Launched back in 2016 by the Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (Spanish Association against Cancer – AECC), and officially co-promoted in collaboration with leading organizations and Societies in oncology, World Cancer Research Day (WCRD) is held annually on 24 September to encourage the active involvement of citizens, institutions and leaders across various fields to support the advancement of research against cancer.
The global cancer burden rose to 18.1 million new cases and 9.6 million cancer deaths in 2018, with cancer cases now forecast to rise by 75% over the next two decades. Accelerating cancer science and translating insights into improved outcomes for patients as swiftly as possible, must therefore be a top priority for the entire oncology ecosystem as well as the public at large.
It certainly is for the AECC as its continued funding of cancer research of excellence across Spain and beyond remains at the Association’s very core. Marking yesterday’s WCRD, the AECC announced its 2019 awardees during a special ceremony in Madrid presided by Her Majesty the Queen Letizia of Spain, its Honorary President, alongside Pedro Duque, Spanish Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, and Ignacio Muñoz, AECC’s President.
Among the many internationally renowned cancer scientists and clinical investigators who were invited to attend this auspicious occasion were VHIO’s Director, Josep Tabernero, who delivered a talk highlighting Europe’s dedicated efforts aimed at solving cancer sooner, followed by a roundtable debate which counted on the expertise of VHIO’s Joaquin Arribas, Co-Program Director of Preclinical & Translational Research, alongside Eva Ciruelos, President of SOLTI and Medical Oncologist at the 12 de Octubre Hospital in Madrid, Carmen Vela, Director of EUROFIN-INGENASA collaborative projects and Member of the EU’s Health and Food Mission, Javier Garcia, Founder of Columbus Venture Partners, and Cristóbal Belda, Sub-General Director of Evaluation and Research Funding, Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII).
Among this year’s VHIO Award recipients is Elena Élez, Medical Oncologist and Clinical Investigator of our Gastrointestinal & Endocrine Tumors Group, led by Teresa Macarulla and directed by Josep Tabernero, who received funding as an AECC Senior Clinician. This particular category provides experienced medical professionals in oncology with support to develop and consolidate research at the clinical level.
More specifically, Elena’s awarded project will enable her to continue developing minimally and non-invasive approaches for the early detection and/or progression of colorectal cancer including the study of prognostic and predictive values of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA in advanced disease. Given that cancer relapse and metastatic cell spread are responsible for between 50-70% of colorectal cancer mortality, the need to bring these exciting methods closer to the clinic is critical.
“These less invasive techniques represent important contenders in our arsenal of anti-cancer armory where disease can be detected earlier via a simple blood test. The analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in plasma is promising a more precise and personalized monitoring of disease,” observed Elena Élez.
She added, “With this present project we aim to clinically validate an individualized tumor molecular signature from cell free DNA (cfDNA) analysis in colorectal cancer patients with metastatic disease and study its prognostic and predictive value.”
Miriam Sansó, Post-Doctoral Fellow of our Cancer Genomics Group directed by Ana Vivancos, received an AECC Investigator’s Award. These grants support postdoctoral talents to pursue their respective scientific careers towards establishing their own research lines. Miriam’s project will center on the comprehensive molecular profiling of multiple primary tumors in lung cancer patients to elucidate common genetic origins.
Around 12% of lung cancer patients at Vall d´Hebron suffer multiple primary tumors (MPTs). When a second tumor is diagnosed in a patient with a previous history of cancer, the challenge is to evaluate whether the second lesion is a metastasis of the first or a new primary tumor. The genomic analysis of different MPTs could identify possible coincident genetic alterations in these patients, and integrative analysis will aim at seeking out genomic signatures of MPT risk.
“The number of cancer patients with MPTs is on the worrisome rise, with second tumors often due to previous treatments, genetic susceptibility, lifestyle or environmental exposures. We are seeing that some second tumors share a genetic origin with the first tumor in the same patient, and that histopathology could benefit from genomics and epigenetic analyses,” explained Miriam Sansó.
“This could improve diagnosis, better guide personalized treatment options and impact on the survival of patients. We therefore strive to establish the first comprehensive molecular landscape for multiple primary cancers,” she concluded.
Under the same category of AECC Investigator, Post-Doctoral Fellow of our Stem Cells & Cancer Group, Isabel Puig, received renewed funding this year for her development of novel therapeutics against colon cancer recurrence. Almost 50% of patients with colorectal cancer will relapse with a new, more aggressive tumor which reduces the survival of these patients.
The Group, directed by Héctor G. Palmer, has identified a subpopulation of drug-resistant slow-cycling cancer cells with enhanced capacity to reinitiate tumors thus being responsible for disease relapse. They have identified TET2 gene as a relevant factor for slow-cycling cancer cells survival, which could therefore serve as a potential drug-target for their elimination, and also shown that 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, generated by TET2 enzymatic activity, is a valuable biomarker to predict relapse in colorectal cancer patients.
Commenting for VHIO Communications Isabel observed, “Thanks to this renewed AECC support, we will study the molecular and biological function of TET2 in greater depth. At the same time, we will seek to develop a TET2 inhibitor as a new target-directed drug for reducing disease relapse in cancer patients.”
She continued, “We will also evaluate 5-hydroxymethylcytosine as a biomarker to predict relapse in other tumor types including lung and breast cancers towards improving cancer patients’ survival.”
Another VHIO project that has been awarded under the category of AECC Seed Ideas will be led by Pere Barba, Clinical Investigator of our Experimental Hematology Group directed by Francesc Bosch. His research will focus on optimizing checkpoint inhibitors to improve outcomes for patients with lymphoproliferative neoplasms who receive allogneneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT).
“ PD-1 inhibition could be damaging in patients who undergo stem cell transplantation, resulting in an increased risk of graft-versus-host disease and other immune-mediated complications. We will study PD-1 inhibitors in patients who have received a transplant and identify strategies to prevent damaging side effects in these patients,” explained Pere Barba.
Acknowledging AECC’s invaluable contribution to promoting cancer discovery and translational research of excellence, Josep Tabernero, VHIO’s Director said, “I would like to personally thank the Spanish Association against Cancer for the support it gives to countless researchers and groups across Spain and beyond, including several at VHIO. I also take this opportunity to applaud and congratulate this marvellous Association as founder and leader of World Cancer Research Day.”
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