World Cancer Research Day 2024: Innovations in cancer research you should know about

By Emily Usher | 13 September 2024

24 September is World Cancer Research Day, a day dedicated to highlighting the critical role of cancer research in saving lives. 

Cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment have made remarkable strides over the past 35 years. In Australia, the overall 5-year cancer survival rate has surged from 52% in 1989 to 70% today, transforming cancer from a near-certain death sentence to a manageable condition for many. 

However, despite these significant advancements, numerous challenges remain. We continue to face obstacles in improving prevention strategies, refining diagnostic methods, and enhancing treatment options. The path to overcoming these challenges lies in continued investment in research and scientific exploration.

At the forefront of this innovation are Cure Cancer researchers, whose groundbreaking work continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Here, we look at what they’re doing to tackle the challenges and bring us closer to a cure for all cancers. 

When treatments have toxic side effects

While necessary, many cancer treatments come with toxic side effects. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy, for instance, are known to cause nausea, fatigue, and hair loss, as well as more severe effects like immune system suppression and organ damage. This is because these treatments indiscriminately target rapidly dividing cells, whether cancerous or healthy. We desperately need more research into less toxic, more targeted therapies that will improve patient outcomes and enhance their quality of life during and after treatment. This is especially true for younger patients. Thankfully, scientists like A/Prof Orazio Vittorio and Dr Ben Wylie are focusing on just that. 

A/Prof Orazio Vittorio 

In 2018, A/Prof Orazio Vittorio from the University of New South Wales received a Cure Cancer grant to research drugs targeting neuroblastoma and glioblastoma with fewer side effects than conventional chemotherapy. These aggressive types of childhood cancer have poor survival rates and severe long-term side effects for survivors. A breakthrough in his research in 2020 revealed that reducing copper levels in the blood can counteract these cancers' resistance to immunotherapy. Orazio and his team discovered a less toxic compound called Trientine to target high copper levels in these cancer cells. This discovery paves the way for clinical trials and aims to revolutionise treatment, potentially reducing the reliance on chemotherapy and improving patient outcomes. 

Dr Ben Wylie

Meanwhile, Dr Ben Wylie from the The Kids Research Institute Australia and University of Western Australia is focusing his research on childhood sarcoma. In Australia, over 75 children under 15 are diagnosed with sarcoma annually, and 40% of these children sadly do not survive. Sarcoma, a rare but aggressive cancer affecting bones and soft tissues, disproportionately impacts youth, comprising 20% of cancer cases in those under 20. The primary treatment is surgery, but if any cancerous cells remain, the cancer can recur, often requiring additional, less effective, and more harmful treatments. Ben and his team have developed a novel gel that releases anti-cancer drugs slowly into the surgical site, aimed at eradicating any remaining cancer cells and reducing recurrence rates. This innovative approach could significantly improve post-surgery outcomes, potentially decreasing the need for follow-up chemotherapy and radiotherapy and enhancing long-term survival for sarcoma patients. 

Dr Jennifer Currenti

Researchers are also increasingly exploring immunotherapy as a promising alternative to traditional cancer treatments. Immunotherapy harnesses the body's immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells and is a less toxic treatment option compared to conventional methods. Dr Jennifer Currenti from the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Curtin University is at the forefront of this research, focusing on applying immunotherapy specifically to liver cancer, a leading cause of cancer-related deaths with over 800,000 fatalities annually and a projected 55% increase in cases and 56.4% rise in deaths over the next 20 years. 

Liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), has a dismal 5-year survival rate of about 20%, even with early detection. In Australia, high recurrence rates further undermine the effectiveness of treatments like surgery and transplantation. Jennifer's research seeks to address these challenges by developing a blood test to identify biomarkers in T-cells that predict how well patients will respond to immunotherapy. If successful, this test could enable personalised treatment plans, improving the chances of benefiting from immunotherapy and enhancing long-term outcomes for liver cancer patients. 

