Bringing the world’s biggest cancer advances to Yorkshire

In Yorkshire, too many people are diagnosed too late, too many struggle to access the best treatments, and too many lives are cut short when they shouldn’t be. 

But it does not have to be this way.

The global momentum behind cancer research is accelerating at an extraordinary pace. 

Nowhere is that more evident than at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. 

ASCO is the largest cancer conference in the world. It brings together the very best minds in oncology to share breakthroughs that have the potential to reshape how we prevent, detect and treat cancer.

At Yorkshire Cancer Research, we aim to bring the most promising advances from around the world to Yorkshire, ensuring people here benefit as early as possible.

Ideas first seen on the global stage have already helped shape our work in lung cancer screening and our pioneering approach to exercise in cancer treatment - initiatives that are now improving survival for people across the region, and beyond. 

Chicago, IL - McCormick Place - 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting - General Views here today, Saturday May 30, 2026. Physicians, researchers, and health care professionals from over 100 countries are attending the 62nd ASCO Annual Meeting. The ASCO Annual Meeting highlights the latest findings in all major areas of oncology. Photo by © ASCO/Scott Morgan 2026. Technical Questions: todd@medmeetingimages.com; ASCO contact: photos@asco.org. AM26_GeneralViews

A global turning point in cancer research

At this year’s ASCO, it was clearer than ever before how quickly science is evolving, and how fundamentally it is changing our understanding of cancer itself.

We are moving beyond a model that focuses solely on tumours, towards one that sees cancer in the context of the whole person - genetics, immune system, metabolism and overall health. That shift is unlocking new opportunities at every stage of a person’s cancer experience.

The growing role of exercise in treatment

One of the clearest examples is exercise. Strong evidence now shows physical activity after a cancer diagnosis improves survival, reduces side effects and enhances quality of life. 

There is also growing recognition of its wider value. A major Canadian study shared at ASCO showed that embedding exercise as part of treatment can also deliver significant financial savings for healthcare systems over time. This is starting to change policy thinking globally, positioning exercise not as an optional extra, but as a necessary part of cancer care.

This is an area where Yorkshire Cancer Research is already leading the way. Through our Active Together service, we are already bringing exercise to people with cancer across Yorkshire. This work is helping to influence national policy, with exercise now recognised in the National Cancer Plan for England and through our ongoing engagement with the UK Government as a vital part of cancer treatment.

New frontiers in metabolism and cancer

Another striking development came from an unexpected direction. Drugs originally designed for diabetes and weight loss called ‘GLP-1s’ are showing remarkable effects for people with cancer. Early evidence suggests they could double the time before cancer returns and double survival rates.

What is particularly intriguing is that this benefit may go beyond weight loss alone, pointing to biological mechanisms we do not yet fully understand. It is a powerful reminder that innovation often comes from connecting different fields, and that thinking differently can lead to entirely new breakthroughs.

Harnessing the immune system

The immune system continues to be one of the most exciting frontiers. Advances in vaccine technology, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, are now being applied to cancer. 

One area of focus is Lynch syndrome, an inherited condition that significantly increases the risk of cancers such as bowel and endometrial. Trials are exploring whether vaccines can help the immune system recognise and fight cancer in those already affected. 

The long-term potential goes even further, towards preventing cancer before it develops. Through the charity’s PROTECT C study, we will identify people with Lynch syndrome, and the prospect of combining this testing with preventative vaccines could be transformative.

Detecting cancer earlier than ever before

Early detection also continues to evolve at pace. There is huge interest in Multi-Cancer Early Detection tests - often referred to as "liquid biopsies" – which are blood tests that screen for multiple types of cancer at once, often before any symptoms appear.

Results from the NHS-Galleri Trial – the world’s largest Multi-Cancer Early Detection trial - suggest that simple blood tests could detect up to four times as many cancers as current UK-based screening programmes. 

Crucially, they have the potential to find cancers earlier, when treatment is more likely to succeed. 

These technologies are not without challenges, particularly around cost and implementation, but their potential to change cancer survival at scale is clear. That is why we are already bringing together experts to explore how they could shape the future of cancer detection in Yorkshire.

Breakthroughs once thought impossible

And then there are the moments that capture the significance of progress in real time. 

At ASCO this year, a breakthrough in pancreatic cancer - one of the most difficult cancers to treat - prompted a spontaneous standing ovation from thousands of scientists and clinicians. 

A new drug targeting a mutation once thought “undruggable” has, for the first time, doubled survival in this difficult to treat cancer. It was an extraordinary reminder of what is possible when sustained research investment meets scientific ingenuity.

Chicago, IL - McCormick Place - 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting - Attendees during General Views here today, Friday May 29, 2026. Physicians, researchers, and health care professionals from over 100 countries are attending the 62nd ASCO Annual Meeting. The ASCO Annual Meeting highlights the latest findings in all major areas of oncology. Photo by © ASCO/Phil McCarten 2026. Technical Questions: todd@medmeetingimages.com; ASCO contact: photos@asco.org. AM26_GeneralViews

What this means for Yorkshire

Alongside these individual advances, a bigger picture is emerging. Cancer care is becoming more personalised, driven by genetics and biomarker testing. It is becoming more proactive, with a strong focus on early detection and prevention. And it is becoming more integrated, recognising that survival is shaped by far more than treatment alone.

For Yorkshire Cancer Research, this reinforces both our purpose and our responsibility. We exist so more people in Yorkshire live longer, healthier lives, free from cancer. To achieve this, we must continue to find and fund the most effective solutions, whether that is bringing new screening tools into communities, embedding exercise into care, or ensuring people here have access to cutting-edge clinical trials.

We are moving closer to a world where cancer is detected earlier, treated more precisely, and in some cases prevented altogether. The challenge now is ensuring that this progress reaches everyone, and that people in Yorkshire are not left behind, but are among the first to benefit.