Oncology

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Overview

The Oncology Research Area has been composed by nine groups addressing main unsolved issues in cancer. The research during this period covered the fields of child and adolescent cancer, melanoma, gynecology, urology, cancer stem cells and the molecular mechanisms of the tumor pathologies. There were also three groups from the CIBBIM-Nanomedicine. These groups studied the use of nanotechnology in biomedical applications to improve therapeutic strategies and diagnostics. During the last years the Area has been very active at shared activities such as the virtual AACR yearly meeting, the internal and external ONCO-VHIR seminars and the organization of other periodic topic-based workshops and leisure and team-building activities. This year the Area also organized a World Cancer Day event to get closer to the society. During the mentioned period most groups of the Area have participated in the In-Campus multidisciplinary Task Force Groups for different tumors (gastric, prostate, melanoma, ginecology etc. with the specialized pathologist also involved) that have been fueled by VHIR-VHIO-Hospital. It is also noteworthy the shared scientific production in terms of publications between different groups of the Area and the stable collaborations between groups that have consolidated during these period.

Publications

141
total
748
impact factor
5.30
average impact factor

Group Leader: Juan Morote, Anna Santamaría

The group has a focus on Prostate cancer (CaP). Our group has strengthen the study of molecules with a relevant role in the acquisition of resistance to hormone therapy and their potential as new therapeutic targets for treating the most aggressive tumor types (with a focus on key mitotic/cell division regulators). We also studied genes/proteins that may have an important role in the tropism to the bone during the metastatic process. We have generated models of primary cultures ex vivo and studied the mechanisms of progression and resistance to therapy. We have enlarged our collection of PCa liquid biopsies (blood, urine) and tissues (radical prostatectomies and biopsies) and provided with some of these samples to Drs. Aytes and Villanueva at IDIBELL for a PDX collection. Finally, lines devoted to the use of artificial intelligence and biomarker discovery for applying active surveillance programs and discrimination between indolent and aggressive PCa have opened up.
The close collaboration that Dr. Santamaria’s group keep with the Biomedical Research Group in Gynecology and the Gynecology Service at the Hospital has culminated with the consecution of a National Grant for a saliva-based diagnosis signature discovery in ovarian cancer (OC). Other lines in relation with BRCA1 mutations on OC patients and biomarker search for treatment response are being carried out in the frame of this collaboration.

VHIR Annual Report 2019