Research

Area 5

Diagnosis and therapy in oncology.

Team leader

Strategic objectives

  1. Development of techniques for improving the diagnosis, prognostic evaluation and treatment response assessment in oncological patients.
  2. Development and application of new therapies in oncology.

Main lines of research

  1. Molecular studies in embryonic and tumor cells: applications to pharmacogenomics.
    Two types of studies are carried out: one type analyzes and compares microRNA patterns in embryonic and tumor tissues, and the other uses allelic discrimination to analyze polymorphic profiles (SNPs) in oncological patients, with a view to selecting more specific treatments.
  2. Effects of synchrotron radiation upon the neoplastic cell
    In this study, which is carried out jointly with Barcelona Autonomous University (UAB), comparison is made of the biological action of synchrotron radiation (currently the Grenoble system until the UAB Alba unit comes into operation) with conventional X-rays used in radiotherapy. The cell-sensitizing effectiveness of gold nanoparticles and cisplatin is also studied.
  3. Irradiation of melanoma lymph node metastases.
    A study is made of the role of the postoperative irradiation of melanoma lymph node metastases in the locoregional control of the disease.
  4. Breast cancer imaging diagnosis
    Two types of studies are carried out. One type of study uses 10G needle biopsies to improve the presurgical diagnosis of breast tumors, particularly in application to those with microcalcifications. The aim is to minimize the number of surgical biopsies required for establishing the diagnosis. The other type of study assesses the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer based on breast MRI evaluation.
  5. Gammagraphic (scintigraphic) detection of the sentinel node
    Lymphogammagraphy and posterior use of an external detection probe during surgery serves to identify and remove the sentinel node. This technique makes it possible to avoid 75% of all unnecessary lymphadenectomies. The use of a portable gammacamera during surgery offers additional advantages.
  6. Application of positron emission tomography (PET-CT) in oncology
    PET studies are made for the staging and control of treatment response in different types of tumors, including lymphomas, breast cancer and digestive tract lesions. We plan to use an intraoperative PET probe to improve the detection of tumor lesions.