Vall d'Hebron Talks by VHIR 'Research on Innovative Therapeutic and Precision Medicine Strategies in aggressive Women's Cancer'

Speaker: Prof. Pilar Eroles Asensio. Professor in the field of Physiology. University of Valencia.

Abstract: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and ovarian cancer are among the most aggressive cancers affecting women, mainly due to their high metastatic potential, frequent therapeutic resistance, and poor clinical outcomes. The research presented focuses on developing innovative strategies to improve treatment efficacy and advance precision oncology in these challenging diseases.
A major area of interest has been the development of targeted nanomedicine approaches to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of doxorubicin while minimizing systemic toxicity. These nanoparticle-based platforms not only increase drug delivery to tumors but also contribute to remodeling the tumor microenvironment, improving antitumor responses. In parallel, the identification of key microRNAs involved in chemotherapy resistance, including the miR-449 family and miR-99a-5p, has provided new insights into the molecular mechanisms driving treatment failure and revealed promising therapeutic targets for restoring drug sensitivity. Additionally, efforts have focused on the discovery of predictive biomarkers to support treatment decisions. In TNBC, epigenetic signatures showed potential for predicting response to chemotherapy. In advanced ovarian cancer, where treatment selection between primary surgery and neoadjuvant chemotherapy remains a clinical challenge, the identification of histopathological and molecular biomarkers may facilitate patient stratification and improve outcomes.

Host: Dr. Stefan Hummer. Main researcher Translational Molecular Pathology (VHIR)