Medical milestones

Work will begin later this year on a 14 million state-of-the-art cancer research centre, to be jointly funded by the University of Glasgow and Cancer Research UK. Housing up to 240 researchers, the new centre aims to provide world-class research facilities, and by putting some of the country's top scientists under a single roof it's hoped that high quality laboratory research will be fast-tracked into real clinical progress for patients. The new building is itself an innovation with an emphasis on natural light and attractive communal space which supports the notion of collaborative research. Landscapers will design a modern, tranquil research park environment it's all a far cry from the pale green tiled corridors that we associate with old-fashioned medical buildings. The research centre is due to be completed in 2006 and will form strong links with the already rejuvenated Beatson Oncology Centre which was named after the pioneering Sir George Beatson, a far-sighted surgeon who back in 1912 created a cancer research lab in Glasgow.

Joined-up thinking

'Strong links' are the buzzwords these days when it comes to getting tangible results from research and seeing the benefits for patients. A whole new way of thinking has emerged which puts communication and infrastructure at the heart of scientific work and patient progress. Blazing a trail is the UK-wide National Translational Cancer Research Network (NTRAC) which aims to improve cancer patients' access to new treatments by bridging the gap between scientific and clinical research. Two centres, one in Edinburgh and a joint centre in Glasgow and Dundee will receive a total of 2.3 million of funding over five years from the Scottish Executive. The Edinburgh centre will concentrate particularly on improving the crucial use of databases, in order to increase recruitment to early clinical trials, and to enable scientists and doctors to share resources and information. The Glasgow/Dundee centre is expected to focus on the analysis of new drugs to find out how different people respond to different kinds of treatment.

Mystery solving

So what new leads are there in the on-going detective work carried out by these Scottish medical sleuths? Well, Dundee University[end link], always a place to watch for cutting edge discovery, is the birthplace of one particularly clever piece of work. Dr Barbara Spruce has identified an Achilles' heel in cancer cells that could signify global change in cancer treatment her groundbreaking research may lead to a new approach for particularly aggressive forms of the disease. Basically, Dr Spruce has discovered a way of triggering cancer cells to self-destruct selectively, without harming normal cells a hugely significant leap forward for cancer research and one which has been recognised by the Royal Society of Edinburgh Gannochy Trust which honoured Dr Spruce with its Innovation Award in June 2003. Since winning the award, support from scientists and institutes across the United States is helping to accelerate the process of taking Dr Spruce's research from bench to bedside.

In Glasgow, a top team of scientists was first at the finishing line to win the Gunnar Nilsson Research Fellowship a 155,000 award set up in memory of the Swedish Formula One racing driver who as a cancer sufferer himself was committed to pursuing better treatment for all oncology patients. The team, led by Dr Vivienne Hughes, will conduct a two-year programme of research into a gene that could be used to target treatment directly at breast cancer cells using radioactive molecules. It's hoped that Dr Hughes' work may lead to a new therapy for breast cancer patients.

Life-saving gadgets

Back in Dundee, surgeons, physical scientists and computer specialists have been collaborating with amazing results, making a major breakthrough in cancer detection. They have created a new hand-held instrument that will allow GPs to scan women for early signs of breast cancer in a matter of minutes in their local surgery. Without the need for damaging X-rays, the new technique uses ultrasound imaging combined with vibration and the device is inexpensive both to manufacture and to use. The team is now refining the technique before commercial use of the machine gets underway.

Yet more Dundonian researchers are busy at work with a similar device targeting throat cancer this time the diagnostic tool is even simpler: a 'dipstick' type aid that could also be used by GPs in ordinary clinics. Working along the same lines as a pregnancy test kit, the 'dipstick' could save hours of patient, nurse and consultant time and avoid the need for patients to undergo a diagnostic endoscopy.

Crystal clear

It's not only teaching hospitals and universities which are forging ahead in the battle against cancer. A number of commercial firms in Scotland are also involved in research and development some with very promising results indeed. In a small business unit at Strathclyde Business Park, Photonics Materials grows seed crystals in furnaces. Within months the crystals are the size of whisky bottles and are then imported to the United States to be used in medical imaging devices and scanners. PET (positron emission transfer) scanners can assess a patient's actual molecular structure which means earlier detection of tumours thus saving vital time in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Life science company Cyclacel is putting its lead drug product, known as CYC202, through its paces with Phase II clinical trials following Phase I trials which showed very promising results: it's been proved that CYC202 does not induce toxic reactions associated with standard chemotherapy drugs, such as immune system depression, making this a potentially powerful anti-cancer weapon.

In Edinburgh, Medical Marketing International, the technology management company has raised half a million pounds for its cancer therapy subsidiary Oncosense, primarily to develop cancer drugs incorporating the element Ruthenium. Edinburgh is also home to the European headquarters of Bioenvision, whose new breast cancer drug Modrenal has been successful in treating women who have built up a resistance to commonly prescribed therapies.

Patient power

Great strides are being made in Scotland to look at the whole picture when it comes to cancer. In particular, the day-to-day experiences of patients themselves, and the effectiveness of treatments and clinical services are being examined and improved as never before. In April of this year, funding worth 1.5 million was awarded by the Scottish Executive towards research into patient experiences at the University of Stirling's new Cancer Care Research Centre. The Centre, the only one of its kind in the UK, will explore a range of methods to capture the views of patients, carers and the public, ensuring that they are actively involved in influencing, planning and developing cancer services. Symptom management has been identified as a major area of concern for patients so clinicians and technologists are looking into ways that IT can help: the use of hand-held computers for patients receiving chemotherapy to help them monitor their condition, for example, and using mobile phone networks so that patients experiencing potentially life-threatening symptoms can be tracked remotely and receive tailored advice when they need it.

A yoghurt a day . . .

And of course, prevention is always at the forefront of Scottish medical thinking. The biggest stumbling blocks are smoking and lifestyle, but huge efforts are being made to improve attitudes to both. It's been shown that fitness can help ward off some forms of cancer, and when cancer patients in Glasgow were prescribed gentle activity classes (including line dancing!) their physical well-being and recovery from treatment was significantly better. Campaigns for healthy eating are taking centre stage, boosted by research at St Andrews and Dundee which showed that eating certain foods such as probiotic yoghurt plus high fibre fruit, vegetables and pulses like lentils can protect from certain forms of the disease. As for that toxic culprit, tobacco, it's clear that though there's still a long way to go, smoking habits are gradually changing in Scotland, with more people quitting than ever before.

There's no denying that Scotland needs to keep fighting the war against cancer but survival rates are up overall in the UK and with the calibre and dedication of Scottish clinicians and scientists, Scotland is undoubtedly achieving some spectacular results from the front line of research.