The Príncipe Felipe Research Center promotes a cutting-edge cancer research program with a focus on new therapies for patients

• A team of 8 research groups, 3 joint units, and 4 transversal units that address different types of cancer.
• The center’s work is carried out in close collaboration with Valencian hospitals.

València (24.09.24). The Cancer Program at the Príncipe Felipe Research Center (CIPF) is spearheading a cutting-edge cancer research project focused on developing new therapies for patients. The Valencian research center has implemented a new scientific strategy that brings together multidisciplinary teams with expertise in both basic and translational research. The goal is to foster knowledge transfer to the clinical field, ultimately benefiting cancer patients.

As part of the CIPF’s new strategic plan, the Cancer Program’s primary aim is to promote and develop cancer research that integrates multiple disciplines. These efforts are centered on the search for “new therapeutic targets and the development of innovative drugs; advanced therapies; and biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and response prediction,” explained María Jesús Vicent, Head of the CIPF’s Therapeutic Polymers Laboratory and coordinator of the Cancer Program.

“With a firm commitment to achieving international excellence and fostering interdisciplinarity in research and innovation, the CIPF Cancer Program also seeks to strengthen relationships with industry and the clinical sector. In this regard, three joint research units currently operate within the Valencian Community“, Vicent added.

The CIPF team is conducting research with the ultimate goal of increasing disease-free survival rates in patients, overcoming the side effects associated with cancer therapies, and developing minimally invasive diagnostic approaches through the use of biomarkers.

“In this sense, the CIPF Cancer Program is aligned with the European Union’s Cancer Mission, focusing on improving the understanding and modulation of interactions between the tumor, stroma, and immune system. The aim is to prevent recurrence and treatment resistance, enhance clinical interventions, and promote the regression of advanced tumors,” concluded María Jesús Vicent.

The program consists of eight research groups, three joint research units, and four transversal units addressing different types of cancer. In addition to María Jesús Vicent, other leading researchers in the field include Mar Orzáez, Mª Angels Juanes, Anna Labernadie, Federico Lucantoni, and Juan Rodríguez Vita, among others.

Advances in Personalized Therapies

The CIPF’s Therapeutic Polymers Laboratory is researching new nanomedicines based on polymer conjugates for the treatment of glioblastoma, melanoma, breast, prostate, and ovarian cancer, among others, including their metastatic forms.

This group has developed more realistic preclinical models that closely mimic patient conditions to evaluate these nanomedicines and their potential for biomarker research. Recently, they published findings on the use of patient-derived organoids for assessing a combination drug therapy for breast cancer.

These three-dimensional models faithfully replicate the characteristics of the original tumor, enabling personalized evaluation of drug efficacy and accelerating the selection process for the most effective therapies.

Recent Findings in Pancreatic, Colon, and Ovarian Cancer

The laboratory led by Juan Rodríguez Vita at CIPF focuses on peritoneal carcinomatosis and its potential for combating various abdominal cancers, including pancreatic, colon, and ovarian cancer.

Recently, this group described a mechanism by which tumors can influence a patient’s fat tissue. Through processes related to vitamin A, tumors can accelerate fat depletion, worsening patients’ physical conditions.

Investment in Precision Medicine Research

The Conselleria de Sanidad has launched the Cancer and Precision Medicine Strategy in Oncology for the Valencian Community. Coordinated by oncologist Carlos Camps, this initiative aims to ensure that new personalized treatments reach patients.

“The hospitals in the Valencian Community are responsible for diagnosing and treating cancer patients and conducting clinical research studies. The CIPF, on the other hand, plays a different role in the precision medicine framework,” said Deborah Burks, director of CIPF. “Our mission is to investigate the mechanisms of cancer to identify new targets for detection and treatment in the healthcare system.”

In this regard, and in collaboration with Valencian hospitals, “we conduct high-level research that spans from the molecular and cellular level to the implementation of our findings in clinical practice”, Burks stated.