Research - Pants Cancers

Symptoms of penile cancer Penile cancer is when abnormal cells in the penis start to divide and grow in an uncontrolled way. Cancer of the penis is rare. Around 700 men are diagnosed each year in the UK. The symptoms of penile cancer include a growth or sore on your penis and bleeding. They are more often caused by other medical conditions. But if you have any of them it is important to see your GP.

Research and clinical trials for womb cancer Womb cancer (endometrial cancer) research in 2026 focuses on personalizing treatment through molecular profiling, expanding the use of immunotherapies, and developing less invasive diagnostic tests. Research has shifted toward a "precision medicine" approach, where treatments are chosen based on the genetic makeup of the tumor.

A study looking at using urine to screen for cervical cancer (ACES) This study will see if a urine test can accurately identify women with cervical pre-cancer by comparing HPV detection rates in urine and cervical samples. Key findings from studies like ACES Primary Care suggest urine testing with specialized devices (Colli-Pee) offers comparable results to cervical samples, potentially overcoming access barriers and improving participation by allowing women to collect samples privately at home, with studies exploring acceptability and effectiveness in diverse groups like the LGBTQIA+ community.

New method could improve cervical cancer screening Analyses of self-tests for human papillomavirus (HPV) can be used to divide HPV-positive women into three risk groups, according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet and Queen Mary University of London published in PLOS Medicine. This method could be important for enhancing cervical cancer screening. The study is based on British women who were offered a self-test for HPV in a trial because they were overdue for their cervical cancer screening. The study, conducted in primary care centres in England, included 855 women with a positive HPV self-test, i.e. indicative of HPV infections, and had a subsequent clinician-sample. It was found that 71 of these women (8.3%) had the severe cervical precancer or cancer.

Papillary and follicular thyroid cancer HPV infection linked to doubled risk of thyroid cancer. The thyroid is a small gland in the front of your neck, just below your voicebox (larynx). The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system. This system produces hormones that help regulate how your body functions. There are different types of thyroid cancer. Papillary and follicular thyroid cancer are called differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Papillary is more common than follicular. According to CRUK, thyroid cancer incidence rates in the UK are projected to increase by 29% between 2023-2025 and 2038-2040, with around 6,600 new cases each year by 2038-2040. Therefore, the researchers conducted. While the link is not fully established, studies suggest a possible association between HPV infection and thyroid cancer, especially with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), the most common type. In a recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers used a nationwide case-control study of Taiwanese residents to investigate the association between human papillomavirus (HPV) and thyroid cancer.

Neuroendocrine cancer of the large bowel Neuroendocrine Neoplasm (NENs) is an umbrella term used to cover a group of cancers that start in neuroendocrine cells. These cancers may also be referred to as NETs, NECs, or even Carcinoids. NENs occur when neuroendocrine cells stop working normally and start to grow or behave abnormally. It is a rare and aggressive cancer that starts in the neuroendocrine cells of the colon or rectum. It is often fast-growing and can spread to other parts of the body, leading to a poor prognosis. Symptoms are often vague and similar to those of common bowel cancer, and can include changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, or fatigue.

Abiraterone could save hundreds of lives and reduce NHS costs NICE’s backing of the prostate cancer drug abiraterone could help thousands and save the NHS millions. Every year as many as 8,400 men in England are diagnosed with high-risk non-metastatic or locally advanced prostate cancer – where the cancer remains in or just outside the prostate but is at high risk of spreading. A two-year course of abiraterone is proven to be lifesaving for men with this type of cancer. In fact, the STAMPEDE trial in 2022 showed that adding it to radiotherapy halved the number of men who got the devastating news that their cancer had come back – meaning the treatment could prevent more than 670 deaths every year in England alone. The Government must act now to make lifesaving prostate cancer drug abiraterone available to men across the UK – and end a bureaucratic blockage in the NHS that’s costing hundreds of lives every year.

Innovative Endometrial Cancer Treatment NICE approves first immunotherapy combination for endometrial cancer. Around 2,100 people with advanced womb cancer are set to benefit from a groundbreaking new treatment option. Innovative endometrial cancer treatments include immunotherapy and combination therapies that target specific biomarkers. Immunotherapy, such as using checkpoint inhibitors like pembrolizumab or dostarlimab, helps the body's immune system fight cancer cells. A major advancement is the approval of combining these immunotherapies with traditional chemotherapy (e.g., carboplatin and paclitaxel) for advanced or recurrent disease, which has shown improved survival rates and better quality of life in clinical trials.

Key facts about Endometriosis Endometriosis is where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb (uterus) grow in other parts of the body. It can have a big impact on your life, but there are treatments that can help. The latest facts and figures about endometriosis: 1 in 10 women and those assigned female of birth of reproductive age in the UK suffer from endometriosis. 10% of women world wide have endometriosis - that’s 176 million worldwide. The prevalence of endometriosis in women with infertility can be as high as to 30–50%. Endometriosis is the second most common gynaecological condition in the UK. Endometriosis affects 1.5 million women and those assigned female at birth, a similar number of those affected by diabetes. On average it takes 8 years 10 months from the first GP visit to get a diagnosis. Endometriosis costs the UK economy £8.2bn a year in treatment, loss of work and healthcare costs. The cause of endometriosis is unknown and there is no definite cure.

