Releasing the brakes to fight cancer

U S President Richard Nixon declared “War on Cancer” in 1971, but it was not until 45 years later that his successor called the country to arms for the final battle. “For the loved ones we’ve all lost, for the family we can still save, let’s make America the country that cures cancer once and for all”, said US President Barack Obama in his last State of the Union address in January 2016. And, yes, he used the word “cure”, which is not easily said when it comes to cancer. ...................................................... “This hope for new treatments that could really cure cancer, rather than extend lifespan by a limited time, is fuelled by new discoveries in cancer immunology.” ......................................................