Taking inspiration from art and science in the fight against cancer

Hello from Chicago, where we are attending the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting! If you’re in the cancer community, you know this is the biggest meeting of minds in oncology, which brings together the scientific, advocacy and cancer communities at large from around the world.  

It’s incredible to be here with so many others, and we are energized by the 2024 ASCO Meeting theme: “Art and Science of Cancer Care: From Comfort to Cure.” Scientists and artists have a lot more in common than meets the eye; and, of course, anyone involved in oncology will know that it takes more than science to fight cancer. As Leonardo DaVinci once said: “Study the science of art; study the art of science. Realize that everything connects to everything else.”¹

Science is about the knowledge of how molecules or organisms are structured or behave, while art is the expression of creativity. Both science and art are relevant and essential to oncology; they share a focus on observation and experimentation to push boundaries, and much like how the invention of the piano changed the sound of music forever, a great idea in oncology is often born from the drive for a new approach or combination that hasn’t been thought of before.

Partnerships and diversity of thought are also essential: we cannot treat or cure cancer without both scientific rigor and artistic freedom. Treating cancer is an endeavor that scientists at Boehringer Ingelheim have been working on for many decades, with the goal of closing the gap in areas of unmet need in the oncology landscape, alongside HCPs, patients, their loved ones and patient organizations. There’s an art to bringing everyone together to drive progress – from the very start.

Early detection of cancer is associated with better outcomes,¹ the fight against cancer starts with testing and diagnosis including the specific sub-type of cancer the patient is presented with, as we know that cancer isn’t one disease. There are more than 200 types:² some subtypes of cancer might not be distinguishable during a physical examination, but have widely different biomarkers, which are only noticeable when testing is conducted. It is crucial to know exactly which subtype of cancer a patient presents with, to anticipate how the condition might respond to treatment.

Treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all, either. An oncologist needs to understand the variation of individual responses in treatment, and that takes a mix of facts, experience, adaptability, and even art, as they keep up with the latest science. A 2011 study estimated that, by now, medical knowledge would be doubling every 73 days³ – this is a huge amount of information to keep up with on top of the extensive workload of a doctor. This is why conferences like ASCO are so important: a dedicated time for the whole oncology community to come together and discuss the latest developments in their ever-evolving specialties.

But of course, the fight against cancer goes beyond the clinical setting of diagnosis and treatment. The available support, the patient’s mental health and their socio-economic realities also impact their outcome.⁴ ⁵ ⁶ Advocacy support groups offer people being diagnosed or living with cancer – and their loved ones – meaningful resources throughout their journey.

There is clearly a strong community united in the fight against cancer, and the impressive crowd at ASCO 2024 is testament to that. We are proud to be part of it.

Your passionate leadership team,

Itziar Canamasas, Daniel Asch, Vicky Brown and Ioannis Sapountzis

1. WHO. Promoting cancer early diagnosis. Available at: https://www.who.int/activities/promoting-cancer-early-diagnosis. Last accessed: May 2024.

2. NIH. Genomic analysis of 33 cancer types completed. Available at: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/genomic-analysis-33-cancer-types-completed. Last accessed: May 2024.

3. Densen, P. Challenges and opportunities facing medical education. Trans. Am. Clin. Climatol. Assoc. 2011;122:48-58.

4. The Lancet. Provision of mental health care for patients with cancer. Lancet Oncol.  2021;22(9):1199

5. Pasek, M. et al. Model of Social Support for Patients Treated for Cancer. Cancers. 2021;13(19):4786

6. Gootee JM, Curtin CE, Aurit SJ, Randhawa SE, Kang BY, Silberstein PT. Federal Pract. 2019;36(Suppl 5):S34-S41.