When screening isn't widely available

Most cancers are highly treatable and often curable when detected at an early stage. Early detection significantly increases the chances of successful treatment and survival because the cancer is generally smaller, less likely to have spread, and more responsive to treatment options. However, a range of factors can impede early detection. 

The availability and accessibility of diagnostic tests can vary widely. Moreover, certain cancers may not present symptoms until they are advanced, making early detection more challenging. By improving early detection efforts, we can significantly enhance treatment outcomes and save more lives. 

Dr Yuchen Feng

 Dr Yuchen Feng from the The University of Sydney, named Cure Cancer Researcher of the Year 2024, has been making impressive strides in the early diagnosis of bowel cancer by developing a diagnostics kit that could make screening more accessible in rural and resource-limited areas. Her lab has discovered that certain long non-coding RNAs are significantly overproduced in bowel cancer, suggesting they play a role in the disease's progression. This research aims to explore the connection between these regulators and bowel cancer. The goal is twofold: to develop a new diagnostic tool for early cancer detection and to identify potential therapeutic targets by silencing these regulatory RNAs that promote cancer growth. This research could lead to innovative treatment strategies and improve outcomes for patients. 

When cancer cells require different treatments

Different cancer cells have unique mutations and behaviours, requiring personalised treatments for better outcomes. 

Tumour mapping and profiling are crucial because they allow medical professionals to identify how different cells within a tumour respond to treatments. By mapping these responses, doctors can quickly determine which therapies are effective and adjust treatment plans accordingly. This personalised approach enables faster, more targeted interventions, potentially saving lives by optimising treatment efficacy and reducing time spent on ineffective therapies. 

Dr Arutha Kulasinghe

Dr Arutha Kulasinghe, a leader in spatial biology at The University of Queensland and the Wesley Research Institute, has pioneered spatial transcriptomics and globally. His research focuses on using advanced tissue imaging techniques to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapies. By creating digital maps of tumours at a cellular level, his work aims to identify predictive biomarkers that indicate how a patient will respond to treatment, enabling personalised and more effective therapies. This approach could revolutionise lung cancer treatment by improving survival rates, reducing side effects, and cutting unnecessary costs. 

When traditional 2D cell cultures and models can't replicate the complexity of human tumours

Traditional 2D cell cultures and models can't fully replicate human tumours because they lack the complex 3D structures, genetic diversity, and interactions with the immune system found in real tumours. This limits their ability to predict tumour behaviour and treatment responses in humans. 

Organoids, which are three-dimensional structures grown from stem cells that can mimic the architecture and function of real organs, are addressing several critical challenges in cancer research. 

Dr Asmerom Sengal

Cure Cancer-funded researcher Dr Asmerom Sengal from the Queensland University of Technology is using organoids to advance research into endometrial cancer, the most common gynaecological cancer in Australia. The disease currently has a 15% mortality rate among newly diagnosed patients, especially those with metastatic or recurrent forms. The challenge in treating advanced cases stems from the focus of most genomic studies on primary tumours, which differ genetically from metastatic cancers. To address this, Asmerom's team is developing patient-derived organoids—3D models that mimic metastatic endometrial cancers. These organoids will be crucial for studying cancer progression, testing drug combinations, and creating personalised therapies to improve outcomes for advanced cases. 

World Cancer Research Day is an opportunity to reflect on the remarkable progress that is being made across so many areas of cancer research, while also acknowledging that we still have a long way to go. Continued dedication to research is essential to overcoming the persistent challenges in cancer prevention, detection and treatment.  

The innovative work of Cure Cancer researchers is paving the way for more effective and less harmful therapies. Their efforts bring us closer to a future where cancer is not only manageable but ultimately curable, offering hope and improved outcomes for patients worldwide. Thank you for supporting their vital work.

To learn more about emerging researcher successes this World Cancer Research Day, head to Projects and Impacts.