A biologist describes 'The microcosm of cancer'.
University of Navarra graduate Amaia Lujambio publishes a article in the journal Nature, where she unveils the role of microRNAs.
Amaia Lujambio, a graduate in Biology from the University of Navarra and researcher at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York, USA), has published a reviewarticle in one of the world's most prestigious scientific journals, Nature. In it she unveils the role of microRNAs, genes that do not give rise to proteins but regulate the function of many other genes.
As the researcher reveals in the article "The microcosm of cancer", these tiny RNAs are fundamental in any physiological and pathological process, including cancer, "since in this disease the expression of conventional genes and microRNAs is altered, as has been observed in programs of study with mice and in patient samples".
"This aberrant (erroneous) expression of microRNAs," the specialist continues, "could be used as a new therapeutic target to advance diagnosis or to be more precise in the prognosis of the disease. In addition, she assures that the role of microRNAs would go even further: "Due to their small size -the proteins are large and cannot enter the cell-, they could be used in cancer therapies".
In this regard, he reminds that cancer is not a single disease but a set of ailments. "Practically every subject cell can give rise to a different cancer. Added to this are the different mutations and alterations, which multiply the possibilities. This is why the approach to the disease will be aimed at identifying which alterations are present in the tumor cells of a given individual. In other words, the personalized study of cancer.
This path was unfeasible a few years ago, as it was long and tedious. However, technological advances now make it possible to analyze an individual's genome quickly and cheaply: "This means that the mutations of a tumor can be identified and the most appropriate therapy selected, as well as analyzing the mechanisms of resistance and anticipating them. In fact, personalized study is already being practiced in the USA with some patients, although not on a widespread basis."
Crisis and investment in science
After studying Biology at the University of Navarra - where she obtained the award extraordinary end of degree program and the second award National licentiate degree- Amaia Lujambio, a native of Goizueta, did the doctorate at the National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), with Manel Esteller. Subsequently, she is doing her postdoctorate in the USA, with Scott Lowe, one of the world's leading experts in cancer Genetics , first at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and recently at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, both in New York.
The 30-year-old researcher recognizes that the economic crisis has not affected the USA in the same way: "Both the American government and society know that if they reduce investment in science now, they could lose their leadership, and that this would have serious consequences for their Economics in the medium term deadline. Moreover, their science funding system includes the government but also private companies and individual donations. Society moves to obtain funding, especially for research in cancer. In the case of Spain, not investing in science could leave us completely behind," he concludes.