Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network publishes landmark paper in prestigious journal Cancer Cell

The Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network has reached a significant milestone today with the publication of its first landmark paper in a major scientific journal. Published in the prestigious journal Cancer Cell, the paper highlights the Network’s history, objectives and key accomplishments to date, underscoring how this unprecedented national collaboration is working to transform precision oncology in Canada.

It is authored by the entire Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network.

“The publication of this paper is a seminal moment for our Network, as it introduces us to the global scientific community and showcases how the Canadian cancer research community is working together like never before to improve outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients through precision medicine,” says Dr. André Veillette, Executive Director of the Network.

“Significantly, the paper also demonstrates the incredible scale of collaboration that defines our Network – it has more than 1,200 listed individual collaborators and recognizes over 100 funding and research partners – all of whom are uniting to bring real change to cancer research and care in this country.”

The paper was developed over the last year and a half, and was primarily written by Dr. Véronique LeBlanc, Network Program Manager and Scientific Writer, in close collaboration with Drs. Marco Marra (University of British Columbia) and Ian Watson (McGill University).

“We went through a meticulous process to put this together—from gathering insights from working group chairs to refining the draft with our Steering Committee and Network Council to getting approval from all our listed collaborators,” explains Dr. LeBlanc. “When it came to publication, we were thrilled when such a prestigious publication like Cancer Cell recognized the Network's leadership and expressed interest in the work. We were also delighted to be invited to publish in the journal's Special Review Issue on Bridging the Gap Between Foundational Cancer Biology and Clinical Oncology, a theme that brilliantly captures the Network's mission.”

The type of paper the Network just published is known as a marker paper. These papers aim to raise awareness within the scientific community about specific initiatives making an impact in a particular area of research. In this case, the paper focuses on the establishment of the Network, its vision and how it has brought together patients, researchers, clinicians, donors and administrators from across the country to develop a unified, pan-Canadian strategy for the advancement of precision oncology.

It also highlights the Network’s critical role in breaking down silos in Canada’s cancer research and care ecosystems, its commitment to equity and diversity in research and the central role that cancer patients, survivors and caregivers play in shaping all Network activities.

“Terry Fox’s vision was for all Canadians to be part of his Marathon of Hope,” says Dr. Watson. “As a Network, we’ve been working hard to embody that vision and create solutions that benefit everyone in Canada, no matter who they are or where they live. This paper is a way to celebrate this work and share meaningful successes and lessons learned, while also outlining the future direction of the Network.”

With the publication now available online in Cancer Cell, the Network hopes to inspire further collaboration within Canada and internationally to continue transforming the Canadian cancer research and care landscapes.

“This commentary is more than just a reflection of our progress,” says Dr. Marra. “It’s an invitation to the global research community to engage with our work, learn from our experiences, and help drive the next era of precision medicine.”

Watch now

Kirsten Efremov and Sarah Hunt, members of the Network's Patient Working Group, chat with Dr. Véronique LeBlanc, Network Program Manager and Scientific Writer, about the first landmark paper published by the Network in Cancer Cell (April 3, 2025)

Study

The Terry Fox Research Institute Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network: A pan-Canadian precision oncology initiative

Authors

The Terry Fox Research Institute Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network