Astronomers apply their skills to cancer research

Our astronomers are applying their skills to cancer research - You might not think that studying the universe could benefit research into serious illnesses like cancer, but Durham's astronomers have joined forces with cancer researchers to improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients. We're working with the NHS, healthcare researchers and biotech experts on the £1million CUP-COMP project to improve outcomes for people with cancer of unknown primary (CUP). Cancer therapies Our scientists will use statistical methods normally used to understand the evolution of the universe to help model the success of cancer therapies across a range of datasets. They hope the modelling can show how different therapies affect different cancers so future treatments can be tailored to individual patients. CUP means that cancer has spread in a person's body (secondary cancer), but doctors can't find where it started (the primary cancer). It is a common cancer with poor prognosis affecting almost 9,000 people in the UK every year and accounting for approximately two per cent of all new cancer cases. Every day approximately 24 people are diagnosed with, and 26 people die from, CUP.