Daffodil Day is an annual fundraising event held in many countries to raise awareness and funds for cancer research and support services. The day typically involves the sale of daffodil flowers, with the proceeds going towards cancer research and support.
In addition to fundraising, Daffodil Day also serves as a day of remembrance for those who have lost their lives to cancer and a celebration of the survivors and their families. It is an opportunity for communities to come together and show their support for those affected by cancer, as well as for the researchers and medical professionals working to find a cure. Cancer can affect everyone, regardless of age, gender or social status and puts immense pressure on healthcare systems.
In 2020, 2.7 million persons in the EU were newly diagnosed with cancer, and 1.27 million died as a result of the disease. Cancer is now the second leading cause of mortality in the EU, after only cardiovascular disease. Cancer cases are expected to rise by 24% by 2035, making it the EU’s biggest cause of death.
The economic burden of cancer across the EU is difficult to calculate. In 2021, it was estimated the overall economic impact of cancer to exceed €100 billion annually in near future.
Despite significant progress in cancer research, there is still much to learn about the basic biology of cancer cells, including how they develop and spread. To achieve this, they need to develop advanced tools that enable them to understand the reasons for the disease’s development better, such as why mutations in particular genes result in cancer in some organs but not in others. This understanding will help prevent the disease, allowing people to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives with increased longevity.
Soft X-ray tomography (SXT) is a powerful imaging technique that can be used to visualize the internal structure of cells and tissues with high resolution. In cancer research, SXT can play a crucial role in understanding the structure and organization of cancer cells, their interaction with surrounding tissues, and the response of cancer cells to treatment.
SXT can provide three-dimensional images of cancer cells and tissues, allowing researchers to visualize their internal structures and identify changes that may indicate disease progression or response to treatment. This technique can also be used to study the structure and function of organelles within cancer cells, such as mitochondria or lysosomes, and to observe the behaviour of cancer cells in real time.
Moreover, SXT can be used to study the distribution of drugs within cancer cells and tissues, providing important information on drug efficacy and toxicity. It can also be used to study the interactions between cancer cells and immune cells, which may help to develop new immunotherapies for cancer.
Overall, SXT has the potential to provide new insights into the complex biology of cancer and contribute to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the disease.
SXT-100, the world’s first commercial lab-based soft X-ray microscope has applications in cancer research. It can be used to study the structure of cancer cells, the interaction between cancer cells and surrounding tissues, and the response of cancer cells to therapies.
The launch of SXT-100 will give flexible accessibility to researchers to have their soft X-ray microscope in their lab for studies.