EDITORIAL
Dear Friends, Every day at the CNIO, our scientists aim to make fundamental discoveries to understand the mechanisms underlying the development and progress of cancer. With this information, we are looking for ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat all the different types of cancer. The CNIO is comprised of 30 research groups organized into five scientific programmes that explore cancer through a combination of basic and patient-oriented research approaches (Molecular Oncology, Tumour Biology, Structural Biology, Cancer Genomics and Clinical Research Programmes), supported by a number of scientific-technological platforms (the core units of Biotechnology Programme, an Experimental Therapeutics Programme focused on drug discovery, and a Biobank). These scientific programmes cover a broad spectrum of fields in cancer research, and we are pleased to share with you in this newsletter a number of exciting discoveries made by our scientists these last three months across all these areas. From a new clinical trial for the most common form of skin cancer and a new understanding of risk factors for lung cancer, to a discovery of how to predict which patients will not respond to chemotherapy and a new way to prevent pancreatic cancer, these discoveries are informing and revolutionising the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. I hope you will feel inspired reading about these new discoveries in more detail – I certainly do. It was a pleasure to meet many of you at our CNIO Friends Day in June, and our ‘CNIO Friends’ funded researchers were delighted to have the opportunity to share their projects and passions with their supporters. We have welcomed some new donors on board this year, including the company Ortoalresa, whose collaboration is described in more detail below. As usual, the newsletter also includes a profile of one of our CNIO Friends Fellows for you to enjoy. Above all, many thanks as ever to all of you for your support of cancer research. You are all part of the solution in helping us in our mission to stop cancer. As you know, we are currently transitioning to a new directorate and will inform you about it as soon as the process is officially completed. An affectionate greeting, Fernando Peláez
Acting Scientific Director
THE CNIO DISCOVERS
New clinical trial targets the most common form of skin cancer with a compound based on CNIO discoveries
CNIO researcher Marisol Soengas (left) and Marisol Quintero, CEO of Highlight Therapeutics, at the entrance of the National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO). /Scienseed
A new clinical trial has just started to test to explore the treatment of basal cell carcinoma with the compound BO-112, based on research by Marisol Soengas‘s team. It is the first cancer drug candidate based on CNIO research to reach studies in patients, where it has shown activity against different cancer types. BO-112 has been developed by the Spanish company Highlight Therapeutics, the first CNIO spin off.
A test to predict which patients will not respond to cancer chemotherapy
Bárbara Hernando, Geoff Macintyre and Joe Sneath Thompson, at the Spanish National Centre for Cancer Research (CNIO). /CNIO
A team lead by Geoff Macintyre, head of the Computational Oncology Group, in collaboration with Cambridge University and the spin off Tailor Bio, has developed a method to predict which patients will not respond to commonly used cancer drugs. It detects biomarkers and, used in clinical practice, it would allow for more effective treatments and the avoidance of side effects. The study appears on Nature Genetics.
New genetic mechanisms involved in rare head and neck tumours
Mercedes Robledo, Sara Mellid y Alberto Cascón, en el Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO). /Laura M. Lombardía. CNIO
Paragangliomas and pheochromocytomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors, occurring in only 3 to 8 cases per million people. They can develop in the head, neck, torso, or adrenal glands, and may spread to other organs. The Hereditary Endocrine Cancer Group, led by Mercedes Robledo, has analysed in depth the genomics of 26 women with head and neck paragangliomas with no known mutations. Their findings, published in Genes and Disease, improve the classification of these tumours and suggest a new gene that might be causing the disease.
CNIO opens up an avenue to pancreatic cancer prevention
Authors of the study. From the left: Núria Malats, Evangelina López de Maturana, Sagrario Ortega, Cristina Bodas, Irene Felipe, Ana Cayuela, Jaime Martínez and Francisco X. Real. / Pilar Gil. CNIO
In a study published in the journal GUT, Francisco X. Real, head of the Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, describes the finding of the mechanism that leads a genetic variant to increase the risk for pancreatic cancer. “This enables us to identify a high-risk population, for whom prevention strategies could be developed”, Real says.
Test aimed to detect early-stage tumors with a blood sample
Gonçalo Bernardes. / Laura M. Lombardía. CNIO
A team led by Gonçalo Bernardes, head of the Translational Chemical Biology Group, has developed a test that can detect early-stage solid tumours with just a blood sample. In addition, the test also provides information relevant to the choice of treatment. The study has been published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.
A new immunotherapy for the most common form of cancer in children
Luis Álvarez Vallina (left) and Javier Arroyo, at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre. / Pilar Gil. CNIO
A research lead by Luis Álvarez-Vallina, head of the Cancer Immunotherapy Clinical Research Unit, has developed a new immunotherapy against B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, which has obtained positive results in animal models. It is called CAR-STAb and it recruits more defensive cells from the body to combat the tumour cells. The study is published in Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer.
Air pollution could contribute to lung cancer in non-smokers
Pilar Gallego and Marcos Díaz-Gay. / Esther Sánchez. CNIO
A quarter of lung cancer cases occur in people who have never smoked. A research, published in Nature, shows for the first time the relationship between lung cancer and DNA damage caused by exposure to air pollution. It is a colllaboration between the University of California in San Diego and the American National Cancer Institute. The first author is Marcos Díaz Gay, head of the new Digital Genomics Group.
