VHIO’s Molecular Prescreening Program, driven by FERO’s Institutional Advanced Molecular Diagnostics Program – DIAMAV, catalyzes precision medicine at VHIO. Over the last decade, this program has provided access to advanced molecular diagnostics to more than 9,000 cancer patients, and is critical in matching targeted therapeutic approaches with hundreds of clinical trial opportunities.

This program, also counting on the support and expertise provided through our Research Unit for Molecular Therapy of Cancer (UITM) – CaixaResearch, is co-led by VHIO’s Ana Vivancos, Paolo Nuciforo, Elena Garralda (also Director of the UITM), and Rodrigo Dienstmann, Principal Investigators of our Cancer Genomics, Molecular Oncology, Early Clinical Drug Development, and Oncology Data Science – OdysSey Groups, respectively. Activities are coordinated by Susana Aguilar, Head of the VHIOTECA Unit, in collaboration with Jenifer González, Research Support Technician (VHIO’s Cancer Genomics Group).

The main objective of molecular prescreening at VHIO is to facilitate the clinical implementation of emerging cancer biomarkers that help to optimize the selection of therapies for patients being considered for enrollment in clinical trials. Our program guides clinicians in selecting both standard-of-care and investigational anti-cancer treatments and spurs clinical-molecular correlative research at VHIO. Diagnostic tests are developed and validated in-house for the cost-effective and streamlined identification of tumor molecular alterations of major interest in drug development.

Tumor profiling includes a variety of genomic techniques including next-generation sequencing panels (NGS) for the detection of mutations, copy number variations, gene fusions and RNA expression signatures, as well as histopathological techniques such as immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) for protein and gene expression profiling.

In 2022, we have performed tumor molecular profiling of 1,137 cancer patients’ tumors. These patients are candidates for enrollment in clinical trials. Remarkably, an NGS test was implemented to detect genomic alterations in liquid biopsy. This new test has been applied to more than 100 patients who may have acquired resistance to targeted therapies or that lacked metastatic tissue biopsies for testing. In total, 160 patients were treated with biomarker-matched innovative therapies as a result of these efforts. 

Interpretation of next-generation sequencing tests and educating clinicians on emerging biomarkers is another of our priority areas. During Molecular Tumor Board and Genetic Tumor Board meetings, we facilitate data exchange among a broad range of experts for the review of patients’ medical histories and cancer molecular profiles in order to more precisely guide treatment decisions and preventive measures.