Almost £6million of funding has been awarded to doctors and scientists in the region to boost research into life-saving cancer treatments and services.
Research to improve early diagnosis for gastric cancers and the development of secondary care breast services will be among the work funded by the grants from Cancer Research UK. Much of the funding will go to the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre.
Dr Massimiliano di Pietro, a clinician scientist from the Early Cancer Institute at the University of Cambridge and consultant gastroenterologist at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has been awarded almost £365,000 to use AI and video to improve efforts to diagnose gastric cancer early and help patients avoid life-changing surgery.
Stomach, or gastric, cancer is the 17th most common cancer in the UK, but currently only about 15 per cent of patients survive for five years.
About one to three per cent of stomach cancers occur in the context of hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) syndrome. This is a condition caused by a faulty gene inherited from one of the parents and causes signet ring cell carcinoma to form in the lining of the stomach.
Due to its rarity, few doctors are experienced at diagnosing it at an early stage during endoscopic examination.
Dr di Pietro said: “By harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence and developing new AI models, we aim to improve the examinations by endoscopists and identify signet ring cell carcinoma in its early stages.
“Our goal is not just about technological advancement but a reimagining of early cancer detection. In the future, more doctors could offer very accurate endoscopic examinations to allow early detection not only in people with genetic predisposition to stomach cancer but to everyone undergoing a diagnostic endoscopy.
“The backing from Cancer Research UK enables us to explore new horizons in the early diagnosis of rare cancers, marking a significant stride in the battle against gastric cancer. This initiative promises a beacon of hope, ensuring that future generations are equipped to confront this challenge head-on.”
Dr Stephanie Archer, from the Department of Public Health and Primary Care at the University of Cambridge, will receive more than £57,000 to help women suspected of having breast cancer who are given the all clear.
More than 400,000 women suspected of having breast cancer are referred to secondary care breast services each year in the UK. Most attend a one-stop breast clinic for an examination, mammogram, ultrasound or biopsy and of these, six per cent are diagnosed with cancer.
Dr Archer is targeting the remaining 94 per cent of women who are discharged back to their GP as she believes they represent a “significant missed opportunity”.
“Many will be given an information leaflet, advised to regularly self-examine their breasts, and to contact their GP for a rereferral if they have any new symptoms or concerns. But when someone is referred for suspected cancer, it could be a ‘teachable moment’, because they’re more receptive and responsive to health information.
“I believe that routinely calculating their future risks of breast cancer and providing them with personalised risk information could be hugely beneficial.
“It would help women who may benefit from risk-reducing medication or earlier/more frequent screening, or genetic testing. And it could help raise awareness of health behaviours – such as cutting down on alcohol consumption – to reduce their risk in the future. It’s an incredible opportunity to work with, and support, these women,” said Dr Archer.
The grant will help to build on existing collaborations, such as the Cancer Research UK CanRisk programme, an online tool enabling healthcare professionals to calculate an individual's future risks of developing breast and ovarian cancer using cancer family history, genetic and other risk factors. CanRisk is also able to calculate the probability that mutations are being carried in genes susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer.
“I’m extremely grateful to Cancer Research UK for this funding award,” said Dr Archer. “It will enable us to investigate if, and how risk assessment could work in the current health system; and ultimately design a pathway that we could then test.”
Funding has also been given to Cambridge scientists researching gene mutations, a team developing screening for acute myeloid leukaemia in the over 60s, and those investigating drug resistance in lung cancer.
Dr Anna Kinsella, a science engagement manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “Nearly one in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime. Cancer Research UK wants to bring about a world where everybody can lead longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer. The research we’re funding in the East of England will help us reach this goal.
“In 2022-23, Cancer Research UK spent around £46m on research in Cambridge. In recent decades, the charity’s researchers in the city have made discoveries that will help improve cancer prevention and treatment, as well as creating new ways to diagnose the disease earlier when it's easier to treat. We look forward to seeing the network of leading scientists and doctors at our Cambridge Centre making even more progress to help people affected by cancer in the future.”
