The research center Médica Aplicada (CIMA) and the Clínica Universidad de Navarra have initiated a study to determine the targets of childhood osteosarcoma metastases in the lung. This project, funded by the Scientific Foundation of the association Spanish Against Cancer (AECC) with 150,000 euros for three years, has as goal study the targets of metastasis to improve the survival of children with this disease that can not be prevented or detected early. "This is a clear example of the importance of translational research , aimed at patient application. Many cancer patients will benefit from its results," according to Isabel Oriol, President of the AECC.

Osteosarcoma is the most frequent malignant bone tumor in children. At present, survival is between 50-70%, while in patients with metastasis survival is around 10-30%. According to Dr. Mikel San Julián, surgeon specializing in this pathology at Clínica Universidad de Navarra, "despite the fact that the survival results in our clinical series are 73%, we have few tools to halt the advance of metastases. This is why this project will provide important benefits for patients".

The AECC-funded project is a multicenter study led by CIMA and Clínica Universidad de Navarra and involving 9 other Spanish centers: CIC Bioinformatics Center (Salamanca), University Hospital of Oviedo (Asturias), San Juan University Hospital (Alicante), San Juan de Dios Hospital (Barcelona), La Paz Hospital (Madrid), Miguel Servet Hospital (Zaragoza), M. D. Anderson Hospital (Madrid), Vall d'Hebron Hospital (Barcelona) and Vall d'Hebron Hospital (Barcelona).D. Anderson Hospital (Madrid), Belltvitge Hospital (Barcelona) and Vall d'Hebron Hospital (Barcelona). According to Dr. Fernando Lecanda, researcher principal investigator of the study and member of the laboratory of Adhesion and Metastasis of CIMA, "the results obtained with this project of research will have a decisive influence on the clinical approach since we will be able to anticipate the dissemination of tumor cells (metastasis) with more selective treatments. This will reduce the sequelae of current therapies, which will improve the quality of life and survival of patients".

The Clínica Universidad de Navarra has treated more than 1,400 bone sarcomas, especially osteosarcomas and Ewing's sarcomas, in the last 30 years. Specifically, the survival rate in osteosarcoma, the more frequent of the two, is 73% at 15 years, and the limb preservation rate, including young children, exceeds 90%.

In Spain between 60 and 80 osteosarcomas and between 20 and 30 Ewing's sarcomas are diagnosed each year. Eighty percent of these new diagnoses affect children and adolescents.