To better understand the process of metastasis in cancer, research from the University of Zaragoza and the IIS Aragón

The TME Lab group, from the University of Zaragoza and the IIS Argón, is trying to simulate in the laboratory the metastasis process, responsible for the majority of deaths related to breast cancer.

Ehe TME Lab group, from the University of Zaragoza and the IIS Aragón, is currently working on breast cancer together with Dr. Antonio Antón Torres, Head of the Medical Oncology Service at the Miguel Servet University Hospital in Zaragoza. They are currently developing a model that simulates the process of metastasis in cancer, focusing on breast cancer, since this process is responsible for the majority of deaths related to breast cancer.

In metastasis, tumor cells leave their main location and go to other tissues. In this invasion process, it is not known whether the cells that migrate are as sensitive to the treatments currently given in the clinic as the cells that remain in the tumor mass. To study this, the TME Lab has developed an Organ on chip model (preclinical model that does not use animals) in collaboration with an Aragonese company (BEONCHIP) that simulates the invasion process that occurs in patients to see whether all cells respond the same or not.

Furthermore, recently, and in eclose collaboration with the Biobank of the Aragon Health System (BSSA), have managed to replicate these models with patient cells, getting a little closer towards the goal of being able to move towards more personalized medicine. In this way, in the future, We could have a tool that helps to know which drugs are effective for each patient and thus combat the spread of cancer to other tissues.

TME LAB

The tissue microenvironment laboratory or Tissue MicroEnvironment (TME) Lab is one of the 15 groups of the Technologies and Innovation Applied to Health program of the Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón).

This tremendously multidisciplinary group includes biologists, engineers, physicists, mathematicians and clinicians among its ranks. The main objective of the group is to better understand how the conditions of the tissue environment are capable of modulating the cellular response in pathophysiological conditions. To do this, they use microfluidic technology (Organ on Chip) in order to simulate the environment of diseases in the laboratory and be able to reduce animal experimentation. In addition, they use computer simulation tools, artificial intelligence and medical image analysis systems to try to offer personalized solutions to patients. His research lines focus on the application of these technologies to solve clinical problems related to cancer and cardiovascular diseases.