Researchers from OICR and UHN have developed a predictive test that measures fragments of tumour DNA in the bloodstream. A blood test developed by OICR-supported researchers has shown the potential to predict how patients with various types of cancer will respond to immunotherapy without needing to take a tissue biopsy. The test, recently described in Cancer Discovery, harnesses an innovative technique called ‘cell-free methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing’ to detect tiny pieces of cancer DNA circulating in the bloodstream. Blood tests for cancer and other ‘liquid biopsies’ have emerg ..read more

Ambuj Srivastava has joined OICR’s Patient and Family Advisory Council, motivated by his father’s experience with cholangiocarcinoma. Soft spoken but with a big personality, Virendra Srivastava dedicated much of his life to advocating for the people he loved. His family, his friends, his shipmates during 40 years as a marine engineer, or the community of South Asian immigrants in his adopted home of Vancouver – if they needed help, they knew they could turn to Virendra. But when Virendra was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma – a rare form of bile duct cancer – in the summer of 2019, he was som ..read more

Dr. Laszlo Radvanyi, OICR’s President and Scientific Director, answers a question about precision medicine and discusses how OICR is working to improve access to this form of cancer treatment through the development of liquid biopsies. The post Ask a Cancer Researcher: How does a tumour’s genetics factor into cancer care? appeared first on Ontario Institute for Cancer Research ..read more

This new knowledge could lead to more personalized treatments for one of the deadliest forms of cancer. In a study that has implications for understanding and treating pancreatic cancer, OICR-supported researchers have identified new genetic players critical for tumour growth in the pancreas. Led by Dr. Daniel Schramek, a Senior Investigator at the Lunenfeld-Tanebaum Research Institute and Deputy Director of Discovery Research at Sinai Health, the researchers have identified two genes, USP15 and SCAF1, as tumour suppressors. People who have mutations in these genes are more likely to develop f ..read more

The Ontario-wide Cancer Targeted Nucleic Acid Evaluation (OCTANE) expanded the province’s capacity for next-generation sequencing to deliver personalized approaches to treat cancer Maddi was just 33 years old when she learned that her breast cancer had metastasized. She was told the standard-of-care treatment for metastatic breast cancer at the time in 2019 could help manage her symptoms and slow her cancer’s progression, but ultimately her disease was considered terminal. “I was really in shock,” recalls Maddi, who had already undergone chemotherapy and surgery. “I hadn’t fully understood tha ..read more

In our latest Ask a Cancer Researcher video, Dr. Lincoln Stein explains why cancer is so difficult to cure, the progress that has been made and what OICR is doing to help cancer patients live longer and better lives.  The post Why is it so challenging to find a cure for cancer? appeared first on Ontario Institute for Cancer Research ..read more

OICR will continue to deliver innovative research and treatment solutions to help cancer patients live longer, healthier lives The $144 million investment in the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) announced today by the Government of Ontario will bring huge dividends for people affected by cancer and their families, now and into the future. The funding — covering the next two years of OICR operations — was announced by Minister of Colleges and Universities, Jill Dunlop, as part of a large investment in Ontario’s research ecosystem. “Ontario’s research institutes are making new discov ..read more

Clinical trials lead to new and better ways of diagnosing and treating those with cancer. They also provide an opportunity for interested patients to access potentially life-changing care within a trial. However, some patients may be unable to participate in trials due to other health issues, family and work limitations, costs related to time or travel, or other concerns about participating in research. This can limit understanding of how new treatments will work in all those that may be offered them in the future. To help improve equity, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of clinical tria ..read more

Unique collaboration will combine OICR’s expertise in cancer genomics and translational drug discovery with Providence’s next generation of mRNA and LNP technology. Calgary, Alberta and Toronto, Ontario, May 23, 2024 – Providence Therapeutic Holdings Inc. (“Providence”), a messenger RNA (mRNA) and lipid nanoparticle platform company engaged in the development of vaccines and therapeutics, and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR), Ontario’s largest publicly funded cancer research institute delivering real-world solutions to people affected by cancer, today announced the signing of a ..read more

OICR patient partner Vivian Simbel Sim talks to Amal Aziz, a researcher and master’s student working within the lab of Dr. Aaron Fenster, about the various methods that can be used to screen for breast cancer in women with dense breasts. These women often need additional imaging after a standard mammogram. Aziz explains how a new 3D ultrasound technology that she is developing with her colleagues can deliver this screening in a more accessible manner than MRIs. The post Ask a Cancer Researcher: How can ultrasound be used to detect breast cancer? appeared first on Ontario Institute for Cancer ..read more