"Smoking cessation is essential, but we must also bet on chemoprevention to reverse carcinogenesis in its early stages", said Dr. Ignacio Wistuba, pathologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston (USA) in his talk at visit to research center Applied Medicine (CIMA) of the University of Navarra. In his opinion, "experimental programs of study are very useful, but to reach chemoprevention, early diagnosis or personalized cancer treatment we need to work with clinical samples of patients. This is a limited resource , so it is very important to develop advanced technology that allows us to harness its power to win the battle against cancer."

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the world. Annual mortality reaches one million people, a figure that exceeds the total number of deaths from breast, colon and prostate cancer. "Anti-smoking campaigns have managed to reduce these data, but the genetic damage present in ex-smokers persists. This is why lung cancer diagnoses continue to occur in former smokers," explained Dr. Wistuba. In this context, the researchers are advocating the development of techniques to promote early diagnosis of the disease.

For the U.S. scientist, "the approach to oncologic disease requires transferring to the patient the programs of study developed at laboratory. The area Oncology Department at CIMA is working in this direction thanks to the support of highly trained professionals, high-level technology, solid academic orientation and a well-defined clinical projection".

Tendency to personalize treatment

Dr. Wistuba visited CIMA together with his colleague John Minna, director of the Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research in Texas (USA), with whom he has been developing a line of partnership since 1994. Dr. Minna noted that "oncology research is entering a new area in which treatment will be individualized for each patient. The molecular programs of study of tumor cells will enable the delivery of personalized therapy."

He also pointed out that "oncological treatment will be determined according to the molecular characteristics of each tumor. One of the main areas in which we are working focuses on a personalized approach to lung cancer. Fundamental to this is an understanding of the basis Genetics of cancer. We know that there are specific differences between tumor cells and normal cells. The knowledge of the genetic alterations will facilitate the development of specific therapies that act exclusively in the tumor area".