The Spanish Society of Medical Oncology grants a research project in Lleida to investigate biomarkers in bile duct cancer

The Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) has awarded a grant to the project "Biomarkers in liquid biopsy of advanced cholangiocarcinoma for precision immuno-oncology" by the Medical Oncology service physician of the Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital (HUAV) and researcher of the research group Biomarkers in Cancer Research Group (GReBiC) of the Institute of Biomedical Research of Lleida (IRBLleida) Robert Montal. The project, which will be carried out in Lleida, has a team of multidisciplinary professionals made up of the head of the HUAV Medical Oncology service, Antonia Salud; the doctor from the HUAV Pathological Anatomy service, Felip Vilardell; the head of the HUAV General Surgery and Digestive System service, Alfredo Escartín; the doctor from the HUAV General Surgery and Digestive System service, Alfredo Escartín; and the head of the HUAV General Surgery and Digestive System service, Alfredo Escartín; the physician of the HUAV Digestive System Service, Carles Aracil; the clinical and unit head of the HUAV Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine Unit, Marina Pardina; the resident doctor of the HUAV Medical Oncology Service, Ona Pallisé, and the research staff of the group (GReBiC), M. Alba Sorolla, Eva Parisi, Anabel Sorolla, Arnau Oronich.

The project aims to characterise the molecular profile of bile duct cancer from patient samples to identify biomarkers predictive of response to immunotherapies. The ultimate goal is to advance in precision oncology for this disease, increasing the therapeutic options available and the resulting improvement in survival and quality of life of patients.

SEOM yesterday awarded 46 grants totalling 1,227,000 euros to medical oncology professionals, members of SEOM, which will enable them to carry out research and training to improve the survival and quality of life of cancer patients. This is the highest number of grants awarded to date by SEOM. The award ceremony took place yesterday at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando during the SEOM2022 Congress, which is being held in Madrid between 18 and 21 October.

The Lleida project has been awarded in the category Research Projects for Emerging Groups. This grant is funded thanks to the contributions made by AstraZeneca, BMS, Daiichi-Sankyo, GSK, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Pfizer, Roche, Takeda to the "SEOM 2021 Dialogues" session.

The Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) is a national, non-profit scientific society, made up of more than 3,100 professionals in the field of oncology, with the aim of improving the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of cancer with a multidisciplinary approach. To this end, it promotes studies, training and research activities, dissemination and information aimed at its members, patients and society in general.