The creation of a vaccine that protects against human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes several forms of cervical cancer, is significant in many ways — not least because it’s proof that we’re making progress against our most feared disease. Through this discovery, cancer has lost some of its control over us, and that power has been given back to the human family.

The research that yielded this awe-inspiring breakthrough had been supported by CRI since 1999. It flourished because of selfless donations made by hopeful people — cancer survivors or surviving families, corporate decision-makers, foundation board members and community movers-and-shakers.

Renewed focus and greater urgency

The HPV vaccine was the result of decades of painstaking laboratory and clinical research and scientific collaboration, not of a few “eureka” moments.

In the 1990s, CRI scientists developed techniques for identifying the cancer antigens that could be tested as vaccine targets. They then learned how to better monitor the results of these vaccines. Tumor development and growth also is becoming better understood.

Cancer immunotherapies aim to boost the immune system’s ability to find and destroy cancer cells and control tumor growth. Some of these therapies stimulate the system itself to mobilize and attack. Other therapies give the body extra immune system components to fend off cancer more successfully.

Cancer immunotherapy research is being conducted in these key areas: 

• Immune-based tools for diagnosing and treating cancers
• Therapeutic cancer vaccines that target tumor antigens
• Monoclonal antibodies that can lead chemotherapy medications to tumors by binding with tumor cell antigens
• Adoptive transfer of  “T cells” to recognize and attack cancer human
• Vaccines to prevent infection by viruses that can cause cancer

These advances are made possible by remarkable developments in cancer immunology, including the identification of specific, highly promising cancer antigens; the confirmation of a measurable human immune response to such antigens; the creation of techniques for monitoring various aspects of the response; and the development of novel vaccine constructs designed to induce an effective immune response.

To gain momentum and pioneer effective immunotherapies for other cancers in our lifetime, enormous work remains to be done — including developing standardized monitoring procedures and treatment protocols through clinical trials as well as centralized data collection.

CRI is helping to meet these challenges by securing donations and accelerating our funding of promising research worldwide.

Our commitment and contributions

CRI helps to advance immunology and lead the fight to conquer cancer in many different ways.

• Funding. We translate donor gifts into financial support for cancer research, both at the laboratory bench and at the hospital bedside.
• Education. Thanks to our fellowships and grants, cancer scientists around the world have opportunities to continue their research and medical training and deepen their knowledge.
• Collaboration. We break down barriers and build bridges between scientific disciplines and nations, helping cancer researchers from different institutions worldwide to use optimized methods and techniques, share information, and exchange ideas.
• Application. By supporting clinical trials with funds for personnel, supplies, and equipment, we speed the transfer of effective therapies from research to clinical practice.
• Partnership. We encourage cooperation between academic science and industry to ensure that promising discoveries can be translated into available therapies.
• Information. We disseminate news about cancer immunology research to patients, donors, and the public through our publications, resources, and events.