2017 Annual Report

The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation | 15 TUMOUR BIOLOGY AND IMAGING At The Princess Margaret, we’re leading the way in developing therapies tailored to each tumour’s specific composition and vulnerabilities. In the same way that cancers differ from one person to another, cancer cells within a single tumour can also behave differently from each other. Using innovative imaging technologies, we are obtaining a clearer picture of the cancer disease spectrum and using this knowledge to create new targeted treatments. Getting the Complete Picture of Cancer: CANCER GENOMICS, EPIGENETICS & BIOINFORMATICS Every patient has a unique combination of genetic mutations which affect how their tumours localize, grow and respond to therapy. At The Princess Margaret, our researchers are decoding genetic mysteries that offer new insights into cancer biology and behaviour. By understanding the role of genes in driving the development of tumours, our clinicians will be better equipped to predict tumour behaviour, and optimally select individualized therapies that will be best suited to each patient’s genetic makeup. Breaking the Code of Cancer: SUPPORTIVE CARE The Princess Margaret supports cancer care for the whole patient, not just the treatment of the disease. In Supportive Care, The Princess Margaret focuses on studying what affects the quality of life for patients and their loved ones, such as palliative and end- of-life care, psychosocial oncology and survivorship rehabilitation. Our researchers are world-renowned for their leadership in these areas and continue to discover new ways of improving the health, comfort and well-being of patients throughout the cancer journey. Treating the Whole Patient: BIO DISCOVERY & DRUG DEVELOPMENT Our world-class clinicians and researchers at The Princess Margaret are developing ways to understand each patient’s cancer at its origins. Their research is unravelling the biochemical, molecular and cellular signaling pathways that determine how tumours develop. Not only will this help us understand why patient outcomes can be so different, but it will also lead us to possible new drug targets for future therapies. Digging Deeper - Understanding Cancer Better & Developing New Drugs: ACCELERATE CANCER RESEARCH