An EU-funded project is developing innovative ways to mimic the micro-environment that cancer cells encounter inside the human body. The creation of artificial 3D tumour models could pave the way for more accurate testing of cancer drugs and ultimately lead to better treatments.
A team of EU-funded researchers has developed an accurate and non-invasive way to detect cancer through a person's breath. The hand-held sensor can be used by anyone without medical supervision in combination with their smart phone. Tests reveal the accuracy of the sensor is about 93 %.
An innovative Swedish SME will soon launch a life-saving test for one of the most lethal and hard-to-detect forms of cancer. Clinically validated in an EU-funded project, the test could revolutionise the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, providing early detection with unprecedented accuracy, boosting patient survival rates and enabling widespread screening of high-risk groups.
Multi-country clinical trials have significant advantages but the practicalities of setting them up and managing them can be daunting. An EU-funded project involving 23 countries contributed to the ongoing development of an infrastructure that offers hands-on support and boosts Europe's capacity for life-saving research.
An EU-funded project has advanced breast cancer detection to uncover tumours that are difficult to spot and frequently missed by current technology. The technology could help to save lives and avoid unnecessary biopsies.
An EU- and industry-funded project has identified potential biomarkers that could indicate how likely a drug is to cause cancer at an earlier stage of testing than is currently possible, which could save drug companies time and money - and lead to safer drugs reaching patients faster.
The incidence of cancer in Europe is increasing but many potential new drug treatments are found to be ineffective when tested on patients. An EU and industry-funded project has investigated new models of tumours to help researchers discover more effective treatments and boost survival rates.
There is still a lot to learn about the genetic changes that occur as melanoma tumours form - and about the body's response to this illness. Greater understanding could help to predict how individual tumours are likely to respond to various combinations of therapies. An EU-funded network is training young researchers who are exploring this issue.
A Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship grant has enabled an ambitious young French researcher to make important advances in identifying a possible genetic association between endometriosis (when tissue that normally grows inside the uterus grows outside) and a higher risk of developing melanoma, a skin cancer.
October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, highlighting the plight of patients and efforts to fight this potentially deadly disease that claims around 570 000 lives a year around the world. The EU is doing its part by funding a range of promising research projects, including two that are developing tools to better determine a woman’s breast cancer risk in order to optimise screening and prevention - and ultimately save lives.
