For the fourth consecutive year, the Iker Association donated to myxoid liposarcoma research at VHIO. This association aims to promote research into this type of tumour by funding research projects and providing support to patients and their families.
María Susmozas, association president, handed over the cheque for €6,180 raised this year. A figure that grows year after year and that strengthens the organization’s commitment and support for the research carried out in the VHIO’s Sarcoma Translational Research Group.
This fundraising is thanks to the organisation of solidarity markets, the support of members, the sale of the Christmas lottery and other fundraising actions throughout the year.
María Susmozas explains: “It is very exciting for us to come and raise money to research this type of tumour. There are many patients who need new treatments, and we will continue to help as much as we can“.
VHIO’s Sarcoma Translational Research Group, led by Dr. César Serrano, focuses its work on investigating different types of Sarcomas to obtain very precise information on the biology of each of them. Sarcoma is a rare tumour that encompasses more than 70 mesenchymal entities and constitutes between 1 and 2% of all cancers.
The group’s goal is to offer new therapeutic alternatives for patients with this disease in the future.
From a biological perspective, sarcomas can be classified into two broad categories: genomically simple sarcomas driven by simple genetic alterations, such as translocations or specific activating mutations, and tumours with complex, unbalanced genomic aberrations.
Each of these categories includes several subtypes of Sarcomas that often differ profoundly in their molecular make-up, disease course and therapeutic approach.
THE RESEARCH OF MYXOID LIPOSARCOMA
Myxoid liposarcoma is a type of sarcoma found in soft tissues and specifically affects fatty tissue, predominantly in the extremities. This type of liposarcoma, which has a low incidence, is a malignant tumour that usually affects young adults. The term ‘myxoid’ refers to the gel-like appearance of the tumour’s tissue.
“Thanks to his ongoing contributions, we are better understanding the biology of this tumour and finding vulnerabilities that we hope can be exploited with new therapies”, said Dr Serrano.
With the support of the Iker Association, in 2022 the VHIO’s Sarcoma Translational Research Group began to collect the few cell models of this type of sarcoma that exist in the world to begin to study its biology and possible therapies of interest.
Dr. Claudia Valverde is also grateful for the association’s support: “Thank you very much for your support over the years and for contributing more and more to liposarcoma research”.
Nowadays, liposarcoma is usually treated with surgery, accompanied by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. But one of the main problems faced by patients suffering from this disease is the lack of effective therapies, due to the low incidence of this tumour. It is therefore necessary to continue researching this type of sarcoma and find new therapeutic options.
“It is difficult to find words to thank María and all her colleagues at the Iker Association for their efforts. They have managed to get my laboratory at the VHIO to open and consolidate a specific line of research into myxoid liposarcoma. This is a rare type of sarcoma that affects young adults, and for which there are very few treatments,” explains Dr. César Serrano.
