Thoracic Cancer
The Thoracic Cancer Programme is a pan-Cambridge network, including clinicians and cancer scientists, who meet regularly to design and drive research in thoracic malignancies. Our cancers of interest comprise lung, mesothelioma, advanced disease oesophageal, and head and neck malignancy. The programme is co-led by Prof. Robert Rintoul – Reader in Thoracic Oncology and Honorary Consultant Respiratory Physician, and Dr. Daniel Muñoz-Espín – Group Leader in the Department of Oncology.
If you would like to join this network, get in touch with our programme manager.
Lung and oesophageal cancers share poor five-year survival and have only realised limited improvement in the past decade. Improving the quality and quantity of research into these cancers of unmet need is therefore a key priority for CRUK and one shared by our Thoracic Cancer programme here at the CRUK Cambridge Centre. To improve survival rates, patients need to be identified when their disease is at an early or even pre-cancerous stage. Our research strategy therefore focuses on cancer prevention, early detection, and a more precise intervention in high-risk individuals.
The Thoracic Cancer programme and Early Cancer Institute are delighted to announce the first Cambridge Symposium on Oesophageal Cancer, happening on Thursday 7 November 2024 in the CRUK Cambridge Institute Lecture Theatre, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE.
Registration is required, and will open soon on our Eventbrite page(link is external).
For further details please email thoracic@cancer.cam.ac.uk
The Thoracic Programme launched a new seminar series this year, titled "What's New in Thoracic Cancer?". Our first seminar happened on 7th of March 2024 at the Heart and Lung Research Institute, with talks from Dr. Gill Barnett, Dr. Massimiliano di Pietro, and Dr. Josie Bryant. Keep an eye out on this page for details of the next talk!
Our programme members are based within multiple institutes, university departments and hospitals across Cambridge, including Royal Papworth Hospital, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Wellcome Sanger Institute and Astra Zeneca, making our programme a truly multidisciplinary scientific network.
Research groups funded or supported by our programme investigate diverse aspects of thoracic cancers, from fundamental basic cancer biology to pure clinical research and translational studies. We also have programme members who lead oesophageal and early stage lung cancer clinical trials, enabling patients to benefit from the latest innovations in cancer science.
The Thoracic Cancer Programme actively supports the CRUK Cambridge Centre’s formal education and training, to develop the cancer leaders of tomorrow. With many leading research groups, we also offer a wealth of opportunities for postdoctoral researchers and PhD students.
