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Issue 43 | Spring 2021
“I promised I wouldn’t stop
until she was saving lives.”
Read Aoife's story – Page 19
Inside this issue
10 In profile: 14 Advance: 16 In focus:
Professor Axel Behrens – Taking a personalised 25 years since BRCA2
targeting cancer stem cells approach to pancreatic cancers discovery changed cancer care
Our mission is to make Welcome 2|3
the discoveries that
defeat cancer.
Editorial
While so many are focusing on tackling
coronavirus, we cannot take one eye off cancer,
and risk cancer patients being left behind.
04 Research news Last year a survey of our of pancreatic cancers to select
scientists revealed their fears patients for more effective,
06 Fundraising news
that the pandemic has delayed personalised therapies and
08 Our staff go the extra mile advances in cancer research by improve stubbornly low survival
09 Bob Champion Cancer almost 18 months. It highlighted rates. And as Dr Matthew
Trust launches 40for40 the urgent need for us to keep Blackledge explains on pages 10-11,
campaign our labs open, to prevent further we can also use these innovative
disruption and to make up for AI technologies to better assess
10 In profile:
lost time. So I am pleased to how treatment is going.
Dr Matthew Blackledge
tell you that through the latest
While uncertainty and keeping
12 In profile: lockdowns, our vital research has
physically distanced from one
Professor Axel Behrens been able to continue. We are
another may have become the
14 Advance: Taking a having to work in different and
norm, it is my hope that we can
personalised approach often complex ways, with safety
all come together to support
to aggressive pancreatic measures and site restrictions
Contact us research that will improve the
cancers in place to keep our staff and
The Institute of Cancer Research lives of people with cancer and
students safe – but with your
123 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3RP 16 In focus: 25 years ensure they are able to have
support, we have been able to
since BRCA2 discovery as much time as possible with
T 020 7153 5387 push on with our work.
transformed cancer care loved ones.
E supportercare@icr.ac.uk Despite the challenges posed
W icr.ac.uk 18 In focus: What Covid-19 Your support is more important
by the coronavirus, we are still
facebook.com/theinstituteofcancerresearch can tell us about the than ever, so thank you again.
making major strides in our
@ICR_London causes of cancer
mission to make the discoveries
19 Patient focus: that defeat cancer – and these
Lara Jukes
Written and produced by The Institute of Cancer Research, London Aoife’s Bubbles discoveries are helping more
Director of Development
© March 2021. The Institute of Cancer Research. All rights reserved. patients to live well with their
The Institute of Cancer Research
The Institute of Cancer Research: Royal Cancer Hospital.
disease. On pages 14-15 you
Registered Office: 123 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3RP. can read about how we’re
Not for profit. Company Limited by Guarantee. using computational analysis
Registered in England No. 534147. VAT Registration No. 849 0581 02.
Research news 4|5
Blood tests could match Study sheds light on
women with breast genetic basis of Black
cancer to precision men’s higher prostate
treatments cancer risk
In a major clinical trial led by researchers at the ICR Our researchers have led work as part of
and The Royal Marsden, we found that a blood test an international team to uncover a range
can identify mutations in advanced breast cancer and of genetic changes that increase the risk
match women to precision therapies. of Black men developing prostate cancer,
compared with White or Asian men.
The plasmaMATCH trial tested more than 1,000
women with advanced breast cancer. It provides the The study, which was the largest and most
strongest evidence yet that simple blood tests can ethnically diverse genetic analysis of men with
track breast cancer as it evolves, and direct women prostate cancer, revealed a set of 86 changes
to the most effective treatments. in DNA that influence the risk of developing
the disease.
The team, led by Professors Nick Turner and Judith
Bliss, showed that the blood test is reliable enough to Black men are known to be at an increased
be offered to patients on the NHS. These results could risk from prostate cancer, and there is an
lay the foundation for liquid biopsies to become a urgent need to understand their risk profile Professor Udai Banerji
standard part of care for patients with breast cancer, to detect the disease earlier.
and speed up access to the latest drugs.
Professor Judith Bliss Study co-leader Professor Ros Eeles said: Cancer drug for difficult
“Our findings could help guide and transform
target shows potential
New experimental cancer screening strategies, so that prostate cancer
in men at high risk can be caught as early against a range of cancers
drug could help treat as possible.”
