The next generation of cancer research

“Cancer is often seen as a problem of cells growing out of control. But what if there are other cells, ones that do not start in the tumour at all, that quietly influence how the disease unfolds?” 

This is how 2024 Research Training Award recipient Casey Wong explains the focus of her research. An MD/PhD student at Queen’s University, Casey studies how changes in blood stem cells affect how people respond to cancer treatment. 

These non-cancerous cells naturally acquire mutations as we age and often grow slightly faster than normal. New evidence suggests that some of these altered immune cells may travel into cancer tumours and disrupt the tumour environment. 

So far, Casey has studied data from over 800 patients with lung and mesothelioma cancers looking for these mutations both in the bloodstream and within tumours. “This may help explain why some people do not respond well to treatment,” she says. “We think these altered immune cells that are supposed to protect the body against cancer may be working against it instead. We are beginning to understand how and why that happens.” 

Based on her work, Casey has published 2 scientific articles and presented her findings at prestigious research conferences where she connected with patient partners and engagement groups. These connections have led to new collaborations and mentorships. In addition to her blood stem cell research, she is now working on new ways to bring patient partners into cancer research, including organizing workshops that invite people with cancer into the lab to share their lived experiences. 

She is also part of CCS’s IGNITE (Innovation, Growth, Networking and Interdisciplinary Training for Excellence) program. “The program’s emphasis on science communication encouraged me to deepen my skills in making complex research more accessible and engaging,” she says. “These experiences taught me to minimize jargon, use everyday analogies and ensure conversations remain a two-way street.” Now, she is applying her IGNITE skills in the classroom as a teaching assistant and in the clinic as a medical student.