IDIBAPS, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer

Main lines of research

1. Circulating tumor markers. Fine tuning of new techniques for studying biologic markers that are the peripheral expression of malignant tumors. Study of the utility of proPSA in diagnosing prostate cancer. Evaluation of new tumor markers such as the following: Mesomark, of use in mesothelioma; Mammoglobulin for breast cancer and Thymidine kinase for lung tumors. Comparison of the clinical application of isoforms of the antigen associated with non-small cell carcinoma and evaluation of isoforms of S-100 and their implication in the study of malignant melanoma.

2. Consolidation of diagnostic guides on tumor markers for clinical use. Collaboration with European and American groups to agree and publish clinical guidelines. Diffusion of these guidelines at national level, via the Commission of Cancer Biologic Markers, created by members of the group, within the Scientific Committee of the Spanish Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Disease.

3. Incorporation of a quantitative technique for detecting circulating cells of epithelial tumors (CEC) and improvement of the methods for obtaining them, separating them and quantifying them by means of mNMRI of cytokine 19. Evaluation of the clinical interest of this methodology in breast and prostate cancer. Study of oncogenes and suppressor genes by means of PCP-SSCP (ras and p53) techniques and methylation studies in p16 and p14.

4. Chemosensitivity of human tumors. Investigation of biologic factors linked to chemosensitivity. In this area, we are working on enzyme factors associated with the metabolism of glutathione (GST), oncogenes in tissue and serum and different circulating tumor markers with polymorphism in TS or XRCC1. We incorporate the CEC technique in the study of the response to systemic treatments (hormone therapy and chemotherapy) in advanced breast tumors.

5. Apoptosis. We are consolidating the line of research centered on the study of genes linked to the mechanisms of apoptosis (p53, BAX and BCL-2). In this section, we have initiated a new line of experimental in vitro work, testing possible indicators of apoptosis in the HT-29 cell line.

6. Investigation of implementation of cytokines in the development and progression of cancer. We have consolidated our research on the clinical utility of cytokines in patients with cancer. The line is developed with a preference for hematologic and urologic cancers.

7. Markers used in pharmacogenetics. Study of genetic polymorphism implicated in drug metabolism and targets. This line focuses particularly on predicting the safety and efficacy of antineoplastic drugs. In the past year, we have prepared high-performance genotyping techniques such as minisequencing-SBE.