Dr Esteller and Dr Sanchez-Cespedes, in the consortia of the Spanish Association Against Cancer’s 70% Survival Challenge
The Spanish Association Against Cancer has presented the “70% Survival Challenge” grants to support research into cancers with low survival rates. The two selected projects, focusing on liver cancer and small cell lung cancer, include the participation of Dr Manel Esteller and Dr Montse Sanchez-Cespedes from the Josep Carreras Institute.
Despite advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment, there are common tumours with survival rates still below 30%. To fight this statistic, the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) has launched the “70% Survival Challenge”, aiming to completely reverse these figures through the funding of research projects.
The selection of projects was conducted through a competitive process, evaluated by renowned international experts with extensive experience in both basic, clinical and translational research on various types of cancer. Two projects were selected, which include the remarkable participation of two researchers from the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC): Dr Manel Esteller, also an ICREA professor and chair of Genetics at the University of Barcelona, and Dr Montse Sanchez-Cespedes:
The ASPIRE-AECC project (coordinated by Dr Josep M. Llovet of Hospital Clínic-IDIBAPS and Dr Xosé R. Bustelo of the Salamanca Cancer Research Center) aims to improve the survival rate of liver cancer patients through the combination of immunotherapy and surgery. This research will also define biomarkers to predict treatment response and advance towards more personalized therapy, as well as identify alternative therapies for patients showing resistance to immunotherapy treatment. Dr. Manel Esteller’s group will conduct studies on the genetic expression of tumour samples and their epigenetic regulation, an area in which he is an international leader.
The SOSCLC-AECC project (coordinated by Dr Luis Paz-Ares of the Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre and Dr Marcos Malumbres of Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology) aims to develop new treatments to improve the survival and quality of life of patients with small cell lung cancer through the molecular and epidemiological study of this tumour. Another objective is to involve patients in the research and increase social awareness about this relatively understudied cancer. Dr Montse Sanchez-Cespedes’ group will study the genetic alterations of this type of lung cancer, associated with its development and resistance to pharmacological treatment.
Both projects reflect the AECC's longstanding commitment to cancer research, with the hope that this disease will be curable in most cases. They also reaffirm the quality of research conducted by IJC researchers, Dr Manel Esteller and Dr Montse Sanchez-Cespedes.