Cancer Milestones
The ancient physician Hippocrates described the projection of blood vessels from a collection of cells as ‘karkinos’, the Greek word for crab. Today, we know this malignant growth as cancer. Although it remains one of our biggest killers, survival rates for several tumour types have improved dramatically in recent years. These Milestones celebrate two decades of breakthroughs in basic, translational and clinical research which have revolutionised our understanding and management of cancer.
This Milestone is editorially independent, produced with financial support from a third party. About this content.
Nature Research is pleased to acknowledge financial support of Illumina, Inc, Johnson & Johnson and grant support from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim and MSD in producing this Nature Milestone. The sponsors retains sole responsibility for the following messages.
A global leader in DNA sequencing and microarray-based solutions, Illumina is dedicated to improving human health by unlocking the power of the genome. Serving customers in the research, clinical, and applied markets, Illumina technology is responsible for generating more than 90% of the world’s sequencing data. Through collaborative innovation, Illumina is fueling groundbreaking advancements in oncology, reproductive health, genetic disease, agriculture, microbiology, forensic science, and beyond. By empowering large-scale analysis of genetic variation and function, Illumina is enabling studies that were not imaginable just a few years ago, moving us closer to the realization of precision medicine.
At Johnson & Johnson, we believe good health is the foundation of vibrant lives, thriving communities and forward progress. That’s why for more than 130 years, we have aimed to keep people well at every age and every stage of life. Today, as the world’s largest and most broadly-based health care company, we are committed to using our reach and size for good. We strive to improve access and affordability, create healthier communities, and put a healthy mind, body and environment within reach of everyone, everywhere. We are blending our heart, science and ingenuity to profoundly change the trajectory of health for humanity.
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AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas - Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visit astrazeneca.com and follow the Company on Twitter @AstraZeneca.
At Boehringer Ingelheim we are taking cancer on. We are collaborating with the oncology community to deliver scientific breakthroughs to transform the lives of patients. Our primary focus is in lung and gastrointestinal cancers, with the goal of delivering breakthrough, first-in-class treatments that can help win the fight against cancer.
For more than 125 years, MSD has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases in pursuit of our mission to save and improve lives. Today, we continue to be at the forefront of research to prevent and treat diseases that threaten people and animals – including cancer, infectious diseases, such as HIV and Ebola, and emerging animal diseases.
