Researchers from the ibs.GRANADA develop an integrated platform for non-invasive early diagnosis of the evolution and response to cancer treatment
Scientists from Granada, belonging to the Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA) and the University of Granada (UGR), will develop a new integrated platform for non-invasive early diagnosis of the evolution and response to cancer treatment.
They will do so thanks to a project entitled "Implementation of a novel platform to monitor tumor heterogeneity as a crucial determinant for individualized diagnostic and therapeutic outcome," which has been funded with €493.625 by the Carlos III Health Institute, within the call for Integrated Projects of Excellence in Health Research Institutes. The project presentation took place this morning at the Government Building of the University Hospitals of Granada.
A correct diagnosis in cancer patients is essential for effective treatment because each patient requires a specific regimen adapted to their individual characteristics. Despite the success of new cancer treatments, most patients eventually progress due to the presence of resistance-conferring heterogeneity within tumors.
Factors contributing to this heterogeneity include interactions with the microenvironment surrounding the tumor, the microbiota, the inflammatory response, genetic mutations, and the presence of cancer stem cell (CMC) subpopulations. CMCs communicate with the organ where they are going to metastasize, by releasing small nanovesicles or exosomes into the bloodstream and lymphatic vessels, small molecules with specific genetic information about them (small RNA and circulating DNA) and proteins (cytokines) pro -inflammatory, which prepare the ground for the subsequent arrival of metastatic tumor cells.
The research presented today is aimed at selecting and determining these types of factors in tissue, blood, urine and stool samples from cancer patients and their early detection through the development of an integrated non-invasive bioinformatics platform based on nanotechnology. . To this end, researchers from Granada will develop highly sensitive and selective graphene biosensors that allow obtaining broad and individualized information on the type of tumor in each patient.
In total, the Carlos III Health Institute, within the call for Integrated Projects of Excellence in Health Research Institutes, has awarded a total of 10 projects nationwide, this being the only one in Andalusia.
The project is coordinated by Juan Antonio Marchal (Faculty of Medicine of the UGR, Center for Biomedical Research-CIBM) together with other main researchers, among whom are doctors: Julio Gálvez (CIBM) and Juan Manuel Duarte (Faculty of Pharmacy ), from the Pharmacology department; Francisco Gámiz, from the Department of Electronics and Computer Technology (Faculty of Sciences); Coral del Val and Igor Zwir from the Department of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence (ETS Computer Science Engineering); María Isabel Núñez, from the Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine (Faculty of Medicine), and doctors Josefa León and María Ángel García, from the Digestive and Oncology Clinical Management Units, respectively.
A total of 38 researchers participate in this multidisciplinary project, including clinical professionals from the Oncology, Microbiology, Dermatology, Pathology, Digestive, Radiotherapy and General Surgery services of the University Hospitals of Granada. In addition, the project has the participation of the Biobank of the Andalusian Public Health System and the external collaboration of the MEDINA and CIDAF Foundations and different biomedical companies (AlthiaHealth SL, Master Diagnóstica, Oncología del Sur SL, Destina Genomics Ltd., InycomBiotech SA , CanvaxBiotech SL, and Alphasip SL).
All researchers on this project belong to the Granada Biosanitary Research Institute (ibs.GRANADA), which is recognized by the Carlos III Health Institute as a benchmark for scientific excellence, quality, and innovation in translational research within the fields of Biomedicine and Health Sciences. The grant, awarded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the Carlos III Health Institute, will be managed by the Alejandro Otero Andalusian Public Foundation for Biosanitary Research in Eastern Andalusia (FIBAO).