86
A clinical trial led by a team at the ICR and The Royal
deadly childhood cancer Marsden has shown a drug designed to counter the
effects of an important cancer mutation, which is hard
Our scientists have found that a new cancer drug that to target, could be effective against a range of tumours.
has passed safety tests in adults could help treat the
childhood cancer neuroblastoma. The drug targets tumours with mutations to the
gene KRAS, one of the most commonly mutated
The drug fadraciclib targets a gene which can be genes in cancer.
mutated in children with high-risk neuroblastoma, an
aggressive cancer that requires intensive treatment. For the study, patients took the drug twice a week.
There were promising responses in over a quarter of
The researchers, led by Professor Louis Chesler, those with highly advanced, incurable cancers, including
showed that fadraciclib was effective at killing lung cancer and multiple myeloma.
neuroblastoma cells in the lab and successfully
blocked the cancer’s growth in mouse models. When The number of newly identified DNA Professor Udai Banerji, Deputy Director of Drug
used together with chemotherapy, the drugs shrank changes that influence the risk of Development at the ICR and The Royal Marsden, said:
the tumours to the point of virtually eradicating them. developing prostate cancer “We are conducting further studies combining this drug
with other novel treatments, and hope we can open the
Clinical trials for fadraciclib will next be carried out as door to new options for patients with a hard-to-treat
part of an international clinical trial designed to radically group of cancers.”
widen the scope of treatments available for children.
Fundraising news 6|7
Alice’s Arc pledges more funds Your Marathon, your way:
How the London Marathon went virtual in 2020
to childhood cancer research The coronavirus pandemic has was due to run again in 2020.
Alice's Arc is a children's cancer charity set affected all of our lives and led Instead he took part in the virtual
up by Sara and David Wakeling following their to many key events being marathon, running 13 laps of his
daughter Alice's diagnosis with stage four Cancer is a devastating disease for anyone to cancelled. But that hasn’t local park, joined by members of
rhabdomyosarcoma. Alice was three when have to experience, but it seems particularly stopped our supporters. his running club, with his friends
she was diagnosed and died two weeks before unfair that children, who ought to be able to and family cheering him on.
Though last year’s London
her 8th birthday in 2019. grow up happy and carefree, should have to Mark’s efforts were all the more
Marathon became a race for
impressive because he spent
The charity is dedicated to funding research endure such a cruel burden. I am determined elite runners only, many of our
time in hospital with coronavirus
to find a cure and kinder treatments for to do whatever I can to help alleviate that #teamICR runners worldwide
earlier in 2020.
rhabdomyosarcoma, the most common type of burden. I am incredibly proud and grateful to joined in the virtual race instead.
sarcoma found in the soft tissues of children. have the continued support of Alice’s Arc. On 4 October they ran their 26.2 Thank you to all those who
marathon miles in their local areas continued to fundraise for us,
We are delighted that Alice’s Arc has chosen to Dr Olivia Ruhen – some as far away as Australia. despite the pandemic.
support us for a further three years with a pledge
of more than £600,000. Mark Gray ran the London
Mark Gray at the finish line
Marathon for us in 2019, and
Alice’s Arc has already been a big supporter of
our research projects. It has for instance funded Christmas appeal
Dr Olivia Ruhen’s research to develop a blood test
for children with rhabdomyosarcoma, to monitor raises £150,000
the progression and recurrence of their disease.
We are hugely grateful to all of you who kindly
The charity’s new pledge will support three
projects, and will enable Olivia’s work to continue.
supported our Christmas appeal. So far an Actor Eddie Redmayne guest stars in virtual
incredible £150,000 has been donated to
help get Dr Alejandra Bruna’s research into
Carols from Chelsea service
childhood cancers up and running.
