Cancer Prevention

We conduct research into the prevention of cancer with particular focus on preventive therapy and screening. We are involved in clinical trials and epidemiology and as such our work is essentially collaborative. Activities encompass prevention studies, screening studies, treatment comparisons, prognostic factors and biomarkers for survival, and aetiological studies of risk factors and biomarkers for developing cancer. The analysis of data from our projects often requires the development of new mathematical and statistic techniques, and we have an active interest in the development of new methodology.

What we do
  • We focus on identifying and validating interventions for reducing the risk of cancer.
  • Identifying individuals at high risk of particular cancers and finding effective, minimally toxic prophylactic interventions.
  • We are studying the role of mammographic breast density as a risk factor and exploring the best way to measure it and are refining our risk assessment programme.
  • We are embarking on a new trial to reduce late recurrence in breast cancer survivors.
  • In prostate cancer, we are evaluating prognostic markers for separating indolent from aggressive cancers and the role of aspiring in slowing the progression of apparently indolent cancers.
  • In cervix cancer, we are involved in the evaluation of HPV vaccination.
  • We are currently embarking on the prevention of colorectal cancer in individuals with large adenomas.
Major Funders
Major Funders
  • Cancer Research UK
  • Barts Charity
  • Breast Cancer Research Foundation
  • National Institute of Health Research
  • National Institutes of Health
  • Myriad Genetics
Key Publications