Cancer remains one of the world’s most challenging health problems, but every decade has brought transformative breakthroughs that changed what diagnosis, treatment, and survival look like today. On World Cancer Day, we reflect on how far science has come and why continued innovation still matters.
From early observations to the birth of cancer science
The earliest descriptions of cancer appear in ancient medical texts, yet the scientific understanding of cancer truly accelerated in the 1700s. In 1775, chimney soot was linked to scrotal cancer, marking the first recorded environmental cause of cancer. This connection paved the way for modern cancer epidemiology and occupational health.
By the late 1800s, two discoveries reshaped oncology forever:
• 1895: X-rays discovered, enabling the first imaging of internal tumours.
• 1898: Radium discovered, leading to radiation therapy.
These breakthroughs created entirely new diagnostic and treatment paradigms.
The 20th century: The rise of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy
In the early 1900s, surgery became more precise and widely used for cancer control. By the 1940s, the world entered the era of chemotherapy, as scientists discovered that certain chemicals could halt rapidly dividing cells.
Radiotherapy became more sophisticated throughout the century, allowing targeted treatment of tumours while sparing healthy tissue. Together, these advances transformed previously fatal cancers into treatable conditions.
Targeted therapies and the modern era of precision medicine
The 1970s to 1990s marked one of the most significant shifts in cancer treatment: the arrival of targeted therapies.
• Imatinib demonstrated that drugs could precisely target specific molecular pathways.
• 1997: Rituximab became the first monoclonal antibody therapy approved for cancer, opening the door to today’s entire antibody-based treatment landscape.
These innovations accelerated the move toward personalised treatment and reshaped the pharmaceutical industry.
Immunotherapy, CAR-T, and the revolution in immune-based treatments
In the 2000s and 2010s, immune checkpoint inhibitors redefined what was possible for patients with advanced cancers. Shortly after, CAR-T cell therapies demonstrated ground-breaking success in treating blood cancers, especially in cases where traditional treatments had failed.
Immunotherapy is now a core pillar of cancer care worldwide.
The 2020s: mRNA, AI diagnostics, and personalised oncology
The 2020s have introduced new frontiers:
• mRNA technology enters oncology, enabling cancer vaccines tailored to individual tumour profiles.
• Liquid biopsies offer less invasive ways to monitor cancer in real time.
• AI-enabled diagnostics support earlier detection and more accurate interpretation of complex biological data.
• Personalised treatment strategies are becoming standard in leading cancer centres.
Cancer care is shifting toward precision, prevention, and earlier intervention.
Why this matters for the future of cancer research
Today, more than 20 million people are diagnosed with cancer each year, and projections suggest this will exceed 35 million by 2050. As cancer becomes more prevalent globally, the need for reliable science has never been greater.
At ABMIUM, we believe the next era of progress requires:
• Stronger evidence standards
• Transparent supply chains for research reagents
• More reproducible laboratory methods
• Tools that accelerate discovery while reducing waste
Better research tools mean better science, and better science leads to better outcomes for patients.
References:
1. Baskar, R., Lee, K.A., Yeo, R. and Yeoh, K.W., 2012. Cancer and radiation therapy: current advances and future directions. International Journal of Medical Sciences, 9(3), pp.193–199.
https://doi.org/10.7150/ijms.3635
2. DeVita, V.T. and Chu, E., 2008. A history of cancer chemotherapy. Cancer Research, 68(21), pp.8643–8653.
https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-6611
3. Druker, B.J., 2008. Imatinib as a paradigm of targeted therapies. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 118(9), pp.3149–3153.
https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI36040
4. Mellman, I., Coukos, G. and Dranoff, G., 2011. Cancer immunotherapy comes of age. Nature, 480(7378), pp.480–489.
https://doi.org/10.1038/nature10673
5. June, C.H., O’Connor, R.S., Kawalekar, O.U., Ghassemi, S. and Milone, M.C., 2018. CAR T cell immunotherapy for human cancer. Science, 359(6382), pp.1361–1365.
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aar6711
6. Ganau, M., 2022. Liquid biopsy: a modern tool for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Future Science OA, 8(4), FSO789.
https://doi.org/10.2144/fsoa-2021-0152
7. Sahin, U. and Türeci, Ö., 2023. mRNA-based therapeutics — a new class of drugs entering oncology. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 22, pp.351–353.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41573-023-00620-3
8. Sung, H. et al., 2021. Global cancer statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 71(3), pp.209–249.
https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21660
9. Mukherjee, S., 2010. The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer. New York: Scribner.
10. Peto, J., 2016. Cancer epidemiology in the real world. Nature Reviews Cancer, 16(9), pp.503–510.
https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc.2016.88