The MUHC Foundation is paving the way for innovative cancer research at the MUHC

The numbers are jarring—every year, hundreds of thousands of Canadians are diagnosed with cancer, and around 80,000 will die from it. The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) is home to some of the leading oncologists in the country, and they’re changing the face of cancer. From non-invasive liquid biopsy to testing cancer treatments on a lab-grown tumor, the MUHC’s cancer experts are blurring the lines between reality and science fiction, signalling that the future of cancer care is here. The MUHC Foundation’s Dream Big: End Cancer campaign is raising $35M to fund these researchers as they make breakthroughs in precision oncology, the game changer that will end cancer as a life-threatening disease.

From ovarian cancer, dubbed the silent killer, to lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, the MUHC and the Research Institute of the MUHC (RI-MUHC) is pioneering groundbreaking advancements across various areas of cancer research. End Cancer is empowering the MUHC’s experts to focus on what’s important: pioneering new and personalized cancer treatments, providing compassionate patient care, and ensuring that patients not only survive, but thrive post-treatment.

The biggest challenge presented by cancer is that there are more than 200 variations of the disease, so treatment is never one-size-fits-all. To address this complex issue, the MUHC houses a rich biobank of cancer tissues that serve as a critical resource for researchers, who can ‘borrow’ these samples to learn more about their genetic make-up and understand what they’re up against. Think of the biobank as a library for cancer researchers, with every sample unlocking a world of secrets, and shedding light on possible treatments that will save lives.

The literary references don’t end there. The RI-MUHC’s researchers are spearheading projects that sound like they’re part of a science fiction novel. They’re using cancer cells to grow tumours in the lab, and testing cancer treatments outside the body, enabling them to observe just how the cancer responds. After all, the first step in personalized medicine is to understand your cancer, and what it responds to.

Dr. Metrakos’ research focuses on cancer that has metastasized to the liver. He has already identified several pathways by which the cancer can spread, and is focused on creating targeted therapies that will prevent the tumor from growing.

“If you look at breast cancer for instance, thanks to better screening and therapies, it isn’t the force it once was. Far fewer Canadian women die of the disease than they did 20 years ago, but it’s still not enough, because 5,000 women are expected to die from it this year alone, and liver metastases are an important driver of these deaths. This is why we’re focusing on targeted therapies. It’s where the answer lies,” explains Dr. Peter Metrakos.

We’ve talked a lot about treatments, but detecting cancer early on gives patients the greatest chance for survival. Liquid biopsy promises just that: the innovative and minimally invasive screening test detects even microscopic tumour DNA circulating in the body. Less invasive than a skin biopsy or a scan that uses radiation, the powerful technique only requires a sample of blood, urine, or saliva, placing it miles ahead of standard screening methods. This exciting research is being led by Dr. Julia Burnier, Scientist at the RI-MUHC and the Cancer Research Program.