Lottery proceeds advance cancer research Proceeds of $19.9 million dollars from two annual lotteries supported cancer research programs on the front line of discovery at Princess Margaret Hospital. The fall Colossal Cash & Cars Lottery provided $10.5 million to cancer research, including the Drug Discovery Program. In addition to testing new drugs, this program also aims to develop new anti-cancer drugs that will be used in new cancer therapies. The spring Home Lottery provided $9.4 million to cancer research, including the Advanced Cancer Diagnostics Program. Researchers working in this area are finding ways to detect changes in cells and genes that can predict cancer. They are also developing technologies to screen people with a higher cancer risk. And they are creating tools used by clinical pathologists to categorize tumours better, information that can be used to determine the best treatment strategies.

SKY is the Spectral Karyotyping microscope, which identifies and displays in unique colours all the chromosomes in certain tumour cells. This makes it possible for researchers to easily identify the type of genetic abnormalities in a tumour.

	The SKY microscope detects a pattern of an increased amount of chromosome 8 (orange colour) in a bone tumour cell.
Dr. Jeremy Squire investigates abnormalities in tumour cells.

Proceeds have been invested in innovative technology and in funding many of the world's brightest scientists and doctors who work at the Ontario Cancer Institute (OCI), the research arm of Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH).

• PMH has more than 80 clinical trials for new drugs in various stages of completion.
• In 2005, an international study involving Dr. Warren Mason resulted in the development of a new standard of care for the treatment of glioblastoma, the most deadly form of brain cancer – heralding the first advance in treating this disease in 30 years.

• Genomics-based research is advancing our understanding of why some drugs work better for certain patients and will eventually allow us to customize drug treatments based on a person's genetic makeup.

• We are developing and implementing new information technology, which allows us to analyze multiple forms of patient data effectively and improves our ability to predict more quickly what treatments will work best.

• PMH has developed a world-leading program in imaging and radiation therapy that is allowing more precise and targeted radiation to be applied to tumours.

• PMH is conducting the first Canadian clinical trials using light therapy to target tumours and thus eliminate damage to healthy tissue. This new light activated photodynamic drug is called TOOKAD.

• We are entering a new era in innovative research and treatment options for leukemia patients. We can now offer very specialized transplants using partially matched bone marrow donors. Previously, patients required a more complete match.