Scientific research is making progress in the fight against cancer.

World Cancer Day is the ideal occasion to review some of the achievements that are allowing us to glimpse new hope in the fight against a disease that, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INE), is now the leading cause of death in Spain.

Science is achieving something that once seemed impossible: the term "cancer" is gradually transforming its original meaning to offer increasing hope. Thanks to the tireless work of researchers, millions of people are now able to increase their survival rates and quality of life after receiving a diagnosis. 

As reported by the Spanish Network of Cancer Registries (REDECAN), the five-year net survival rate for patients diagnosed with cancer in Spain between 2013 and 2017 was 57,4% for men and 65,2% for women. These figures represent an improvement compared to the previous period, 2008-2012. Specifically, the five-year survival rate for men with cancer increased from 56,1% to 57,4%, a rise of 1,3 percentage points. For women, the survival rate increased from 62,6% to 65,2%, a rise of 2,6 percentage points. 

However, this does not mean that this group of diseases shows any signs of decreasing in their impact on the population as a whole, at least for the time being. In fact, as announced by the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM), the forecast for 2026 is that 301.884 cases of cancer will be registered in Spain, which is 2% more than the previous year. 

World Cancer Day is, of course, a magnificent opportunity to reflect on the need to firmly commit to scientific research, as well as to develop and expand global policies for prevention and public awareness. Dr. Javier de Castro, oncologist and president of SEOM (Spanish Society of Medical Oncology), explains on the association's website: “The advances achieved mean that the limited prognosis faced by most cancer patients five decades ago has been reversed, and they now have longer survival rates and a higher quality of life. The current goal is not only to live longer, but better, with less toxicity, greater attention to long-term effects, and more support for survivors. Prevention, early diagnosis, and research remain key to reducing cancer mortality.”

That's right. Fortunately, there are increasingly more reasons for hope. The Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) highlights that in 2025, more than 350 research breakthroughs were achieved, driving advances in cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment. This will help them reach the goal, set for 2030, of exceeding a 70% survival rate. Below, we summarize some of the key achievements we've learned about in the last twelve months.

Stopping pancreatic cancer

As is well known, pancreatic cancer has one of the lowest survival rates. Unfortunately, it is often diagnosed at very advanced stages, and there are no truly effective therapies to combat it. Therefore, even though it is not among the most common cancers, research in this area is especially important.

Dr. Patricia Sancho's team at the Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón) has discovered, through research in animal models, that inhibiting the PPAR-delta protein with drugs can reduce the progression and metastasis of pancreatic cancer. This protein acts as a sensor for cells, enabling cancer cells to adapt and survive in the nutrient-scarce environment of the tumor. Therefore, inhibiting PPAR-delta appears to be a promising strategy that could lead to the development of new drugs. 

Furthermore, last January we learned excellent news related to this same field of research. The renowned biochemist Mariano Barbacid, head of the Experimental Oncology Group at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), has designed a three-drug combination therapy that completely and permanently eliminates pancreatic tumors in mice, without significant side effects. This opens the possibility of designing new combination therapies to combat a tumor that becomes particularly resistant.

Effectiveness of the fecal blood test

Colorectal cancer is currently the most frequently diagnosed cancer in Spain. Early detection is crucial for a better prognosis. Therefore, population-based screening is conducted in our country using a simple test, the fecal occult blood test (FOBT). 

Although it has been known since 2012 that this procedure is as useful as colonoscopy for cancer detection, a new study published last year in the prestigious journal The Lancet, led by Drs. Antoni Castells (Clínic-IDIBAPS) and Enrique Quintero (University Hospital of the Canary Islands), has demonstrated that both techniques are equally effective in combating cancer-related mortality. This confirms the advantages of a non-invasive, painless, and less expensive method for identifying cancer in its early stages.

Objective: to prevent metastasis

A research group led by Dr. Toni Celià-Terrassa at the Hospital del Mar Research Institute, a leading center in the field of metastatic breast cancer, has focused on understanding the mechanisms by which the most aggressive cancer cells initiate metastasis, identifying the role played by the TIM-3 protein. This protein is precisely what allows tumor cells to suppress the immune system when they reach distant organs. 

The moment of its appearance in the new organ is a critical and difficult-to-identify point because there are no clinical manifestations or techniques that allow for its investigation. As Dr. Celià-Terrassa himself explained, it is “a vulnerable phase of the disease, since few cells remain.” His goal is to understand what happens at this stage in order to have the opportunity “to prevent clinical metastasis, which is the most dangerous phase” of cancer. 

Thanks to this study, the team at the Hospital del Mar Research Institute has confirmed that tumor cells that survive migration from the breast to the new organ use TIM-3 to evade the immune response. As Dr. Joan Albanell, head of the Oncology Department at Hospital del Mar and a researcher, explains, this allows researchers to identify a specific target to target at the time of micrometastasis by blocking TIM-3.

A new drug approved

Staying within the realm of breast cancer, we must mention that, on October 25, 2025, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Imlunestrant (whose trade name will be Inluriyo), a drug created for the treatment of people diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and ESR1 mutation (which is the Estrogen Receptor 1). 

If Imlunestrant reaches this receptor, it prevents estrogen from binding to the cancer cell. This prevents the cell from receiving estrogen signals to grow and multiply. This is important because up to 40% of advanced or metastatic breast cancers that are estrogen receptor-positive and HER2-negative develop an ESR1 mutation while receiving hormone therapy, making the cancer resistant. 

Technology to anticipate

The Spanish Association Against Cancer also highlights the development of two software tools that allow for early detection of the disease. The first is EPI-Clone, developed by Dr. Lars Velten's team at the Centre for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona. This technology allows for the study of precancerous phases of leukemia and the identification of very early signs of its development. It does this by analyzing cellular patterns that function similarly to a "barcode." In this way, it can distinguish cells that are aging normally from those that are beginning to deviate toward malignant processes. 

The ability to identify this early stage can be vital. Often, before a tumor becomes aggressive, it goes through a preliminary phase in which it doesn't form a palpable tumor mass. Some time ago, two scientific teams identified an early stage in the development of leukemia called clonal hematopoiesis (CH), which is difficult to diagnose but quite common (since one in ten people over sixty are usually affected). CH can not only cause leukemia but is also a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease. Therefore, advancing the development of diagnostic tests and drugs to combat CH could, in time, be truly transformative. 

EVOFLUx, the second tool created under the direction of Dr. Iñaki Martín-Subero and with Dr. Martí Durán-Ferrer as first author, both from Clínic-IDIBAPS, aims to "read" signals in the DNA of cells. By analyzing a type of epigenetic marking called methylation, it can reveal information about the tumor, such as its origin or how it transforms over time. The goal is to help anticipate tumor evolution in each patient, in order to more precisely guide therapeutic treatment.

These are just a few examples of the relentless research that is enabling progress in multiple directions in the identification and treatment of various cancers. This, of course, must be accompanied by timely prevention efforts, starting with the public itself.

As professionals and associations point out, we know that between 30% and 50% of cancer cases could be prevented by reducing risk factors. Therefore, it is worthwhile to develop healthy habits such as increasing physical activity, quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, trying to reduce overweight and obesity, using sunscreen, avoiding alcohol, and participating in screening programs to detect cancer early.

Source: La Vanguardia