A new international research alliance is set to develop new strategies and technologies to detect cancer at its earliest stage.
Cancer
The International Alliance for Cancer Early Detection (ACED) was announced by Cancer Research UK in partnership with Canary Center at Stanford University, the University of Cambridge, the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, UCL and the University of Manchester.
Through the alliance, Cancer Research UK will work with international partners to understand the biology of early cancers in the hope to diagnose the disease earlier and improve survival rates.
Studies show that five-year survival rates for a range of cancers are three times higher when the disease is diagnosed at stage one. This is because the tumour is still small and remains localised, whereas when diagnosed at stage four, the tumour has already begun to spread into surrounding tissue and other organs.
ACED is betting on early detection technologies to help decrease late-stage diagnosis and increase the amount of people diagnosed at an earlier stage. More so, this technology offers researchers the chance to better understand the biology of early cancers and pre-cancerous states. Cancer Research UK believes it could lead to ‘precision prevention’ where cancer could be stopped from ever occurring in the first instance.
New technologies for detecting cancer have been slow to emerge due to a lack of funding and collaboration opportunities. Now, Cancer Research UK will invest up to £40 million into ACED over the next five years, with an addition £15 million coming from other research partners.
The funding will be used to develop new improved imaging techniques and robotics to detect early tumours and pre-cancerous lesions. Scientists will also look into other less invasive techniques for detecting cancer such as blood tests and will aim to use artificial intelligence (AI) and big data to detect signs of cancer that are undetectable to humans. More so, ACED hopes to train and develop a new generation of early cancer detection research leaders.
Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said: “Now is the time to be ambitious and develop effective new ways to detect cancer earlier. It’s an area of research where we have the potential to completely change the future of cancer treatment, turning it into a manageable and beatable disease for more people.
“Real progress in early detection can’t be achieved by a single organisation. Benefits for patients will only be realised if early cancer detection leaders from around the world come together. No more siloes, no more missed opportunities; let us tackle this problem together and beat cancer.”
The Prime Minister said: “Every two minutes, someone in the UK has their world turned upside down when they are diagnosed with cancer. Thanks to the pioneering work of UK researchers and our world-beating NHS, more people are surviving than ever.
“However, there is more to do to detect and cure this disease earlier. That is why I am pleased to welcome this new UK-US alliance, driven by Cancer Research UK.
“This is the transatlantic partnership at its very best. Our brilliant scientists will be able to work together to develop detection technologies and implement them in our health service, so we can find cancer earlier and ultimately save people’s lives.”