Prof Tim Eisen

Tim Eisen

Department of Oncology, Addenbrooke's Hospital
University of Cambridge
Cambridge

Finding new ways to prevent and treat cancer

Professor Tim Eisen, based at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, is one of the leading cancer doctors in the UK. He oversees a broad spectrum of research ranging from work on cancer genetics through to studies in the clinic. As Director of the Cambridge Cancer Trials Centre, he co-ordinates many early and late-stage clinical trials testing new treatments for different types of cancer. Much of his work focuses on kidney cancer, lung cancer and melanoma.

Understanding lung cancer genetics

Professor Eisen is working closely with Professor Richard Houlston at The Institute of Cancer Research to find faulty genes that increase the risk of lung cancer. Their studies involve comparing the DNA of thousands of people both with and without lung cancer to identify subtle differences that are linked to the risk of this disease.

They have already found an association between lung cancer and variations on chromosomes 5, 6 and 15. This type of information could be used to improve the prevention and early diagnosis of lung cancer in the future.

Clinical Trials

Professor Eisen and his colleagues in Cambridge are at the forefront of testing many new treatments in large-scale clinical trials. In particular, they are investigating several new 'targeted drugs' that are designed to home in on the specific faults found in cancer cells, leaving the surrounding healthy tissue unharmed.

For example, Professor Eisen is currently leading the international SORCE trial, which aims to recruit over 1,500 people with kidney cancer. This trial is looking at whether a new targeted drug called sorafenib can prevent cancer from returning in people that have had surgery to treat their disease.

Together with Professor Duncan Jodrell at the Cambridge Research Institute (CRI), Professor Eisen also plans to increase the number of small 'first-in-man' clinical trials carried out in Cambridge.

This expansion of clinical research aims to exploit the scientific excellence of researchers at the CRI and the University of Cambridge. And importantly, it will ensure that people with cancer receive the best possible care now and in the future.

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