Chelsea. That wasn’t possible beautiful carols and music directed
Dr Bruna is a new Team Leader, based in last Christmas, because of the by award-winning British conductor
our Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery. Her coronavirus pandemic – and pianist Will Vann.
team use cutting-edge ‘avatars’ to replicate so instead, we recorded a virtual
Lara Jukes, Director of
a child’s cancer in the lab. These avatars, concert to share with supporters,
Development, said: “Although we
which are at the frontline of personalised who generously donated £60,000
weren’t able to come together in
cancer medicine, will help them to understand in response.
the usual way this year, we were
how childhood cancers adapt and become
The recording featured Oscar- delighted that our recording of
resistant to treatments.
winning actor Eddie Redmayne Carols from Chelsea brought joy at
With major fundraising events cancelled and giving a special video performance a difficult time. Our service reminds
cuts to our research grants as a result of the of Alan Titchmarsh’s poem, me of the great importance of
pandemic, your support is more important For the past 17 years, our flagship ‘A New Nativity’, alongside a cancer research and how it makes
than ever to make sure that cancer patients annual fundraising event, Carols moving tribute to Abbie Shaw, a real difference to patients’ lives.”
don’t get left behind. from Chelsea, has been held in the who lost her life to cancer aged
Wren Chapel of The Royal Hospital just five. The service also included
There is still time to donate to our
Alice Wakeling childhood cancer appeal. Visit
www.icr.ac.uk/hopeforchildren
In focus 8|9
Our staff go the extra mile Bob Champion Cancer Trust launches
Our staff and students are no strangers to a fundraising challenge, and many 40for40 campaign
of them have joined #teamICR over the years. With the coronavirus pandemic
bringing most fundraising events to a halt, we have seen varied and creative Bob Champion was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the height of his
fundraising efforts from our colleagues. Here are just a few examples: racing career. The dream that kept him going, through the long months of
chemotherapy, was that one day he might win the Grand National on Aldaniti
Dr Vivian Dimou is a Postdoctoral Dr Roxanne Smith is a Postdoctoral – who had sustained a serious leg injury.
Training Fellow in the Cancer Training Fellow in the Cancer
Immunotherapy Team. She taught Therapeutics Unit – and she’s research discoveries the Trust • In 2012, preliminary results from
herself to crochet during the also a very talented paper crafter. has helped to make possible the CHHiP trial demonstrated the
first lockdown, and wasted no Roxanne created a beautiful and encourages people to take safety of high-dose short-course
time putting her new skills to use. scrapbook picture frame and cards up sponsored challenges which IMRT radiotherapy in prostate
Vivian created fantastic science- to support our appeal, and raised involve the number 40. cancer. Just a few years later
themed crochet characters more than £300 in donations. this changed clinical practice
The Trust has been funding male
including a microscope, flasks in the NHS, with 20 sessions
Team members from our Division cancer research at the ICR, and
and pipettes, and sold them of radiotherapy recommended
of Cancer Therapeutics (CTU) our hospital partner The Royal
on eBay – raising £219 for our instead of 37.
took part in a 15K run in November Marsden, for many years – with
kick-start appeal. And she didn’t
stop there – for our Christmas
to support our kick-start appeal, a focus on understanding cancer • In 2013 we discovered that
raising £2,000. The team had After running the Royal Bob Champion at an ICR event risk and, more recently, predicting the measurement of genetic
appeal, she created a range
of crocheted festive friends,
originally hoped to run together, Parks half marathon in 2019 the evolution of a patient's cancer. fingerprints in blood can predict
but the second lockdown meant Against all the odds, in 1981 his
and raising funds for the Here are a few of the major the outcome in metastatic
featuring a poinsettia, a reindeer, dream came true. Described as
they ran separately, staying local, milestones along the way: prostate cancer.
a polar bear and more, this time ICR, I wanted to organise ‘racing’s greatest fairy-tale’, Bob
and encouraging each other via
raising over £400.
WhatsApp instead.
something to keep spirits claimed victory riding Aldaniti • In 1989, clinical trial results For more on the 40for40 campaign,
high, do something as a unit after his full recovery from cancer. confirmed the impact of both visit www.bobchampion.org.uk
We are very proud of our colleagues and raise money for the The Bob Champion Cancer Trust treatment intensification
for their fundraising efforts. Their was later created and to date and less-toxic carboplatin
kick-start appeal. I love a
spirit, drive and determination has raised more than £15 million chemotherapy in testicular
to succeed in improving cancer
challenge, and I am so proud
towards cancer research. cancer. I am very proud of the
patients' lives and desire to make to have been part of the
a difference does not stop when CTU running team!” Now, 40 years since that • In 2000, the first research advancements the Trust
facility in Europe dedicated to has made with the ICR and
they leave the lab. Selina Mote, CTU memorable day at Aintree, the
male cancers opened on our look forward to the future.
