The GCI: Advancing Early Cancer Detection

The GCI is home to countless researchers and staff who have a personal connection to cancer, dedicating their careers to advancing research and improving patient outcomes.

During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we highlight GCI alumna and MOH-Q Project Manager, Luisa Izzi, PhD, and her personal connection with colorectal cancer.

In 2003, Luisa’s father was diagnosed with cancer, and more recently, in 2020, her mother received the same diagnosis. Thankfully, both cases were caught early and only required surgery. Their experiences highlight the critical importance of early detection and prevention.

Luisa shares:
"My father went to his GP after persistent side pain—and a lot of nagging from my mom. A colonoscopy confirmed his diagnosis, leading to an invasive surgery that required a 10-day hospital stay and resulted in a 20-pound weight loss.

On the other hand, my mom took a routine fecal immunochemical (FIT) test, which detected hidden blood in her stool. She was referred for a colonoscopy, which confirmed the presence of a tumor. Thanks to early detection and laparoscopic surgery, her recovery was much easier and faster than my father's. She was hospitalized for just 36 hours, lost only a few pounds, and, like my father, did not need chemotherapy or radiation."

Stories like Luisa’s put into perspective why early detection and accessible screening are essential.

The GCI is playing an active role in improving patient outcomes by advancing early cancer detection and intervention strategies. Detecting cancer before it becomes treatment-resistant and metastatic is critical, but predicting which early-stage tumors will turn aggressive—and developing therapies to stop this progression—is just as important.

To achieve this, GCI researchers are pioneering cutting-edge approaches that allow us to intervene earlier and more precisely. For example, in partnership with the MUHC, GCI investigators are leading one of the world’s most important trials of immunotherapy in early lung cancer. By applying single-cell spatial “-omics” technology and AI-driven analysis, they are identifying key features of the tumor immune microenvironment that predict which patients will respond to treatment. This work is paving the way for more effective, personalized cancer therapies.

Similarly, GCI scientists are unraveling the origins of ovarian cancer, using innovative models and single-cell analysis to reveal the genetic programs that drive this highly aggressive disease. Their findings point to new treatment strategies that could make a significant difference in survival rates.

Breast cancer research at the GCI has also shed light on the early disruptions in tissue organization that contribute to tumor development. Investigators have demonstrated that the loss of epithelial polarity, an essential structural feature of healthy tissue, is one of the first steps in breast cancer progression. Understanding these early changes provides new targets for intervention before the disease advances.

By leveraging these insights and developing precision medicine strategies, including immunotherapies, the GCI is ensuring that more cancers are detected and treated at a stage where they can still be cured. The goal is not just to extend life but to improve quality of life for patients whose early diagnoses can mean the difference between invasive treatment and a far less burdensome recovery.

For those interested, additional information on colorectal cancer screening is available on the Quebec Government website and through organizations such as the Quebec Cancer Foundation.

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