The Clara Campal HM CIOCC Comprehensive Oncology Centre, whose main headquarters are located at the HM Sanchinarro University Hospital in Madrid, is the private leader in cancer treatment in Spain and an international benchmark, with almost two decades of experience. It has a multidisciplinary team and advanced technology for diagnosis, surgical and therapeutic approaches, especially in robotics and radiation oncology. Focused on research, it offers early access to cutting-edge drugs and treatments, with headquarters in Galicia and Barcelona, interconnected to guarantee high quality care. Its mission is to provide personalized and safe care, prioritizing the physical and emotional needs of patients and their families.
HM CIOCC was founded with four fundamental objectives: to prevent patients from having to leave Spain to receive quality treatment; build a team of patient-centered professionals; accelerate clinical research for early access to innovative treatments, and extend knowledge to colleagues, patients and the general population, explained in the ABC Salud & HM Hospitales meeting ‘The new comprehensive oncology: challenges and scenarios’‘ the doctor Antonio Cubillodirector of HM CIOCC, head of the Medical Oncology Service, director of the Digestive Tumors, Sarcomas and Head and Neck Tumors Unit.
The philosophy of HM CIOCC is the comprehensive management of the patient, covering all needs from the onset of the disease until after recovery, without forgetting their families and caregivers. In 2023, the center treated 3,651 new patients, a growth of 9.7% compared to 2022, performed almost 40,000 consultations and administered 18,000 oncological treatments, consolidating itself as the First private ‘Cancer Center’ in Spain. The most in-demand areas were breast cancer, digestive cancer and genitourinary tumours. In 2023, HM CIOCC carried out 225 clinical trials, benefiting more than 400 patients. These trials reflect the growing confidence in the centre due to its pioneering approach to personalised diagnosis and treatment. “Patients come to HM CIOCC because of the capacity of the professionals, the technical means and the clinical trials we have. We are currently a reference centre,” says Dr Cubillo.
Hyperearly diagnosis
One of the special characteristics of the HM CIOCC is its commitment to hyper-early diagnosis in healthy people. The doctor Paloma Hairstyle, director of the Oncological Hyper-Early Diagnosis and Prevention Unit, explained that this commitment, started two years ago, aims to anticipate the onset of the disease. «Advances in technology with tests that detect some components of the tumor in the blood or other body fluids have meant that today we have tests that are capable of detecting cancer in its earliest stages and in a non-invasive way. and it It allows us to diagnose tumors in asymptomatic people from 45 years of age.“, he claimed.
These tests can diagnose breast, bladder, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers, and there is even a test available to diagnose multiple tumors; “with one analysis we can detect practically any tumor that is developing.”
The unit, he added, “not only carries out hyper-early diagnosis to care for these asymptomatic people, but also carries out personalized monitoring and care so that, if a tumor develops at some point, it can be detected in its earliest stages where there is a greater chance of curing it and, above all, curing it more easily and with less suffering.”
The Oncology Prevention and Early Diagnosis Unit It is, Dr. Peinado pointed out, “the first unit of this type in Europe in that it integrates both medical knowledge and the interpretation of the tests into one unit.”
In addition, like the rest of the HM CIOCC units, they participate in clinical trials. “Following the philosophy of the centre, our unit is based on three pillars: patient care, teaching and research.”
Clinical trials
Oncology has experienced a revolution in the treatment of tumors, and clinical trials are key to this progress. Dr. Maria Jose de Migueldeputy director of the START Phase I Clinical Trials Unit, stressed that patients can access new drugs early through early-phase clinical trials. “Most of the patients come from HM CIOCC itself, but the fact that we have many open trials makes us one of the largest units nationwide for early-phase clinical trials,” she said.
