Headline message

We will understand how cancer starts and develops

Detailed goal

We will have a detailed understanding of the causes and changes in the body in two-thirds of all cases of cancer.

Background information and strategies

How we will measure this

We will review our understanding of the causes and development of the 20 most common cancers in consultation with experts. Every three years, we will assess the proportion of cases in which we have a detailed knowledge of:

• Environmental or lifestyle risk factors
• How environmental or lifestyle risk factors lead to gene changes that initiate cancer
• The altered genes that play a key role in cancer development
• Inherited changes in DNA that increase susceptibility to cancer
• The processes by which early cancer develops into metastatic disease.

The current situation

We have a good understanding of the environmental or lifestyle factors that have contributed to cancer development in at least 40% of cancer cases. Currently, this understanding varies greatly according to the cancer type.

We have a good understanding of genetic alterations with a key role in cancer development in at least 50% of all cancer cases. Genetic alterations or specific mutations that account for inherited predisposition to cancer have been identified in approximately 10% of familial cancers (around 1¿2% of all cancer cases). Among these, most 'high-risk' genes (that increase lifetime risk by more than 50%) have been discovered.

Research is helping us to understand many of the processes involved in the development of metastatic cancer.

We will achieve this goal by:

• Supporting a broad portfolio of world-class research in the UK directed at understanding the biology and causes of cancer
• Using different funding models and research venues to get the most out of our research activities.

We hope this work will also be supported by:

Other research organisations

• Conducting research alongside or in partnership with Cancer Research UK.

(Photo courtesy of the EM Unit, LRI)