Topic description and stories

We are are helping to end death and disease caused by cancer, saving more lives by detecting early and personalising treatments. The experiences of patients and their families shape every stage of research and of plans for the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, as we work together to change the story of cancer.

Professor Jean Abraham speaking to a patient

Cambridge is changing the story of cancer

15 July 2024

Find out about groundbreaking cancer research at Cambridge, including our planned new hospital, how we're studying the earliest stages of cancer, how AI is helping fight the disease, and the patients playing a key role in our work.

Read more
CRUK Cambridge Institute

Leading European cancer centres share guidance on making their operations ‘pandemic proof’

16 Apr 2020

Seven of Europe’s leading cancer centres have today published a report detailing how they have organized their healthcare systems at an unprecedented...

Read more
Adult mouse heart muscle cells (blue) after activation of both proteins vital for cell replication. Red shows cells replicating, green marks cell membrane.

Switching on a key cancer gene could provide first curative treatment for heart disease

14 Apr 2020

Researchers trying to turn off a gene that allows cancers to spread have made a surprising U-turn. By making the gene overactive and functional in...

Read more

Women in STEM: Dr Karen Pinilla

20 Feb 2020

Dr Karen Pinilla is a clinical research fellow at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre. She worked as a clinician in the breast unit at...

Read more
Molecular map of a breast tumour

Zooming in on breast cancer reveals how mutations shape the tumour landscape

17 Feb 2020

Scientists have created one of the most detailed maps of breast cancer ever achieved, revealing how genetic changes shape the physical tumour...

Read more
Left: Anatomic MR image of breast tumour; Right: Overlays of hyperpolarised 13C-MRI on anatomic images showing pyruvate and lactate in breast cancer

Magnetised molecules used to monitor breast cancer

22 Jan 2020

A new type of scan that involves magnetising molecules allows doctors to see in real-time which regions of a breast tumour are active, according to...

Read more
DNA

Detailed genetic study provides most comprehensive map of risk to date of breast cancer risk

07 Jan 2020

A major international study of the genetics of breast cancer has identified more than 350 DNA ‘errors’ that increase an individual’s risk of...

Read more
Pre-cancerous pancreatic tissue in mice

Cambridge joins new transatlantic research alliance to detect cancer at its earliest stage

21 Oct 2019

Cambridge scientists are set to benefit from a major cash injection from Cancer Research UK and partners to develop radical new strategies and...

Read more
DNA Genetic Material

Study highlights potential of whole genome sequencing to enable personalised cancer treatment

30 Sep 2019

Whole genome sequencing of tumour cells could help predict the prognosis of a patient’s cancer and offer clues to identify the most effective...

Read more
Cells with metal-organic frameworks carrying siRNA

Nanoparticles used to transport anti-cancer agent to cells

17 Sep 2019

Scientists from the University of Cambridge have developed a platform that uses nanoparticles known as metal-organic frameworks to deliver a...

Read more

The curious tale of the cancer ‘parasite’ that sailed the seas

01 Aug 2019

A contagious canine cancer that conquered the world by spreading between dogs during mating likely arose around 6,000 years ago in Asia and spread...

Read more

Women in STEM: Dr Kate Dry

25 Jul 2019

Dr Kate Dry is Information Specialist in Professor Steve Jackson’s Lab at the Gurdon Institute. Here, she tells us about unexpected career paths...

Read more
Close-up of cigarettes

‘Fingerprint database’ could help scientists to identify new cancer culprits

16 Apr 2019

Scientists in Cambridge and London have developed a catalogue of DNA mutation ‘fingerprints’ that could help doctors pinpoint the environmental...

Read more

Pages