Combating cancer

Tumours have high and abnormal demands for nutrients. In this talk we will describe our current understanding of the nutrients that cancer cells use to grow and proliferate, and how this knowledge can improve our strategies for detecting and treating cancer.

Prostate cancer incidence is predicted to increase by 12% over the next 20 years, with estimates of over 50,000 new cases per year by 2035 in the UK alone. To avoid a rise in healthcare costs, co-morbidities and cancer deaths, we need tools to identify potentially lethal cancers at an early stage and distinguish these from benign or non-painful lesions. In this talk we will describe new genetic (and epigenetic) DNA blood tests that could be used to identify patients with early stage cancers and will discuss the possible consequences for cancer mortality, healthcare systems and society.

Tumours are not just masses of cancer cells. Instead they resemble complex 'rogue' organs to which many ‘other’ supporting cells types are recruited, including those from our immune system, which collectively form the Tumour Microenvironment. From an early stage, the 'other cells' are often corrupted to promote rather than control tumour growth. How this switch happens is still unclear. This talk will provide a short introduction to the Tumour Microenvironment, and how we are working to understand the microenvironment to help fight against cancer.

As part of the Creative Reactions project, these artists will be presenting their artwork inspired by the research of speakers in this talk series. The artwork will also be on display at our Creative Reactions Exhibition at St Barnabas Church, 24 - 25 May.