Overview
We are uncovering the molecular drivers of cancer and leading the search for the next generation of targeted therapies for different types of cancer. We see a future where transformational treatments destroy tumors before they develop drug resistance.
The Salk Cancer Center is a basic research National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Center.
Brain cancer occurs when a mass of abnormal cells grows in the brain, which can impair a person’s ability to think, communicate, and move. Brain cancer kills roughly 18,000 Americans annually, and the five-year survival rate is around 30 percent. At Salk, we are searching for new cellular targets to treat brain cancer and identifying ways to prevent recurrence. We have developed innovative methods for studying brain cancer that will hopefully drive the development of new therapeutics.
Breast cancer occurs when breast cells grow out of control. These cells then often spread to other parts of the body in a process called metastasis. At Salk, we are charting genetic missteps that can lead breast cells to become cancerous. We are also identifying weaknesses in various types of breast cancer, leading to new molecular targets for therapies.
Nearly two million people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer globally each year—and for half, the disease is fatal. Despite being the third most common cancer and second deadliest cancer, colorectal cancer can be hard to diagnose since early symptoms are often not obvious. Colorectal cancer starts growing inside either the colon or the rectum, beginning as little growths called polyps that have cancerous potential. At Salk, we work to understand how diet and environment contribute to colorectal cancer, as well as how we can optimize drug regimens to improve patient outcomes.
Lung cancer, which affects nonsmokers as well as smokers, is the most common cause of cancer death worldwide. At Salk, we study the genetic programming that causes lung cancer, searching for ways to diagnose lung cancer earlier and kill tumors more effectively. We have developed unique research models to study lung cancer in the laboratory, which have led to important discoveries, including a method for countering a common genetic mutation that often leads to drug-resistant cancers.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer. It is notoriously resistant to therapy, partly because the tumors grow encased in a thick layer of protective tissue. At Salk, we are working on methods to penetrate the barrier of cells shielding pancreatic tumors. With this and other lines of research, we are making this seemingly impenetrable cancer much more susceptible to therapeutic drugs.