The Dr. Eva Ciruelos, director of the Breast Cancer Unit, added that many patients seek specific clinical trials, which reflects a society that is better informed and active in the search for treatments. Dr. J. is of a similar opinion.Jesus Garcia-Donas, director of the Genitourinary, Gynecological and Melanoma Tumors Unit. “When I was a resident, the clinical trial was scary, it was experimental.” However, now “patients know what a phase 1, 2 or 3 trial is. Patients demand immunotherapy.” “Regardless of the type of pathology, people are an active part of their illness,” adds Dr. Ciruelos.
On occasion, he commented on the Dr. Gema Garcia Ledodirector of the Thoracic Tumors Unit, it turns out that they even know the name of the researcher because the information is now more available. In this regard, Dr. Cubillo referred to an aspect to take into account. “Most patients know that they can benefit from a trial, but many still think that only when there are no other alternatives and very few know that, perhaps, entering a trial is the best thing they can do from the moment of diagnosis.”
Informed patient
The paradigm of the informed patient is breast cancer. Dr. Ciruelos points out that breast units have paved the way for the rest, providing clear and detailed information from the beginning. However, she regrets that early diagnosis does not have the desirable coverage in the public health system. In the case of prostate cancer, Dr. García-Donas suggests learning from the management of breast cancer, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy has changed the course of melanoma and lung cancer, according to doctors García-Donas and García Ledo. In lung cancer, immunotherapy has revolutionized the prognosis and evolution of patients, now being used in earlier stages, which increases the chances of cure.
Dr. García Ledo acknowledged that in lung cancer “we have had very good news for a few years. And now the most recent thing is that we have made the leap to using immunotherapy in the most initial stages, before surgery, where you have a greater chance of cure.
Aside from all this, he asserted, “there is still a long way to go in lung cancer. We still have to reach survival figures like in other tumors; “They make me very envious of my breast or prostate colleagues.”
However, in some tumors, such as brain tumors, immunotherapy has not yet worked. «The first immunotherapy treatments have not worked precisely because the brain is a very sensitive organ and avoids inflammation. But now the new generations are coming, where a lot of research is being done,” said the doctor. Juan Sepulveda, director of the HM CIOCC NeuroOncology Unit. But of course, he pointed out, “they are rare tumors,” so “it is more difficult to raise awareness among the population and also among pharmaceutical companies and organizations to invest in early diagnosis.”
Because as Dr. Cubillo stated, “It is about curing or trying to cure the patient in the simplest way possible so that both he and his family suffer as little as possible.. The entire HM CIOCC line moves around these two fundamental axes.
For example, in digestive tumors such as rectal cancer “we try, if possible, to cure the patient completely without undergoing surgery,” and in pancreatic tumors, where cure is very difficult, “we always do adjuvant treatment.” to try to select the patients who are really going to benefit from local treatment, the best radiotherapy and the best surgery.
Radiotherapy, the doctor said Carmen Rubio, head of the Radiation Oncology Service at HM Hospitals, “it has been used since the end of the 19th century and thanks to the fact that radiobiological concepts have evolved, technology has allowed us to administer the dose that each tumor needs, which makes us much more effective.” and safe.” In fact, the Unit has been recognized with the Merco Salud Award. Likewise, he added, “we cover all areas, not just healthcare, which is key. “We do clinical studies and we are a reference center in training.”
There is another aspect, adds Dr. Cubillo, which is very important in the HM CIOCC, which is the Molecular Medicine Unitwhich provides “cross-functional support to all units and allows for personalized treatment.” Thanks to this unit, the question that worries patients and doctors alike is answered: am I cured?
Comprehensive oncology
Comprehensive oncology is the foundation of HM CIOCC, noted Dr. Rubio. This approach involves not only treating the disease, but also accompanying the patient and their family throughout the entire process, combining innovation and teamwork. In addition, attention is paid to aspects such as nutrition, physical exercise and fertility, which are essential for complete and personalized care. In conclusion, Dr. Cubillo highlighted that oncology at HM CIOCC ranges from hyper-early diagnosis to the care of survivors, always focusing on the well-being of the patient and her family. Personalization of treatment and comprehensive care are fundamental pillars in the center’s approach.