Trust has launched the 40for40
campaign. It celebrates the major Sutton site. Bob Champion CBE
Events calendar
People of all ages have been people of all abilities to fulfil a the 2022 London Marathon next Upcoming events
discovering the joys of running lifelong sporting ambition, while April has also opened. For shorter
Virgin London Marathon Royal Parks Half Marathon
or walking to keep fit and healthy staying in their local area. distances, or if you’re looking for
Sunday 4 October 2021 Sunday 10 October 2021
during lockdown, and sporting a more leisurely pace, the UK
events like the London Marathon Not only are we recruiting runners Terry Fox Run and the Royal UK Terry Fox Run Virgin London Marathon
are increasingly accessible and for the Virtual Virgin London Parks Half Marathon are taking Sunday 4 October 2021 Sunday 24 April 2022
inclusive. It's now possible for Marathon this year, registration for place this October. For more information visit icr.ac.uk/sports
In profile 10 | 11
Dr Matthew Blackledge
Dr Matthew Blackledge leads the Computational
Imaging Team in the ICR's Division of Radiotherapy
and Imaging. His research is using artificial
intelligence (AI) to interpret medical imaging and
take faster MRI scans of patients with cancer.
Dr Matthew Blackledge and his Whole-body MRI can tell doctors
Joined the ICR team are using sophisticated a lot about tumours and if
October 2007 computing technology to better treatments are working. But
plan and assess cancer treatment. scans can take a long time, which
Specialist subject
He joined the ICR as a PhD student not all hospitals can manage.
Using artificial intelligence
to improve cancer treatment in 2007, after doing a degree in
Dr Blackledge said: “When we
and assessment physics at Imperial College London
carry out whole-body MRI scans,
and a master’s degree in medical
Interests it can take about an hour for each
physics at the University of Surrey.
Matthew is a keen runner who patient, which is uncomfortable
has run half-marathons. He also Medical imaging is being used for patients and puts pressure on
plays for our softball team in the more and more by the NHS, and radiology departments. So we’ve
summer with colleagues. techniques like AI are helping focused on AI applications that
to explore the vast quantity of can accelerate imaging.”
data produced.
This whole-body MRI technique
Using AI and machine learning, normally uses results averaged
researchers can probe medical from several scans to build a
imaging in interesting new useable image of the skeleton.
ways, to assist radiologists Dr Blackledge and his team have
and clinical oncologists when shown that AI can mimic the
personalising patient treatments averaging process, producing a
including radiotherapy. clinically acceptable image from
just one scan.
Dr Blackledge is investigating ways
When people go for to monitor prostate cancer that With the support of AI, they
whole-body MRI scans, has spread to patients’ bones using can measure tumours in the
it can take about an hour a type of medical imaging called skeleton more quickly, to see if
whole-body MRI, which takes head- radiotherapy is proving effective
for each patient, which is
to-toe scans of a patient’s body to or if there are tumour cells that
uncomfortable for patients measure tumours in their skeleton. are resistant to it. That can help
and puts pressure on doctors to make faster, better
radiology departments. He uses a specific type of MRI
decisions about treatment.
that uses electromagnets to tune
So we’ve focused on
in to water molecules in the body.
AI applications that can It’s highly effective, as water
accelerate imaging. makes up 65% of all our cells.
In profile 12 | 13
Professor Axel Behrens
Professor Axel Behrens joined us in 2020 as Team
Leader in Cancer Stem Cell Biology. His research
focuses on a small subset of cells in tumours
called cancer stem cells. Professor Behrens also
heads up the Cancer Research UK Convergence
Science Centre, a major strategic collaboration
between the ICR and Imperial College London.
