Although survival has doubled in the last 40 years, prostate cancer remains the most common tumor in men – more than 30,000 new cases annually in Spain, according to the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology-, and the third type that causes the most deaths in patients of this sex -more than 6,000-. The reason is that generally se detected in early stages, before it spreads and causes metastasisIn 5%-10%, these tumors are detected when there is already some metastasis or they do not respond to the usual treatments.
Treating these people appropriately is a challenge. Metastatic prostate tumors are very different between patients, and that can cause them to respond very differently to treatments. That’s why It is essential to have new tools to better classify each patient’s tumorand thus define the best strategy for its treatment, something that can only be achieved through research.
Treating cancer better is not just about creating new therapies, but improve strategies that are used to treat patients or choose their treatments in a personalized way.
Research at the forefront
The CRIS Foundation against cancer carries more than a decade promoting research from two of the world’s greatest leaders in prostate cancer research, the Dr. David Olmos and Dr. Elena Castro, oncologists and researchers from the CRIS Foundation against cancer and the 12 de Octubre University Hospital. They have recently made a great contribution to the personalization of therapies for higher-risk prostate cancer patients.
In a work published in one of the most important scientific journals in the area of cancer, Annals of Oncology, Dr. Olmos and Dr. Castro demonstrate that patients who have certain mutations in their DNA -in the mechanisms of cells to fix DNA when it is damaged- They have a worse prognosis, relapse earlier and respond worse to therapies than patients without these mutations. Furthermore, certain specific mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have a particularly poor prognosis.
For this reason, the authors highlight the vital importance of doing genetic studies for patients with resistant or metastatic prostate cancer. If carried out on a regular basis, these studies would allow us to identify patients at higher risk, better personalize therapies and even identify patients who could enter clinical trials in which new therapies are studied.
Is about a new great contribution from these oncologists to the treatment of prostate cancer, which have been world leaders for years in defining strategies to treat prostate cancer, especially that with the worst prognosis. In fact 5 of his works are considered so relevant that they are cited in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, the most used clinical practice guidelines in the world. One more step to personalize the treatment of patients with more complicated prostate tumors.
The director of the CRIS Foundation against cancer, Marta Cardonahas highlighted “the importance of advances in research for prostate cancer.” And it has highlighted “public-private collaboration in the provision of resources for research and the fundamental role of civil society that is involved and committed to the cure against this disease by raising funds for science.”
And he added that «Steps like this help us advance in the personalization of treatments for patients with more complicated tumorsand they show that the only way to better treat cancer is through research.
The tumor silenced by men
Prostate cancer is the fifth most diagnosed tumor in the world, with more than 1.4 million cases annually and 375,000 deaths. In Spain, this year, almost 31,000 cases will be diagnosed – it is the most frequent in men – and more than 6,000 deaths will be recorded. Therefore, prostate cancer is a health problem of maximum magnitude.
Despite being able to be treated effectively in most cases, prostate cancer entails several challenges that require a coordinated effort from researchers to address. Although in most cases it can be treated, Some cases are very aggressive from the beginning, and others do not respond to the usual treatments.
Fortunately, In recent years, there have been very significant advances which have led to the approval of new drugs in advanced disease that prolong the life of these patients and improve their quality of life.
Little by little, metastatic prostate cancer is becoming chronic, but There are still patients who do not respond to therapies and we still do not have markers or predictive factors to know which patients will benefit and which will not. For these patients, the only option is for research to find new and better treatments.
The strategies of Immunotherapy, with excellent results in other tumors, has not yet shown great efficacy in prostate cancer, although studies do observe patients who do respond to these therapies. It is essential, therefore, to develop methods to identify the characteristics of patients who respond. Research is the key to achieving cure solutions against cancer.
Early detection and investigation
Diagnosed cancers are increasing for different reasons: population growth, increased life expectancy and bad habits (alcohol, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, pollution, obesity). If early detection programs are applied and investment in research is increased, perhaps this upward curve can be controlled.
For this, at the CRIS Foundation against cancer we draw the attention of men with the aim of breaking the silence about prostate cancer, make the disease visible and normalize by breaking the taboo on diagnostic tests: rectal examination, PSA blood test and biopsy depending on results.
In the case of prostate cancer, the following factors are fundamental: age, ethnic race and family genetics. And it should be noted that cancer does not always show its face by showing symptoms, hence the importance of routine check-ups.
Only through research can effective cancer treatments be achieved. The CRIS Foundation against cancer funds, supports and promotes the best researchers both nationally and internationally.
CRIS research projects
The CRIS Foundation against cancer is very clear about these challenges, and that is why since its inception it has been committed to supporting various projects that address prostate cancer from different approaches to combat it globally.
This strategy includes two main branches:
● 6 prostate cancer projects that address the key issues of prostate cancer in its different stages, from the appearance of tumor cells to metastasis, including resistance to treatments.
● CRIS Prostate Cancer Project at the 12 de Octubre University Hospital in Madrid.
● CRIS Project on the Evolution of Prostate Cancer at the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology in Barcelona.
● CRIS Project on Metastasis in Prostate Cancer at the CIC Biogune in Bilbao.
● CRIS Project for Immunotherapy in Prostate Cancer at the Hospital de la Princesa in Madrid.
● CRIS Project on Resistance in Prostate Cancer at the CIC Biogune in Bilbao.
● CRIS Project on Microenvironment in Prostate Cancer at the University of the Basque Country.
● International collaboration with the Prostate Cancer Foundation to identify the best prostate cancer researchers in Europe and promote their transformative projects, strengthen the international CRIS strategy and create a CRIS network of outstanding researchers.
The CRIS Foundation against cancer has a according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, the largest prostate cancer research institution in the world, to reward leading prostate researchers in European countries. CRIS co-finances these awards, contributing 50% of the $75,000 annually. The objective is to promote prostate cancer research in Europe, strengthen the international CRIS strategy and create a CRIS network of prestigious researchers. All with the endorsement of a world-renowned institution, such as the PCF.