Chief Executive’s statement
Our Stratified Medicine Programme – which identifies different groups of patients and works out which treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, is most likely to benefit them – is gathering momentum. This year we’ve formed an essential partnership with the NHS and pharmaceutical companies so we can examine how the efficient and cost-effective genetic testing of tumour samples can best be rolled out across the NHS. This work is laying the foundations for personalised medicine.
We are living in a golden age for cancer research. Thanks to newtechniques and technologies, our understanding of cancer is increasing at a faster pace than ever before. Phenomenal advances are beingmade in theway cancer is prevented, diagnosed and treated. We are closer to personalisedmedicine becoming part of cancer care – something that has the potential to radically improve survival rates.However, raising funds for ourwork is getting tougher as the economy tightens. We need supporters to help usmore than ever ifwe are to avoid a slow-down in progress.
It has been an impressive year for Cancer Research UK. By all objective measures, the research we fund and carry out is of the highest quality and achieves the greatest impact, providing fundamental new insights into cancer and setting standards for how we should treat it in the UK and across the world.
In April 2010 we reported a major research breakthrough. A 16-year study that we helped to fund showed that a new screening technique called flexible sigmoidoscopy (flexi sig) could cut the number of cases of bowel cancer by a third. This year, thanks to our campaigning, this test will be added to the national bowel cancer screening programmes. Once fully rolled out, flexi sig could save thousands of lives every year.
Clinical trials are a vital part of developing new ways to prevent, detect and treat cancer, improving the quality of life for cancer patients and helping more people to survive. In 2010/11 our clinical trials had some great outcomes. Children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia that has returned will benefit from a new treatment called mitoxantrone, thanks to a trial we part-funded. This drug can increase survival to almost 70% and has fewer side effects than previous treatments. Another trial showed that a drug called abiraterone, discovered and developed by our scientists, will significantly improve survival for men with advanced prostate cancer. We hope abiraterone will be available to patients in the UK by early 2012.
Our life-saving research and collaborations This year we’ll launch a critical capital appeal for a pioneering medical research centre, the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation (to be known as The Francis Crick Institute). We’ve committed £160 million to create, with our partners, an institute which will bring together the best scientists and the latest technology from around the world. Working together, we will make sure that discoveries in the laboratory are turned into treatments as quickly as possible.
Early detection and diagnosis Thousands of lives could be saved each year if cancers were detected and treated sooner. Cancer Research UK co-chairs the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative (NAEDI) which aims to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer to encourage people to get checked out sooner rather than later.
In response to our campaigning, in January 2011, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley announced the Westminster government’s £450 million commitment towards promoting NHS screening programmes and increasing access to cancer testing at GPs’ surgeries.
These developments are a great step towards our goal to make sure cancer is diagnosed as early as possible – key to boosting cancer survival.
Campaigning for change We continue to use our expertise and experience to influence government policy and keep cancer at the top of the political agenda. We campaign to make sure people with cancer get the best treatment possible and do whatever we can to help protect people from the risk of developing the disease.
The use of tobacco and sunbeds poses a huge risk to young people’s health. Our campaigning has led to new laws which will now protect them from the danger of these preventable causes of cancer. In April 2011 it became illegal for under-18s to use sunbeds. And from April 2012, large stores will be banned from displaying tobacco products (smaller shops will follow in 2015). Cigarette vending machines will be history as of this year.
Thank you We are very pleased with the progress we’ve made over the past 12 months. I would like to thank our entire team of dedicated people for all their hard work over the last year – scientists, clinicians and nurses, our employees, supporters and volunteers. Without your commitment and unfailing generosity none of our life-saving work would be possible.
With your continued support we will keep on working hard to make our vision of beating cancer a reality. We have a great deal more to do, but I believe that together we will make this happen.
Harpal S Kumar Chief Executive 27 June 2011
Annual Report and Accounts / Chief Executive’s statement / 03
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