Work starts on a cancer vaccine for people with Lynch syndrome Scientists at the University of Oxford are starting work on a vaccine to prevent cancer in people with Lynch syndrome. Lynch syndrome is a rare genetic condition that runs in families and increases the risk of bowel cancer, womb (endometrial) cancer and some other cancer types. The LynchVax vaccine could be a way to train people’s immune systems to stop these cancers from developing.

New research project exploring effective and safe immunotherapy against low grade serous ovarian cancer Led by Dr Jun Ishihara at Imperial College London, this three-year project will test a new and original immunotherapy (CBD-IL-12) for low-grade serous ovarian cancer. Developed by Dr Ishihara himself, this new therapy has already shown to have very strong anti-tumour efficacy against high grade serous ovarian cancer.

The toxin which could be causing increase in bowel cancer among young people There are around 2,600 new bowel cancer cases in people aged 25-49 in the UK every year. The bacterial toxin colibactin, produced by certain strains of E. coli, is a potential cause of the rise in bowel cancer among young people. Exposure to this toxin, possibly in childhood, can lead to specific DNA mutations that increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer before age 50. While colibactin is the prime suspect, other factors like processed food consumption, diet, and changes in the gut microbiome may also be involved.

Revolution for Prostate Cancer - Avoid chemotherapy Recent research shows that some prostate cancer patients can avoid chemotherapy through combinations of targeted radiotherapy and hormone therapy, which may delay the need for chemotherapy. Other advancements include new targeted therapies, such as PSMA-targeted therapy (Lu-PSMA-617), which can be taken at home, and newer immunotherapies, which could prevent resistance to hormone therapy.

New womb cancer test available to women in the UK As of 2025, a new diagnostic test called WID-easy is available in the UK, which can detect womb (endometrial) cancer with a simple swab. The test is less invasive and designed to speed up diagnosis and help many women avoid painful surgical procedures. Recent UK news on womb cancer includes the approval of a new immunotherapy combination for advanced cases, the rollout of a new diagnostic test in North London, and a separate, more advanced blood test in development. The team also hope to start negotiations for it to be available on the NHS.

Can a new technique help detect, diagnose and treat gynaecological cancers faster and more accurately? Wellbeing of Women and the British Gynaecological Cancer Society have invested £30,000 in Dr Maria Paraskevaidi’s research to develop a faster and more accurate diagnosis and treatment of cervical and vulval cancer. The NHS National Cervical Screening Programme is a program for people aged 25 to 64 that aims to prevent cervical cancer by detecting pre-cancerous cell changes. It involves an HPV test on a cell sample, which is then further analyzed if HPV is found. People aged 25 to 49 are generally screened every three years, and those aged 50 to 64 are screened every five years, although the interval for those 25-49 with a negative HPV test will extend to five years from July 2025. People are automatically invited by letter or the NHS App, provided they are registered with a GP.

Innovations in prostate cancer research and treatment New drug hope for prostate cancer patients. Recent innovations in prostate cancer research and treatment include precision medicine (like AI-driven drug selection) and new drugs, advanced radiotherapy (like MR Linac and hypofractionation), and minimally invasive techniques such as robotic surgery and focused therapy options. Other research focuses on improving immunotherapy, overcoming drug resistance, and using advanced diagnostics like liquid biopsies and improved imaging.

Breakthrough in bowel cancer research will speed up diagnosis Government backs world-leading trial of cutting-edge technology to diagnose bowel cancer earlier, harnessing the power of technology to treat patients.

Neuroendocrine tumours and carcinoid syndrome Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are slow-growing cancers of the neuroendocrine system. Carcinoid syndrome is a collection of symptoms, including flushing, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain, that can occur when an advanced NET, often one that has spread to the liver, releases excess hormones like serotonin into the bloodstream. The liver normally breaks down these hormones, so the syndrome typically arises when liver metastases bypass this process.

Updated treatment recommendations for prostate cancer from the ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline considering treatment intensification and use of novel systemic agents. Prostate cancer is reported as the second most common cancer in men. The updated ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines on prostate cancer provide information on the current management of prostate cancer including recommendations for screening and diagnosis, along with stage-matched therapeutic strategies. Access the Guideline.

New bowel cancer detection method more than 90% accurate, research finds The study, funded by Cancer Research UK, could lead to a blood test which will inform doctors which inflammatory bowel disease patients are most at risk of cancer.

NHS artificial intelligence (AI) trial to diagnose prostate cancer up to a month faster The NHS is trialling an artificial intelligence (AI) tool called Pi, developed by Lucida Medical, to speed up prostate cancer diagnoses. The AI analyzes MRI scans within minutes and aims to provide a diagnosis or an all-clear up to a month faster than current methods.