Joined the ICR Just as our bodies have healthy create new treatments targeting
2020 stem cells that can specialise into these stem cells, providing hope for
different cell types and repair patients with pancreatic cancers that
Specialist subject
damaged tissue, cancers have they will be able to live much longer
How identifying and killing
similarly functioning cells capable with the disease before it returns.
cancer stem cells could help
make therapies more effective. of maintaining tumour growth and
His work to create highly
survival, even after chemotherapy.
personalised cancer treatments
Interests
Professor Behrens is an These long-lived stem cells are involves culturing mini tumours in
enthusiastic squash player and is crucial to regenerating tumours, the lab that are derived from
looking forward to playing again allowing them to evade or become patients’ own tumours, and
once the pandemic has subsided. resistant to current treatments. so possess the same key
They are also thought to play an characteristics. Professor Behrens
important role in cancer’s spread has also helped to develop a
to other parts of the body. pioneering technology that allows
whole tumours to be imaged in
The main goal of Professor Behrens’
3D to provide unprecedented
personal research is to identify stem
insight into their structure.
cell populations in different types
of cancer, including pancreatic It is because of his expertise
and breast cancers, so they can in interdisciplinary research like
be targeted by novel drugs and this that Professor Behrens has
therapies. By collecting and studying been recruited to lead the new
Professor Behrens and cancer stem cells to find out what Convergence Science Centre.
his team have already they are vulnerable to, we can devise The Centre is dedicated to improving
ways of killing them to ensure that our understanding of cancer by
uncovered a group
tumours won’t grow back. bringing together researchers from
of cancer stem cells
traditionally separate and distinct
in pancreatic ductal Professor Behrens and his team
disciplines – for example physics
adenocarcinoma – have already uncovered a group
and engineering together with
of cancer stem cells in pancreatic
a highly aggressive biology and drug discovery – to
ductal adenocarcinoma – a highly
cancer that has seen aggressive cancer that has seen
work together as collaborative,
virtually no improvement integrated research teams and
virtually no improvement in patients’ Photo Credit:
in patients’ survival for shed new light on unresolved
survival for more than 40 years. Dave Guttridge,
problems in cancer research.
more than 40 years. The team is now leading work to The Francis Crick
Advance 14 | 15
patterns within that data. Last year a global team
led by Dr Sadanandam used AI to analyse the
immune response in a rare type of pancreatic
tumour called pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer.
The researchers were able to pinpoint tumours that
Taking a personalised approach hijacked the immune system, and uncover potential
targets for immunotherapy to prevent tumours from
to aggressive pancreatic cancers
evading the body’s defences.
Dr Sadanandam’s multidisciplinary approach has
also included a first-of-its-kind study that classified
pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumours into
Dr Anguraj Sadanandam
various subtypes and described the different ways
Pancreatic cancer is notorious for being each type responds to treatment. This work has in
Uncovering potential targets
highly aggressive and difficult to treat. turn spurred the discovery of further tumour groups
Dr Sadanandam said: “Unlike other cancers – for
Only one patient in four in England survives by other research teams. His team is now validating
example breast cancer, where huge advances have
more than one year from diagnosis and just these findings, with the goal of eventually offering
been made using machine learning approaches –
tailored medicine to individual patients.
seven per cent are still alive after five years. no major developments have been made for
Survival rates for this disease have barely pancreatic cancer in decades. Computationally, it’s Taking a personalised, multi-faceted approach
improved at all in the last three decades. very important to understand the immune landscape will be essential to overcome such a complex
of pancreatic cancer, to help us to develop and aggressive disease as pancreatic cancer, and
More than 90 per cent of cases of pancreatic
therapeutics and diagnostics that could lead to to improve prospects for patients like Roy. Dr
cancer are pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma –
personalised treatment.” Sadanandam and his team are helping to lead the
a disease that starts in the exocrine cells of the
way – addressing a cancer where patients’ needs
pancreas where digestive enzymes are produced. AI has allowed researchers to analyse hundreds
have been unmet for too long.
Pancreatic tumours can often grow and spread of patient tumour samples at a time and to spot
Roy Bowdery with his daughters
unnoticed by the immune system and cause few
symptoms, so that by the time they are diagnosed
Understanding the immune landscape
it may be too late to treat the disease effectively.
