could lead to a third way of dealing with them. They have successfully put cancer cells into a permanent "coma" by reactivating a natural self-defence mechanism which responds to dangerous mutations by putting the cell into a state called "senescence" meaning that it cannot divide any more. More>>>
Gene identified that may inhibit the spread of cancer
The main thing that makes cancer dangerous is its ability to spread around the body. Breast cancer is known to spread particularly to the bones. Dr John Price has discovered a cellular protein that appears to be crucially involved in spreading breast cancer cells to the bones. More >>>
Light used to treat tumours
In 1984 Photodynamic Therapy, the use of light to treat tumours, was a novel area of research. Professor Claude Rimington wanted to test the properties of new drugs to select those most likely to be effective in treating cancers. More >>>
Combination therapy investigated
Professor Alan Bennett wanted to understand why certain combinations of anti-cancer drugs produced a greater effect than the use of the same drugs on their own. He had discovered that two particular drugs were more effective at killing cancer cells in the laboratory. More >>>
