Translational Therapeutics and Discoveries

The Cancer Research Life Foundation supports the research and development of novel therapies that can disrupt the current standard of care model in oncology. Throughout history, several groundbreaking discoveries have transformed cancer treatment—from the accidental discovery of chemotherapy during World War II to today's cutting-edge cancer stem cell research. We are committed to continuing this legacy of innovation by investing in the most promising therapeutic approaches.

Milestones in Cancer Treatment History

The Birth of Chemotherapy (1940s)

During World War II, soldiers exposed to mustard gas who had leukemia unexpectedly survived and improved. This led to the extraction of meclorethamine, the first chemotherapy agent. These alkylating agents killed rapidly growing cancer cells by damaging their DNA, launching the era of cancer chemotherapy.

Natural Product Revolution (1950s-1970s)

Sidney Farber demonstrated that aminopterin produced remissions in children with acute leukemia, leading to methotrexate. Today, 75% of all chemotherapies are derived from natural products—from microbes, plants, and marine environments. Over 60% of the 140 anti-cancer agents approved since 1940 can be traced to natural origins.

Targeted Therapy Era (1990-2001)

The discovery of Gleevec (imatinib) revolutionized cancer treatment by targeting specific proteins like BCR-ABL in leukemia. This marked a shift from killing all rapidly dividing cells to precisely targeting cancer-driving mutations, converting fatal cancers into manageable conditions and earning researchers the Lasker Award.

Immunotherapy & Stem Cells (2006-Present)

Cancer vaccines, antibodies like pembrolizumab (anti-PD-1), and cancer stem cell research represent the frontier of oncology. Scientists now focus on eliminating cancer stem cells—the root cause of recurrence and treatment resistance—to achieve long-lasting clinical responses and prevent tumor relapse.

Our Focus: Cancer Stem Cell Therapeutics

The Cancer Research Life Foundation has made it our mission to invest in the discovery of targeted cancer stem cell therapeutics—currently the most challenging area of oncology. Traditional chemotherapy and radiation have limitations that lead to treatment failure and cancer recurrence due to cancer stem cells (CSCs). These cells are responsible for cancer initiation, maintenance, metastasis, and recurrence.

Although we understand much about cancer stem cell biology, creating effective drugs presents significant challenges. CSCs reside in areas of low oxygen and vascularity, preventing efficient drug delivery, and their niche is similar to normal stem cells, making selective targeting difficult. The compounds that the CRL Foundation is working on do not harm normal stem cells and are therefore considered superior to all available products.

The future of cancer treatment depends on combining complementary technologies: natural product discovery, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, structure-function drug design, and combinatorial biosynthesis. This translational approach is where the CRL Foundation invests its efforts to create platforms for the most novel technologies in cancer treatment. We provide cancer patients with the tools to change a life of "lost hope," starting with guidance about all available options of care.

From Natural Products to Precision Medicine

Plant-derived compounds like Taxol, Vincristine, and Irinotecan have saved countless lives. From 1981 to 2002, natural products formed the basis of 74% of all new cancer treatments, proving nature's pharmacy remains essential to modern oncology.