Research - Institute of Cancer and Blood Diseases

Most of the research activity of the Institute of Cancer and Blood Diseases is carried out through the August Pi i Sunyer Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBAPS), specifically in the following area:

The ICAMS leads various clinical and translational research activities.

Clinical research

The ICAMS has a Phase I, II, III Clinical Trials Unit. This team consists of oncology professionals, data managers, specialized nursing staff and administration staff.

During the treatment period within a clinical trial, the patient has regular telephone contact with the trial coordinator, who is in charge of organizing and scheduling the tests or procedures required for a successful completion of the clinical trial.

Clinical trials have different phases or levels for the evaluation of a drug.

• Phase I. The maximum tolerated dose of the drug is determined and the indications of activity are observed.
• Phase II. The efficacy and side effects of the drug in various types of cancer are evaluated.
• Phase III. The new treatment is compared with the standard treatment and its side effects are assessed.

The Clinical Trials Unit is shared with the Hematology Service. In the first half of 2018, 65% of the activity (3,892 sessions out of 5,976 of the total for the first half of 2018) of the Clinical Trials Unit of the ICMHO was carried out by Oncology.

Translational research

The ICMHO has oncology professionals fully integrated into the Translational Genomics and Solid Tumor Therapies Research Laboratory of IDIBAPS. Using genomic and molecular data, the laboratory team guides the design of clinical trials and the development of biomarkers. Based on preclinical models of cancer, molecular mechanisms of drug sensitivity and resistance are studied with the aim of identifying the most appropriate treatments for patients with solid tumors.

The lines of research of the teams dedicated to oncology focus on:

• The molecular mechanisms involved in cell proliferation and programmed death.Desarrollar modelos neoplásicos y mejorar el diagnóstico de pacientes con cáncer con nuevos marcadores tumorales

• Developing neoplastic models and improving the diagnosis of cancer patients with new tumor markers.

On the other hand, the teams dedicated to Hematooncology study the various erythropathologies (diseases caused by a mutation, genetic or acquired, which affects the structure of red blood cells) and disorders of hemostasis and blood clotting.

The ICMHO is actively involved in various national and international networks and institutions, and has dozens of articles published each year in prestigious journals.

Several professionals from the Institute participate in the development of international clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of various haematological and oncological diseases.