To improve the odds against this disease, we
But now our scientists are beginning to make are using computational analysis of pancreatic
progress in finding new, more personalised cancers to find ways to select patients for more
approaches to treating pancreatic cancer. This will effective, personalised therapies. Dr Anguraj
offer some hope of a longer and better quality of Sadanandam, Team Leader in Systems and Precision
life for patients and their families – people like Roy Cancer Medicine, is combining use of artificial
Bowdery, who was diagnosed with pancreatic ductal intelligence (AI) with experimental and clinical
adenocarcinoma in 2014. studies. He aims to shed light on the different
subtypes of pancreatic cancer and the best
Roy recollects: “When I got the diagnosis, my wife therapies for patients with each one.
and I burst into tears. Pancreatic cancer is the most
fatal of all common cancers – it’s really brutal. I’ve The team is particularly interested in using AI
been cancer-free for six years, and now my aim is to to select those patients who are most likely to
get into the five per cent who survive 10 years. The respond to immunotherapy – a breakthrough type
figures haven't really improved in the last 40 years. of treatment which directs the body’s own immune
There needs to be research, so more people will system against cancer cells. As pancreatic cancer
survive and get a chance at life.” often evades the immune system, many patients do
not respond to immunotherapy, but there are some
patients who could significantly benefit from it. Adenocarcinoma of the pancreas
In focus
A historic moment: 25 years since
BRCA2 discovery transformed
cancer care
In December 1995, a research team led by In 1994, a research team led by our scientists, in a The BRCA2 discovery has had a huge impact on
our scientists identified the second breast huge international collaborative effort, was able to progress in understanding and tackling cancer
cancer susceptibility gene, BRCA2. The map the BRCA2 gene to part of chromosome 13. worldwide – both for cancer prevention and
The following year they detected the first potentially treatment. Widespread BRCA testing has enabled
discovery – published in Nature – was Tony Herbert and his wife Brenda
disease-causing mutation. Studying the gene where families to be assessed for their cancer risk, saving
a global sensation, and has gone on to
countless lives.
transform genetic testing for people with
it was located, they found six mutations that could
be passed on by parents and were seen in families
“Knowing I had the BRCA2
cancer and their families, and open up Discovery of the BRCA genes has also led to the
exciting new forms of cancer treatment.
with a history of cancer.
development of better, targeted treatments. These mutation saved my life”
The 1995 paper’s conclusions were clear: include a new class of drugs known as PARP
“When I was 68, I was diagnosed with stage 3
Back in the early 1990s, researchers around the ‘This is the BRCA2 gene.’ inhibitors, such as olaparib, which exploit a weakness
male breast cancer. It was recommended I go
world were engaged in a race to identify genes in cancer cells caused by mutations in BRCA genes.
BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes that we all carry. for genetic testing because my sister had also
helping to determine breast cancer risk. Researchers
These genes normally protect us against cancer. Olaparib is today used to treat ovarian and breast had breast cancer, and it was then discovered
in the US first identified the BRCA1 gene in 1994
But if you inherit mutations of these genes – ‘faulty’ cancers in women with inherited BRCA mutations. I had the BRCA2 gene mutation.
– but while this explained many inherited cases of
breast cancer, scientists were sure that there was versions that don’t work as they should – this Our research, which underpinned the drug’s
Having this mutation meant I was at an increased
another important gene out there. increases your risk of developing cancers including development, has also led to it becoming the first
risk of developing prostate cancer, so my
breast, ovarian and prostate cancer. genetically targeted medicine to show benefits in
consultant encouraged me to join the IMPACT
prostate cancer.
study, led by the ICR, which involved regular
Professor Ros Eeles, Professor of Oncogenetics, screening of men with high-risk gene mutations.
said: “It was an honour to be part of the team
I’ve been going for annual blood tests since
behind the BRCA2 discovery. It has played a pivotal
joining the study and, two years ago, it was
role in advancing research on breast, ovarian and
discovered that my PSA levels had risen.
prostate cancer over the years and continues
Although the result wasn’t that high, I was
to have a lasting impact. The discovery has been
referred straightaway as I was known to be
life-changing, and life-saving.”
at higher risk, and I was then diagnosed with
prostate cancer.
I’ve had 37 sessions of radiotherapy and am
now taking a hormone therapy which I’ll have
The BRCA2 discovery has had for three years.
a huge impact on progress in Knowing I had the BRCA2 mutation effectively
understanding and tackling saved my life. Thanks to this discovery, my
cancer worldwide. prostate cancer was caught early, and I was
able to receive the treatment I needed and get
straight back to normal life. Now my wife and I
are planning our next adventures together. I’m
Shadow of a DNA double helix on a background that shows the looking forward to carrying on living the life I
fluorescent banding of the sequencing output. Credit: Peter Artymiuk want with her by my side.”
