Cancer is a genetic disease that occurs when cells grow in an abnormal and unregulated way. Normally, our body’s cells grow and multiply to form new cells that replace those that are old or damaged. This process – called cell division – is controlled by our genes. However, changes to our genes can cause this process to break down, allowing abnormal or damaged cells to multiply and form tumours. Cancerous tumours can invade and damage body tissue, and cancerous cells may also travel through the body, causing tumours elsewhere, a process called metastasis.

Cancerous cells use a number of strategies to evade the body’s immune system, which usually eliminates abnormal cells before they become cancerous. In some cases, these strategies make cancer difficult to treat effectively. At Garvan, we’re working to better understand the cellular mechanisms behind different cancers and to develop more effective, targeted treatments that are tailored to the DNA of individual tumours or patients.

Breast cancer

The number one cause of cancer-related deaths in Australia.

Lung cancer

A type of blood cancer that develops from plasma cells in the bone marrow.

Multiple myeloma

A disease causing tumours in one or both ovaries that is often undetected in its early stages.

Ovarian cancer

Pancreatic cancer

One of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in Australia, typically affecting older men.

Prostate cancer

Cancers occurring in low patient numbers which collectively amount to one-third of all cancer diagnoses and half of cancer-related deaths.

Rare cancers

A rare cancer that arises in the connective tissues, such as bone, muscle, tendons, nerves, fat, cartilage and blood vessels.

Sarcoma

Cancers we research

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Diseases in which the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and may spread to other parts of the body