The first episode of the series follows Sarah, Professor of Experimental Oncology in the Department of Oncology, who is leading novel precision prevention cancer research at the University of Oxford. This approach uses genetic and biological information to understand the earliest changes that cells go through on their journey towards becoming cancerous.
Precision prevention trials test treatments that target these changes to stop cancer before it becomes established. Unlike traditional prevention studies, which take years to yield results in unselected populations, precision-prevention studies are focused on high-risk groups, for example, people with rare genetic cancer predispositions. Samples are collected to give a deeper understanding of how cancers develop, and insights from precision prevention studies can also be applied to cancers in the general population.
Metformin in Li Fraumeni Syndrome
Sarah’s episode introduces us to 26-year-old Ella, who is living with Li Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS), a rare genetic condition that gives her a >90% lifetime risk of developing multiple cancers, particularly those of the brain, breast, blood and soft tissue. Ella has already experienced two cancers in her lifetime.
Currently, the only option for people with LFS is to undergo intensive regular screening in the hope of catching and treating emerging cancers as early as possible. However, this “watch and wait” strategy can create a high level of anxiety among patients with LFS and their families.