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VISTA trial investigates therapeutic cancer vaccine for oesophageal cancer
30 Sep, 2026
The first patients have been dosed in the Phase I/IIa VISTA trial, which is investigating whether the cancer vaccine ITOP1 can safely induce anti-tumour immune responses in patients with resectable oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) to delay or prevent recurrence.
Expanding OxCITE: New funding to accelerate immunotherapy research
15 Sep, 2026
New funding from Cancer Research Horizons will help researchers to better understand why some patients respond well to immunotherapy while others do not.
Study validates QResearch-linked data for population cancer research
4 Sep, 2026
A new study has validated QResearch-linked electronic health records as a nationally representative resource for cancer research in England. Published in ESMO Real World Data & Digital Oncology and led by Professor Simon Lord, the study found that cancer cases in the linked dataset closely reflect national cancer statistics in terms of age, sex, cancer stage, and treatment characteristics, positioning it as a rich resource for population-level oncology research.
Tumour cell state shapes radiation resistance in glioblastoma
1 Sep, 2026
New research published in Cancer Neuroscience reveals the role of tumour cell state as an important determinant of radiation resistance in glioblastoma, the deadliest brain cancer in adults. Led by Dr Lucy Brooks, the study found that a specific subset of tumour cells - reactive astrocyte-like (rAC-like) cells - are selectively retained after radiotherapy, with distinct DNA damage responses and resistance to apoptosis helping them survive. The findings lay the groundwork for discovering new therapeutic vulnerabilities in a cancer where recurrence remains a major challenge.
DNA protection mechanism reveals vulnerability in BRCA-mutant cancers
24 Aug, 2026
New research published today in Cell has shed light on how cells protect against DNA damage during cell division, with implications for cancer and neurodevelopmental disease. Led by Dr Andrew Blackford at the Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, the study identified DDIAS as a key component of the DNA damage response during mitosis. Loss of DDIAS causes a severe, previously unrecognised neurodevelopmental disorder, while BRCA1- or BRCA2-deficient cells were found to depend on DDIAS for survival, revealing a potential vulnerability in BRCA-mutant cancers.
Oxford’s MSc in Medical Physics with Radiobiology reaccredited by IPEM
30 Jul, 2026
The Department of Oncology is delighted to announce that our MSc in Medical Physics with Radiobiology programme has been reawarded Masters Level Accreditation by the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM).
Mr Keaton Jones attends Pancreatic Cancer UK parliamentary reception
22 Jun, 2026
Last week, Mr Keaton Jones attended a Pancreatic Cancer UK parliamentary reception at the House of Commons which brought together 50 MPs, government representatives, researchers, patients, and supporters to discuss how the UK can accelerate progress in pancreatic cancer treatment.
Targeting polyploid cells to overcome treatment resistance in glioblastoma
18 Jun, 2026
Dr Lucy Brooks has been awarded funding from Brain Research UK to investigate the mechanisms that allow therapy-induced polyploid tumour cells to survive and contribute to therapy resistance and recurrence in glioblastoma, with the aim of uncovering new therapeutic targets to improve patient outcomes.
New biomarker brings personalised Polθ inhibitor-radiotherapy treatment closer to the clinic
14 Jun, 2026
A new study led by Professor Geoff Higgins, in collaboration with Artios Pharma, has uncovered a genetic vulnerability that could help identify patients most likely to benefit from a promising radiotherapy combination treatment. Published today in Science Advances, the research identifies loss of SHLD2 as a predictive biomarker for treatment with DNA polymerase theta (Polθ) inhibitors, an emerging class of DNA repair-targeted drugs.
Researchers uncover how cancer cells evade PARP inhibitor treatment
2 Jun, 2026
Research led by scientists at the University of Oxford and published today in Nature Cell Biology has uncovered a previously unknown mechanism that allows cancer cells to resist a widely used class of cancer drugs known as PARP inhibitors.
Dr Ejung Moon awarded MRC funding to target metastatic breast cancer’s “Achilles’ heel”
28 May, 2026
Dr Ejung Moon, Group Leader in the University of Oxford’s Department of Oncology, has been awarded funding from the Medical Research Council (MRC) to investigate a promising new strategy for treating metastatic breast cancer.
New compound developed to target hypoxia by reducing tumour oxygen consumption
11 May, 2026
Researchers have developed a promising new compound designed to reduce tumour hypoxia, a major cause of radiotherapy resistance.
Associate Professor Daniel McGowan joins €50m European study on heart health in cancer patients
28 Apr, 2026
Researchers from the Department of Oncology are part of a €50 million European project looking at how innovative medical and digital technologies can improve the early detection of heart-related problems in cancer patients and survivors.
Study reveals lifetime obesity exposure in cancer patients is widely underestimated
27 Apr, 2026
New data published today in ESMO Real World Data and Digital Oncology show that more than half of people receiving systemic anticancer treatment had a history of obesity, compared with only around one in four who were classified as obese at the time their treatment began.
New funding to fast-track ultra-fast FLASH radiotherapy into the clinic
16 Apr, 2026
A new EPSRC-funded research project led by Dr Kristoffer Petersson aims to advance the clinical implementation of FLASH radiotherapy, an emerging technique that delivers radiation in a fraction of a second and may significantly reduce treatment side effects.
Blood Test May Improve Survival of Childhood Cancer in Africa
19 Mar, 2026
In a study published today in Nature Medicine, researchers from the University of Oxford and the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) in Dar es salaam, Tanzania have shown that a minimally invasive “liquid biopsy” test can diagnose Burkitt lymphoma rapidly and accurately in sub-Saharan Africa, where delays in traditional testing often prove fatal.
New research reveals why some oesophageal cancers are so hard to treat
11 Mar, 2026
Research published today in Science Advances has uncovered new insights into why the most aggressive oesophageal cancers are so difficult to treat and how the body’s own defence systems are helping them to thrive.
Professor Ester Hammond Awarded Brain Research UK Funding to Tackle Paediatric High-Grade Glioma
10 Mar, 2026
Ester Hammond, Professor of Molecular Cancer Biology in the Department of Oncology, has been awarded new funding from Brain Research UK to investigate much needed treatment options for paediatric high-grade glioma (pHGG), the most common cause of tumour-related death in children.
How Unstable Cancer Genomes Reshape the Tumour Landscape
19 Feb, 2026
Chromosomal instability (CIN) is a hallmark of aggressive cancers, yet the mechanisms through which it shapes tumour behaviour and clinical outcomes remain poorly defined. With new funding from Guts UK and the University of Oxford Medical Sciences Division, Dr Bruno Beernaert, postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Oncology, is tackling this challenge by developing innovative approaches to uncover the role of CIN in tumour evolution and immune evasion.
Matt Jackson recognised as 2026 JING Cohort Study Idea Winner
3 Feb, 2026
Congratulations to Matt Jackson, who was selected as a 2026 JING Cohort Study Idea Winner at the Junior Investigator Network Group (JING) Training the Next Generation event, held in Manchester last month.