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Brain (and spinal cord) tumours

There are around 12,100 people diagnosed with a tumour in the brain or central nervous system (CNS) each year in the UK. Brain and spinal cord tumours can affect children and adults and common symptoms include headaches, feeling or being sick and seizures (fits).
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Two researchers smiling as they work together in a lab

2023 has been a big year for Cancer Research UK, and there's been a lot to celebrate. So, to end the year, we want to highlight just a few of our most exciting research stories of 2023. 2023 has been a big year for Cancer Research UK, and there's been a lot to celebrate. So, to end the year, we want to highlight just a few of our most exciting research stories of 2023.

by Jacob Smith | In depth | 18 December 2023

18 December 2023

A cancer cell undergoing mitosis, or cloning itself and splitting in two.

Aggressive cancers use ecDNA to evolve quickly and resist treatment. This is how we found that out, and how we're going to stop it. Aggressive cancers use ecDNA to evolve quickly and resist treatment. This is how we found that out, and how we're going to stop it.

by Tim Gunn | In depth | 20 February 2023

20 February 2023

Glioblastoma cells seen through a microscope.

We've helped double brain tumour survival over the past 40 years. Now, researchers are combining some of our most successful drugs, temozolomide and PARP inhibitors, to make glioblastoma treatment more effective. We've helped double brain tumour survival over the past 40 years. Now, researchers are combining some of our most successful drugs, temozolomide and PARP inhibitors, to make glioblastoma treatment more effective.

by Tim Gunn | Analysis | 13 February 2023

13 February 2023

The Antibody Alliance Laboratory – a collaboration between Cancer Research UK and AstraZeneca – combines academic rigour with agile bioengineering to push forward antibody discovery projects... The Antibody Alliance Laboratory – a collaboration between Cancer Research UK and AstraZeneca – combines academic rigour with agile bioengineering to push forward antibody discovery projects...

by Cancer Research UK | In depth | 15 December 2022

15 December 2022

Tissue stain of medulloblastoma - which is densely cellular and discrete from other tissue

Our scientists have found tiny cellular changes that make medulloblastomas resistant to treatment. Understanding them could help us treat the disease in future. Our scientists have found tiny cellular changes that make medulloblastomas resistant to treatment. Understanding them could help us treat the disease in future.

by Lilly Matson | Analysis | 4 November 2022

4 November 2022

A photograph of someone holding a test tube in a lab.

We spoke to Dr Debbie Hicks about what is being done to understand and minimise the impact of long-term side effects for children and young people with medulloblastoma. We spoke to Dr Debbie Hicks about what is being done to understand and minimise the impact of long-term side effects for children and young people with medulloblastoma.

by Lilly Matson | Analysis | 22 September 2022

22 September 2022

The role of the nervous system in cancer progression remains largely unexplored. Now, our researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre are leaning into the unknown to find out how cancer uses nerve cells and networks to survive and grow. The role of the nervous system in cancer progression remains largely unexplored. Now, our researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre are leaning into the unknown to find out how cancer uses nerve cells and networks to survive and grow.

by Joanna Lewin | In depth | 1 December 2021

1 December 2021

That Cancer Conversation in a white speech bubble with a dark blue background

From groundbreaking rare cancer research to ending up on Forbes 30 under 30, we chat to Sigourney Bell about her work in the lab and her global organisation, Black in Cancer. From groundbreaking rare cancer research to ending up on Forbes 30 under 30, we chat to Sigourney Bell about her work in the lab and her global organisation, Black in Cancer.

by Cancer Research UK | Podcast | 8 October 2021

8 October 2021

This entry is part 3 of 16 in the series That Cancer Conversation
Amarvir (pictured with his dad Jag) was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2010.

Since the 1970s, 30,000 deaths have been avoided thanks in part to the progress we’ve made in diagnosing and treating children's and young people's cancers. Since the 1970s, 30,000 deaths have been avoided thanks in part to the progress we’ve made in diagnosing and treating children's and young people's cancers.

by Harry Jenkins | Analysis | 29 September 2021

29 September 2021

Rebecca and family

This Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we caught up with families who have been affected by children’s and young people’s cancers to find out how COVID-19 has impacted them and their loved ones. This Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we caught up with families who have been affected by children’s and young people’s cancers to find out how COVID-19 has impacted them and their loved ones.

by Tom Bourton | Analysis | 15 September 2021

15 September 2021