The research activity of the Thoracic Tumors Unit at Hospital Clínic of Barcelona is focused on various initiatives in clinical research (clinical trials) as well as in basic and translational research.

Clinical Research (Clinical Trials)

The Thoracic Tumours Institute carries out extensive clinical research with two main objectives: to contribute to improving the early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, and to offer patients the best therapeutic alternatives, including surgical, targeted, immunotherapy, or radiotherapy. Within this framework, the scientific interest of clinical trials is always guaranteed, as is compliance with the requirements established by current legislation and the clinical best practice standards.

Main lines of clinical research:

• Clinical trials with new, targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy in the treatment of lung cancer.
• Application of molecular genetics for the rapid incorporation of new biomarkers and targeted treatments in healthcare.
• Increase early detection and diagnosis, and offer innovative treatments that improve health outcomes, within the framework of the national pilot project, CASSANDRA for low-dose CT screening for lung cancer, in collaboration with AISBE (Àrea Integral de Salut de Barcelona Esquerra) and with the participation and national leadership of the Lung Ambition Alliance project.
• Screening programme for patients at risk after liver transplantation  (in collaboration with the Hepatology Service, Dr Colmenero) and heart patients (in collaboration  with the Cardiology Service, Dr Farrero).
• Pilot programme to assess the impact of multimodal prehabilitation in surgical patients treated with neoadjuvant therapy.
• Participation in consensus forums and decision-making on treatment strategies, through collaboration in national and international cooperative groups.

Basic and Translational Research

La recerca bàsica de la Unitat es desenvolupa principalment en 4 Grups de Recerca  d'IDIBAPS:

And within two research groups at the University of Barcelona:

• Unit of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Department of Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona (UB)

• Biophysics Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona (UB)

Main lines of basic and translational research:

• Precision medicine and the development of genomic platforms for the identification of molecular biomarkers.

• Application of molecular liquid biopsy in clinical practice.

• Molecular and immunological characterization of lung cancer related to radon exposure and other carcinogens.

• Study of the impact of genome-environment interaction on the progression of patients with lung cancer.

• Optimization of diagnostic tools for the study of molecular biomarkers in tissue.

• Study evaluating a new diagnostic method for lung cancer using advanced technology (atomic force microscopy) to measure physical properties at the nanoscale in biopsies.

• Influence of minimally invasive surgery and inflammatory status on the postoperative evolution of patients with lung cancer.

• Evaluation of the role of stroma and fibroblasts in lung cancer.

• Evaluation of exosomes and embryonic stem cells in lung cancer.

The Thoracic Tumours Unit has numerous ongoing research projects funded through competitive grant calls and continues to make significant efforts to secure additional funding to maintain its excellence in research.