Innovation and research: Making a difference in cancer treatment and care

So many of us experience cancer, either as patients or loved ones, and that is when having the expert care and support of our cancer teams can make a big difference. 

It's been a decade since the Cancer Centre at Guys first opened its doors to patients, and in that time we've seen some remarkable achievements. The centre has established itself as a leader in innovation, cutting-edge research and life-saving and extending treatments.

• It was the first radiotherapy service in Europe to treat patients above ground level
• More than 58,000 chemotherapy treatments are delivered every year. That's an increase of over 200% compared with 10 years ago
• It’s the largest robotic surgery centre in Europe enabling less invasive surgery and faster recovery times
• Up to 150 oncology and haematology clinical trials run at any one time, helping to shape the future of cancer treatment

Care that is tailored to our patients

Dene October, a senior lecturer at the University of Arts London from Dulwich, is just one of thousands of patients to have benefited from treatment at the centre over its 10-year history.

Dene, who was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in 2021, started treatment within a week of referral to Guy’s Hospital. Since then, he has received numerous treatments including immunotherapy, radiotherapy, operations and chemotherapy at the Cancer Centre at Guy’s. He is currently on a clinical trial at Guy’s Hospital.

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses substances made by the body or in a lab to help the immune system recognise and destroy cancer cells.

Dene said: “Immunotherapy worked really, really well for me. That was the beginning of Guy’s keeping me alive. At the time of the diagnosis I joked, ‘If you can keep me alive for 5 years that would be fantastic.’ And here I am.”

Dene, who married his long-term partner of 26 years, Chiman, in March 2026, continued: “When I was at the cancer centre I was being seen every 6 weeks and having a new CT scan. That’s how you live.

“And it takes it out on your partner too. An anxious loop of looking over your shoulder and waiting for the results. But when the treatment is working you take the opportunity to get on with your life.

It's fantastic to be able to do the teaching and writing jobs I love. That’s part of who I am.

In June 2025, it was confirmed that the cancer had spread to Dene’s ribs. Following discussion at the lung cancer multidisciplinary team meeting, Dene was referred by his lung medical oncology team to the early-phase cell-therapy team. Both teams worked together closely to coordinate his care and trial treatment.

Innovation and research 

Following further treatment and subsequent progression, Dene was offered the opportunity to take part in an innovative clinical trial using tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy in July of this year.

This involves extracting immune T-cells that have already found their way into the patient's tumour and multiplying them in a lab - creating a personalised cancer treatment containing between one and 150 billion tumour-infiltrating T-cells. These cells are then reintroduced to the patient followed by administration of cytokines – a type of protein released by immune cells – to help activate and support the infused cells.

The aim of the trial is to examine whether TIL therapy can improve long term survival. On Dene’s most recent scan, the combined size of the tumours measured for the trial had reduced by 90% compared with before TIL therapy.

Dene is full of praise for the amazing care from the cancer teams at Guy’s, including nurses, doctors, allied health professionals and surgeons, who have supported him and his partner.

He said: “There are countless rocky moments on a cancer journey—from debilitating pain to the crushing loss of your former energy. The clinical trial team managed my pain quickly, which was an immense relief. But what truly stayed with me was how they treated me like one of the team.

“I’m irritatingly curious and I need to contribute. That’s just who I am. To flourish, I need to be seen as a person first, not just a patient.

“The cancer teams instinctively recognised that collaborative spirit.

They’ve kept me alive for 5 years, and counting. What I originally meant as a joke, Guy’s took seriously.

Leading the way

Dr Debra Josephs, a Consultant Medical Oncologist and Clinical Lead for Cell Therapies at Guy’s and St Thomas’, said: “This trial is giving Dene the opportunity to receive a highly personalised therapy made entirely from immune cells taken from his own tumour. It has the potential to give him a durable response, controlling his cancer for as long as possible.

“At Guy’s and St Thomas’, we are building one of the UK’s leading programmes for cell therapy in solid tumours. Historically, cell therapies have transformed the treatment of some blood cancers. We are now helping to bring that same ambition to people with solid tumours, giving eligible patients access to these novel cell therapies through clinical trials.”

Guy’s and St Thomas’ is 1 of 7 centres in the UK taking part in clinical trials in TIL therapy.