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One of these milestones belongs to the research led by our researcher Patricia Sancho, which opens a new way to stop the progression and metastasis of pancreatic cancer by inhibiting the PPAR-delta protein
Throughout 2025, the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) supported 354 new research findings that drive advances in prevention, early detection, and treatment, helping to move closer to the goal of exceeding 70% survival by 2030. Four of the most important advances in 2025 were the following:
The fecal occult blood test in colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in Spain. Detecting it in its early stages makes all the difference in the prognosis. To facilitate this early detection, a screening program is carried out in Spain. population screening through a simple test: the fecal occult blood test (FOBT).
In 2012, it was already demonstrated that the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) is as effective as colonoscopy in detecting colorectal cancer, leading to its implementation in the healthcare system. In 2025, a new finding confirmed that both techniques are also equally effective in reducing colorectal cancer mortalityThis advance stems from the work led by Drs. Antoni Castells (Clínic-IDIBAPS) and Enrique Quintero (Hospital Universitario de Canarias), which the Association has been supporting since 2007.
Published in The Lancet, a leading international scientific journal, this study represents the Scientific validation of a method that not only detects cancer in its earliest stages and reduces mortality, but also gets more people to participate in screening programs because of the simplicity of the test: a non-invasive, painless, lower cost and equally effective method.
A preclinical study manages to stop metastasis
Another milestone for 2025, which we already covered on the blog, is the progress made by Dr. Toni Celià-Terrassa's team (Hospital del Mar Research Institute) in metastatic breast cancerThis is a leading group in the field of metastatic cancer, which the Association has also supported since its inception.
The team has identified in laboratory models that the TIM-3 protein is a key component in the origin of metastasis. Inhibiting this protein...It reduces the occurrence of metastasis in these models, which opens the door to the development of new therapies.In addition, TIM-3 could be used as an indicator to identify which patients are at higher risk of relapse.
This discovery is especially relevant because it identifies a specific target for intervention before metastasis spreads. In other words, it would be a preventative treatment against metastasis.
Furthermore, this is not the only advance achieved by this team, as they have recently discovered in preclinical models how to enhance immunotherapy for the treatment of the most common breast cancer.
What new technologies help predict
Thanks to the potential of new technologies and data analysis, two computer tools have been developed in 2025 to help get ahead of cancer:
- EPI-Clone: a platform for studying precancerous phases in leukemia
Early cancer diagnosis leads to greater survival rates, but what if it were possible to get ahead of the disease? The EPI-Clone tool, developed by Dr. Lars Velten's team at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), allows researchers to study precancerous phases of leukemia and identify very early signs of tumor development. The tool analyzes cellular patterns that function as a "barcode" and help distinguish cells with normal aging of others that begin to deviate towards malignant processes.
- EVOFLUx: a model to predict cancer evolution
Another tool created to "read" signals in cellular DNA is EVOFLUx, developed under the direction of Dr. Iñaki Martín-Subero and whose first author is Dr. Martí Duran-Ferrer, both from Clínic-IDIBAPS. This tool analyzes a type of epigenetic marking called methylation To gather information about the tumor, such as its origin or how it changes over time. This could help anticipate the tumor's evolution in each patient and guide treatment decisions earlier.
Both tools open the door to a new generation of personalized medicine based on prediction, prevention, and more informed decisions.
A way to slow the progression of pancreatic cancer and metastasis
El pancreatic cancer It has one of the lowest survival rates. Therefore, research into this tumor remains particularly complex. For this reason, the Association supports research teams to improve the survival and quality of life of people with pancreatic cancer.
One of the advances in pancreatic cancer comes from the project of Dr. Patricia Sancho, at the Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón). In animal models, the team has observed that Inhibiting the PPAR-delta protein with drugs may reduce the progression of pancreatic cancer and metastasisPPAR-delta acts as a 'sensor' that helps tumor cells adapt to adverse conditions.
This discovery opens a possible avenue for to address pancreatic cancer with more precise approaches in the future"These results remind us that research progresses thanks to years of work and continuity. Every result we celebrate today has been possible because behind it lie years of work, stability, and continued funding," the AECC points out.
Source: Health Gazette