In focus Patient focus 18 | 19
What Covid-19 can tell us about the causes of cancer “I promised I wouldn’t stop until
Professor Sir Mel Greaves ponders if the
she was saving lives”
traumatic Covid-19 experience could have
one unexpected benefit – by telling us about After Aoife Flanagan died of germ cell cancer at the age
the causes of childhood cancer of three, her mum, Eilish, set up a charity to change the
future for other children with cancer
The Covid-19 pandemic is a dramatic and traumatic
example of the impact of a new viral infection let In June 2019, Eilish Flanagan took her daughter to the doctor after
loose on a host population that is highly social the three-year-old started to experience pain in her stomach. After
and mobile. But at the same time it provides several trips to the doctor, Aoife was eventually diagnosed with
opportunities. It is in essence a giant experiment of germ cell cancer – a rare childhood tumour that usually develops
nature – and I believe it can give us valuable clues in the ovaries or testes. Five days later, she died.
about the causes of childhood cancer. Eilish was determined to use what had happened as a driving
Experiments of nature are events that arise naturally, force for change and set up Aoife’s Bubbles – named after Aoife’s
by accident or sometimes as a result of human beloved Shetland pony, Bubbles – which is the UK's only registered
behaviour, and which to shrewd observers can childhood germ cell cancer charity.
reveal something about the world which up to now Aoife’s Bubbles has now partnered with us to support the work of
has been cryptic. Professor Louis Chesler and his team on the ITCC-eSMART trial.
We have been learning about the causes of cancer Eilish said: “I wanted to fund research because time is going past Aoife Flanagan and her
from experiments of nature for many years. It’s been Professor Sir Mel Greaves and children are still getting sick. It’s time to do something. Shetland pony, Bubbles
recognised for centuries that nuns in convents have
relatively high rates of breast cancer and vanishingly “We want to give families the chance to make as many memories
Now we have the chance once again to test our
low rates of cervical cancer. This observation offers as possible. Aoife was the kindest little person you could ever wish
theory through the social restrictions that are
valuable clues to their causes. We now know that not to meet, and I’m sure her mission was to help others.”
occurring during the Covid-19 pandemic. We will
having children increases the risk of breast cancer be assessing incidence rates of childhood leukaemia The eSMART trial is designed to deliver the best possible treatment
and that sexually transmitted human papillomavirus over this past year to see if the Hong Kong pathways for children with aggressive solid tumour types, including
causes cervical cancer. experience is repeated. germ cell cancers.
Natural experiments have also provided vital clues If we can obtain further evidence that common Professor Chesler explained: “This trial will help us match children
aiding our attempts here at the ICR to unravel the Every child facing cancer
infections trigger leukaemia, this will consolidate our with the latest targeted drugs, and bring genomic testing into
cause of childhood leukaemia. In 2003 the SARS strategy to develop preventative measures that boost clinical practice for children. We want to improve the outlook for
deserves a chance –
epidemic led to Hong Kong closing all its schools for the immune systems of infants. every child diagnosed with cancer and help them get the best they deserve the quickest
a year. That social change removed major, contact- treatments, as swiftly as possible.” diagnosis, the best
based sources of common childhood infections. The Covid-19 pandemic has cost many lives and had
a massive impact on our society. It is perhaps of some
treatment options and
The consequence was a significant drop in infectious Eilish said: “After Aoife passed away, I made a promise that
comfort that this vast experiment of nature could I wouldn’t stop until she was saving lives. the best possible outcome.
diseases such as measles during that year. And there
was also a decline in cases of childhood leukaemia. have an unexpected upside – by helping us to protect Eilish Flanagan
“Every child facing cancer deserves a chance – they deserve
children from cancer.
That specific drop in the incidence of leukaemia, the quickest diagnosis, the best treatment options and the best
and not of other cancers, is something that my Read more on our website: possible outcome.
team’s model of the causes of the disease predicts. www.icr.ac.uk/experimentsofnature
“I am so proud this is the legacy Aoife has left and is still creating.”
We believe that childhood leukaemia is triggered in
certain susceptible children by a range of infections.www.icr.ac.uk
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