Why B.C. is poised to lead the world in redefining cancer care

Cancer remains the greatest health challenge of our time. As diagnoses rise alongside a growing and aging population, the need for faster, smarter and more accessible care has never been more urgent.

That requires leadership. While the U.S. scales back investment in medical research, B.C. is stepping forward.

In B.C., a powerful alliance of scientific research, industry expertise, government commitment and donor support, through the BC Cancer Foundation, is transforming how cancer is detected and treated – and positioning the province as a global leader in oncology innovation.

Leading Canada in breakthroughs

One area of promise revolves around CAR T cells, which are genetically engineered, cancer-fighting copies of a patient’s own immune cells. BC Cancer was the first in Canada to manufacture CAR T cells. In a national clinical CAR T trial, co-led with the Ottawa Hospital, 43 per cent of participants with leukemia and lymphoma achieved complete remission after exhausting every other option.

BC Cancer – Victoria researchers are now applying CAR T to solid tumours such as ovarian and pancreatic cancer. Early preclinical results are encouraging.

Patients in Kelowna became the first in the country to receive advanced AI-enabled adaptive radiation therapy using Ethos. This technology adjusts in real time to daily changes in tumour shape and position, enabling more precise treatment with fewer side effects.

“We’re not just advancing science – we’re accelerating it,” says Dr. Paris Ingledew, executive vice-president and chief medical officer at BC Cancer. “Our unique province-wide network allows discoveries to move quickly from the lab to the clinic, ensuring patients across B.C. benefit from the latest advances, no matter where they live.”

For Vi MacLean, a Quesnel, B.C. grandmother with stage 4 breast cancer, this meant access to SIMPLIFY, a donor-funded clinical trial using high-precision radiation. This process treats oligometastatic cancer, where the disease has spread to only a few sites. Led by BC Cancer – Prince George, SIMPLIFY is expanding across B.C. and internationally.

Powered by philanthropy

“Innovation at this scale only happens with sustained investment,” says Sarah Roth, BC Cancer Foundation president and CEO. “Donor support allows BC Cancer to move faster – to adopt cutting-edge technologies, launch ambitious clinical trials and attract and retain world-class talent.”

This support has positioned B.C. as a leader in early cancer detection and prevention.

Informed in part by a BC Cancer Foundation–funded study, B.C. launched Canada’s first cervix self-screening program.This Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-based test has the potential to eliminate cervical cancer.

And the province’s lung cancer screening program, launched with almost $2 million in donor support, has detected 71 per cent of its participants’ cancers at an early, more treatable stage.

Anchored by BC Cancer’s unparalleled provincial system – including tumour biobanks and shared patient data essential to research – and supported by B.C.’s fast-growing biotech sector, the province is well positioned to lead in the race against this disease.

Discover how BC Cancer is shaping the future of cancer care and how you can support this vital work at bccancerfoundation.com.

Advertising feature produced by BC Cancer Foundation. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.