Hi Today, February 4th, isWorld Cancer Dayand I am asking you, if you can, to support cancer research.Thanks to your ongoing support and that of our researchers, amazing things are happening in the fight against cancer.
Today, we are thrilled to announce exciting new cancer research that has led to a novel chemotherapy treatment incorporating Lithium.
This research found that adding lithium to the chemotherapy regime blocks the cancer cells’ ability to repair the internal damage normally inflicted by chemotherapy. This makes the chemotherapy more effective and reduces the risk of the cancer returning again. Lithium has been used before as a mood stabiliser in the treatment of neurological disorders – but not in chemotherapy, so this is a novel concept that is being tested in a Phase I clinical trial. Because this is an alternative use of a known drug, it is likely to have a shorter timeframe to be adopted for treatment, should it prove safe after completion of this initial trial phase. Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer related death in Ireland, with 1,010 people dying annually, and more than 2,819 new cases each year. Oesophageal and stomach cancers have two of the lowest 5-year survival rates at just 24% and 30% respectively. As these types of cancers are rarely detected early enough for surgery, because they are internal, chemotherapy is the most common treatment. However, the cancer cells can be highly resistant to the chemo drugs, so the cancer frequently comes back. Resistance to chemotherapy is a major challenge for clinicians and devastating for patients. Recognising this challenge, with your help, over the last few years at Breakthrough we have invested over €1 million in funding to researchers at UCC, including Principal Investigator Dr Sharon McKenna and lead scientist Dr Tracey O’Donovan, so they could explore how cancer cells that responded to chemotherapy were different from those that did not. They identified that a cell recycling process called autophagy (self-eating) enabled the cells to repair themselves and recover. They then found that lithium blocks this ability to repair, which greatly enhances the effectiveness of the chemotherapy treatment. This discovery was fuelled by collaboration between researchers in the lab and doctors in the hospital working to overcome clinical challenges. This is a wonderful example of how patient-focused research, supported by your generosity, can translate from the lab into new treatments in the clinic. Patients don’t fail treatments but treatments sadly do fail patients. It is hoped that this new breakthrough could potentially make an impact on the effectiveness of treatments and improve survival rates for people with cancer.
These amazing breakthroughs do not happen overnight. This research took a number of years to reach this exciting new clinical trial phase, and required constant belief and support. So today, on World Cancer Day, if you can please donate and help us to fund the next cancer breakthrough. Every euro donated to cancer research helps people with cancer and their loved ones. Donation is not the only way you can mark World Cancer Day, you can also use your voice. Spread the word about the importance of cancer research among your friends and family and online. #MakeMoreSurvivors #WCD2022 Thank you for all of your support so far, and please, help us to continue to Make More Survivors.
Chief Executive, Orla Dolan,Breakthrough Cancer Research
YOUR SUPPORT IS MAKING HEADLINES A small selection of today's news stories. Click on the image to read the full article.
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