Cancer research. Conceptual illustration of a cancer cell in a petri dish, with a genetic treatment being applied by a pipette. The DNA helices in the liquid in the pipette represent the genetic methods and modifications used to produce anti-cancer treatments. The beam of light represents the hope that such research will reduce the impact of cancer, one of the leading causes of death. Cancer is the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells. Cancerous cells have the potential to spread to other parts of the body with often fatal outcomes. There are over 100 forms of cancer that affect humans.