Cancer and regenerative medicine

03/22/13 • 4 min

Professor Xin Lu talks about the links between cancer and regenerative medicine. Identifying the switches that turn cell growth off and on would have profound implications for cancer medicine. If the right mechanisms can be found, cancer cells could be targeted specifically, resulting in more efficient treatments. Professor Xin Lu is working to identify the molecular mechanisms that naturally suppress tumour growth. Nuclear reprogramming could also enable cells to be utilized more safely and effectively in regenerative medicine.

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INDOX Cancer Research NetworK

Dr Raghib Ali talks about INDOX, the cancer research network in India. The INDOX Cancer Research Network is a collaboration between Oxford and twelve leading cancer centres in India. As Director of this Network, Dr Raghib Ali aims to improve early detection of cancer and to develop effective and affordable cancer treatments for low and middle-income countries. Dr Ali's main interest is in colorectal (bowel) cancer and other chronic, non-communicable diseases. Incidence of colorectal cancer in India has been relatively low historically; understanding why may help us establish risk factors and also lead to new treatments.

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Cancer Immunlogy

Professor Vincenzo Cerundolo tells us how research in immunology leads to the development of new cancer treatments. Immunotherapy stimulates the body's immune system, and can be a powerful treatment for cancer. The most efficient prophylactic cancer vaccine today is the vaccine against papilloma virus, whereas the development of therapeutic vaccines is more challenging. With the aim of developing better treatment strategies for cancer patients, Professor Vincenzo Cerundolo is working to gain a better understanding of the cell-to-cell interplay required for optimal expansion and activation of tumour-specific T cell populations.