Ismael Perisé, researcher at IIS Aragón, receives predoctoral support from the AECC for his thesis on glioblastoma
5 July 2023Research Consolidation 2023
6 July 2023
La Cuenca Villoro Foundation has awarded its annual research aid to the project 'Validation of the Mitochondrial inhibition as a new therapeutic strategy in advanced preclinical models of medulloblastoma', led by Patricia Sancho Andrés, researcher Miguel Servet from the Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón).
Currently, tumors of the central nervous system represent the leading cause of death from childhood cancer due to solid tumors, Being the medulloblastoma the most frequent. This type of cancer is treated with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but around 30-40% of patients suffer relapses and, in the latter, the survival rate drops to 60%, so The search for new therapies specifically aimed at these cases is an essential need to reduce mortality..
“Our work team has an experience of more than 10 years in the study of the characteristics of tumor stem cells in pancreatic cancer, and more recently in medulloblastoma, focusing on cellular metabolism, a field until now completely unexplored in this type of cancer. In fact, the study of tumor metabolism is today an essential source of knowledge and design of new therapies in oncology. Thus, our preliminary results, also obtained within the framework of a current project with ASPANOA, allow us to propose mitochondrial inhibition as a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of patients with this cancerous brain tumor”, highlights Patricia Sancho from IIS Aragón.
This project starts with three specific objectives. The first, the setting up of a 3D culture system in microfluidics devices, in collaboration with Dr. José Manuel García Aznar. Secondly, the development of a system of organoid culture derived from medulloblastoma patients and, finally, the mitochondrial inhibitor assay, comparing with animal models of medulloblastoma. “We contemplate the use of patient-derived models and their cultivation under optimal conditions, as well as the validation in mice of drugs currently used in clinical use. This will allow us to carry out an in-depth preclinical study that, if successful, would be well placed to be translated into clinical trials”Adds Patricia.
A pioneering project that will, thanks to the Cuenca Villoro Foundation, and with a endowment of 50.000 euros distributed 60% in the first year and 40% in the second year. This scientific association has as its main objective promote scientific-medical research, to this end, it annually calls for aid for a Research Project with the aim of recognizing and helping to promote initiatives by Research Groups in the field of translational oncology, prioritizing pediatric oncology, and which, in this new edition, has fallen on this project led by researchers from the IIS Aragón. “Traditionally, these research grants from our Foundation were aimed at the area of nutrition, but since this last call we have changed the focus towards oncology and, especially, studies in the pediatric population. We always select projects that have scientific interest, but also with applicability and translation to the field of healthcare, seeking to help in this field so in need of new advances,” emphasizes Gerardo Rodríguez, president of the Cuenca Villoro Foundation.
Precisely, to formalize this collaboration, it has been delivery of these funds. An event that took place at the facilities of the Biomedical Research Center of Aragón and was attended by Gerardo Rodríguez, president of the Cuenca Villoro Foundation; Ángel Lanas, scientific director of the IIS Aragón; Óscar López, executive director of IIS Aragón and Patricia Sancho, researcher at IIS Aragón, winner of this award.
