The Perrier Lab have just published a new study in Angewandte Chemie which shows how polymeric nanotubes can be designed to switch their fluorescence on as they deliver a commercial anticancer drug (doxorubicin), thereby permitting the in-situ visualization of drug release. By this method, we can both treat a cancer tumour and show where the tumour is located. These theranostic systems (from therapeutic and diagnostic) form a new approach to drug delivery.

Read the paper here.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer in women, worldwide. Most cases of cervical cancer can be prevented through HPV vaccination of adolescent girls, and regular screening of adult women combined with prompt treatment of precancerous lesions. On the Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and beyond, get screened and check with your health care provider!

2021 may not have been the year anyone expected, with COVID-19 still making its presence known in our lives and around the world.

But a lot of progress has still been made. From promising new cancer drugs to trialling a cancer blood test, here are some of the top good news stories from the year.