Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body. Because of its very complexity, cancer must be attacked on numerous fronts. We will never eliminate these diseases from the face of the earth, but we will continue to look for new ways to improve prevention and early detection, reduce cancer's toll and, ultimately, save lives. Many important discoveries in the battle against cancer begin in the laboratory. At the CU Cancer Center, basic science research enables us to study how and why people develop cancer.
Basic scientists study the differences between normal cell growth and cancerous cell growh.
The differences found in cancer cells help researchers to design drugs that target and kill cancer. These drugs are then tested as our basic science and clinical researchers work together to translate laboratory findings into clinical applications to test more effective cancer treatments.