Latest work from top UK cancer researchers could hold potential for ‘game-changing’ treatments for rare bile duct cancer

Tue, 25/04/2017 - 10:30

Stansted, UK, 24th April 2017 / Sciad NewswireThe incidence of bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) is increasing year on year throughout the world. More than 2,500 people will be diagnosed with this cancer in the UK in the next year and for most this will be a lethal diagnosis. Fewer than 5% will survive for 12 months – an appalling statistic which hasn’t changed in decades.

In light of this, UK’s leading charity dedicated to bile duct cancer, AMMF, will bring together scientists, researchers, medics and patients from across the globe at its third Conference and Information Day dedicated exclusively to bile duct cancer, on 11 May, 2017 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Stansted Airport, Essex.

Amongst AMMF-funded researchers who will be presenting updates on their work at this year’s AMMF Conference, will be Professor Stuart Forbes from the MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, explaining his research into the signals Wnt and Notch which are thought to drive the growth of cholangiocarcinoma. In addition, Dr Luke Boulter from Edinburgh’s Institute of Genetics & Molecular Medicine will be discussing his very promising work, “Discovering driver mutations in cholangiocarcinoma using forward genetics”.

The work of both these teams, if successful, could bring closer some ‘game changing’ treatment targets for cholangiocarcinoma.

This year’s Conference also sees Professor Narong Khuntikeo from Khon Kaen University, Thailand presenting the work of the CASCAP (Cholangiocarcinoma Screening and Care Program) team in north east Thailand, which has the world’s highest incidence of cholangiocarcinoma. Professor Khuntikeo is vice-president of the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation of Thailand and recipient of The Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand Outstanding Surgeon Honours Award 2016.

Conference to highlight latest surgical treatments and targeted therapies for bile duct cancer

Other topics to be addressed at this year’s Conference will include the latest surgical developments in the treatment of bile duct cancer, updates on clinical trials, and the status of targeted therapies for cholangiocarcinoma.

Helen Morement, founder and CEO of the AMMF explains, “Although bile duct cancer is the second most common primary liver cancer in the world, with an increasing incidence globally, and despite its appalling survival rates due to late diagnosis and few treatment options, it remains poorly understood and under researched. The Conference is a key platform for an international panel of experts to share news and information about clinical studies and latest research. The findings bring the prospect of early diagnosis and more effective treatments one step closer.”

Helen continues, “We are especially delighted that Professor Richard Syms from Imperial College London, who is also working collaboratively with the team at Khon Kaen University on an AMMF-funded internal imaging project, will be presenting the positive early results of this work at the Conference.”

Bile duct cancer is a rare cancer that occurs in the bile duct in or outside the liver. With few noticeable and often misunderstood symptoms, this disease is frequently diagnosed too late for surgery, the only potentially curative treatment. Without treatment fewer than 5% of patients will survive beyond 12 months. Cases of bile duct cancer have risen steeply and steadily across the world over the past decades. According to the recent NCIN/Cancer52 report, 2,161 people died in 2013 from this disease in England alone.

Ends

For further information, please contact: 

Esther Porta, 3CommPR
E: esther@3commpr.co.uk
T: 07870439158

Notes to Editors

About AMMF
AMMF (The Alan Morement Memorial Fund) was founded and registered as a charity with the Charity Commission in 2002 (registered charity no 1091915). AMMF is the UK’s only cholangiocarcinoma charity, dedicated to tackling this devastating cancer on all fronts: providing information and support, campaigning to raise awareness, and encouraging and supporting research.

In recent years an enormous and extremely worrying worldwide increase in cholangiocarcinoma’s incidence has been noted. Latest figures show there were 2,161 deaths caused by cholangiocarcinoma in 2013 in England alone (NCIN/Cancer52 report). The incidence appears to be increasing across all age groups, including younger people, and the cause of this ongoing increase is unknown. Much more research is desperately needed.

AMMF is dedicated to bringing about improvement for the cholangiocarcinoma patient, working closely throughout the UK with patients, families, carers, clinicians, healthcare professionals, researchers, politicians and policy makers. For more information visit: www.ammf.org.uk (registered charity no.1091915).

About the Conference & Information Day
AMMF is not making a charge for attendance at the conference; it is open to all who have an interest in cholangiocarcinoma. However, if delegates would like to help to offset costs, a suggested donation of £25 per head can be made to the AMMF 2017 Conference Justgiving Page by clicking here.

About the MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Edinburgh
The MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine (CRM) is a research institute based at the University of Edinburgh. Scientists and clinicians study stem cells, disease and tissue repair to advance human health. For more information please visit: http://www.crm.ed.ac.uk/

About the MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine at the University of Edinburgh (IGMM).
The MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine at the University of Edinburgh (IGMM), formed in 2007, is a strategic partnership of the:

• MRC Human Genetics Unit (MRC HGU)
• Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre (CRUK EC)
• Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine (CGEM).

The IGMM constitutes one of the largest aggregates of human molecular genetics and biology research capacity in the UK with over 70 Principal Investigators and 500 staff and PhD students. By pooling the resources and complementary skills of the constituent centres, IGMM brings together the scientific expertise, technology and support services needed to maximise scientific discovery.

The Institute enables rapid translation of basic scientific discoveries into new treatments, clinical guidelines and innovative products that have significant impact on the society in the UK and Worldwide.

For more information please visit: http://www.ed.ac.uk/igmm/about

About CASCAP (Cholangiocarcinoma Screening and Care Program), Thailand
CASCAP stands for the Cholangiocarcinoma Screening and Care Program. The aim of CASCAP is to accelerate the transition of CCA from being a neglected disease to being on the public health national agenda. Its specific focus is to develop and make available a high-quality database of compiled information about CCA in the region, to determine the optimal screening program for early diagnosis to maximise the success of surgical treatment, and to increasing both the quality of life and long-term survival of patients.

For more information please visit http://www.cascap.info/main/index.php/about-us/about-cascap.html

National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) and Cancer52

For more information please visit: http://www.ncin.org.uk/publications/rare_and_less_common_cancers