‘Protein nanoparticles’ to accelerate the development of anti-cancer drugs
Laura Pérez-Chirinos, Roger Castells-Graells (centre) and Pablo San Segundo. Crédito: Laura M. Lombardía / CNIO
The CNIO establishes a Biomolecular Design and Structural Nanomedicine Group, led by Roger Castells-Graells. The goal is to create protein nanoparticles that are useful in earlier cancer detection and to accelerate the development of more effective drugs with fewer side effects. Castells-Graells has returned to Spain from the University of California in Los Angeles (USA).
CNIO FRIENDS NEWS
We celebrates your solidarity, essential to attract talent and advance cancer research
Attendees to the CNIO Friends Day 2025. / Antonio Tabernero. CNIO.
An important part of the knowledge generated by the CNIO, which aims to improve cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, is the result of generosity of people, companies and foundations that make donations to the centre through the ‘CNIO Friends’ programme. That is why gratitude was the general theme of the ‘CNIO Friends Day’ that we recently celebrated. Every year, this event brings together donors and researchers to share their excitement and knowledge
CNIO Friends' Day video coverage
CNIO's Scientific director del CNIO, Fernando Peláez, explains or work at CNIO.
The video of the whole event can be viewed on this link, including talks by CNIO’s directors and by some of the researchers funded by the CNIO Friends Contracts program, who presented their innovative projects against cancer.
A new centrifuge, courtesy of Ortoalresa
Oltoaresa's CEO Penélope Álvarez (left) and its national account executive Gloria Soriano.
Last June, we received the generous donation of a centrifuge with all its accessories from the Spanish company Ortoalresa, which has more than 75 years of experience in manufacturing this technology. We welcome them as a CNIO Partner Company. Centrifuges are laboratory devices that spin at high speeds and separate the components of a sample (e.g., blood or cells) according to their size and weight. In cancer research, they are used to isolate cells, proteins, or DNA fragments, allowing scientists to better study how cancer works and develop new diagnostic and treatment strategies. This equipment will be extremely useful for the center’s various research groups, facilitating essential experiments in molecular and cellular biology. Thanks to this new partnership, Ortoalresa is actively contributing to prevention, advances in early diagnosis, and innovative cancer treatments.
The establishment of partnerships between cancer research and the business world is essential for scientific innovation to have a real impact on the health and well-being of our society and future generations. We therefore thank Ortoalresa for its vision and commitment to supporting the CNIO’s research work.
MEET THE RESEARCHERS WITH “FRIENDS OF CNIO” CONTRACTS
Macarena Pozo: 'We are bette able to diagnose and treat very aggresive cancers, allowing people to live longer'
Macarena Pozo (Puente Genil, 1994) got her Biochemistry degree at Malaga University, where she also studied a masters degree in Molecular and Cell Biology, before moving to Belgium to complete her PhD atthe Free University of Brussels. In January 2024 she returned to Spain under a CNIO Friends Contract to join the Transformation and Metastasis Group, led by Eva González Suárez. What made you decide to become a scientist in the first place? Originally, I thought I wanted to work in medicine. But then, as I looked into what that involved, realised I was more interested in understanding how things work. I really wanted to go deeper into the process of how the body works, which is when I realised that I was more interested in being a scientist. I was accepted into a biochemistry degree and that started my scientific career. What attracted you to cancer research in particular? I really like to work on things that are complex, I like the process of working on things that are not currently very well understood. Cancer is such a complex disease and there is so much opportunity to explore different aspects of it. This is the same of other topics as well, such as neurodegeneration for example, but I am really enjoying working at the CNIO in the field of cancer research. What is your favourite thing about your job? Right now, I am working on metabolism, and I am really enjoying the process of examining how cells get their energy required to work and interact with other cells, so I love my research area. Also, at the CNIO the work environment is quite good with so many resources compared to other centres in Spain and I am very happy with all my lab mates. What do you think might be the next big discovery in cancer? Ooooh, that is a big question. Every type of cancer is a different disease, so it is not about finding a cure for cancer. But I think that at the moment we are findings ways to improve treatments for many types of cancers that are currently very aggressive. I think that what is exciting now in cancer research – we are better able to diagnose and treat these very aggressive cancers, allowing people to live longer. Things like immunotherapy and other treatments are making a big difference to cancer patients’ lives. What do you want to be doing in 10 years? For me, I would love to be become a Principal Investigator (PI) and lead my own research group. I love the field of cancer research, and I would like to become a PI in this area. It is difficult to get a PI position, but this is something I am working towards. What has the CNIO Friends Fellowship meant to you? Basically, it gave me the opportunity to come back to Spain. I had been doing my PhD in Brussels, and this Fellowship allowed me to return to Spain and really consolidate my research here. I will continue my post-doc position in my group once the CNIO Friends contracts finishes, so I am very grateful to CNIO Friends for bringing me here.
CNIO AND SOCIETY