Cutaneous Oncology |

Description

Through its diverse research lines, the Research Group in Cutaneous Oncology develops new diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic strategies aimed at improving the clinical management of patients with skin tumors and increasing both their life expectancy and quality. The studies carried out by this research group have resulted in the creation of guidelines for the practical management of patients, several doctoral theses and multiple articles published in highly prestigious scientific journals.

Scientific objectives and lines of work

The Research Group in Cutaneous Oncology develops various lines of translational research aimed at identifying the genes involved in the onset and progression of cutaneous tumors, and at characterizing diagnostic and prognostic tumor markers, along with potential therapeutic targets. The research group also participates in the promotion and conduct of several phase II and III clinical trials enrolling patients with mycosis fungoides and melanoma.

Specific objectives

To develop tissue matrices of melanocytic tumors and melanomas at different evolution stages. All of these matrices are linked to the complete clinical evolution of each case, thus enabling the conduct of various protein studies associated with the patients’ evolution at any given time.
To carry out protein studies aimed at differentiating benign and malignant melanocytic lesions that are hard to distinguish from a histological viewpoint.
To develop studies on epithelial-mesenchymal transition proteins in melanomas.
To identify molecules capable of discriminating melanomas with metastatic capacity through the conduct of protein tests, cDNA and microRNA arrays performed with melanomas and nevi.
To study and compare the different diagnostic methods used to identify the BRAFV600E mutation in melanoma.
To assess the status of the BRAFV600E mutation in paired samples of melanomas and their metastases to determine their expression levels during tumor progression.
To develop genetic and protein characterization studies in samples of melanoma resistant to therapy with anti-BRAFV600E inhibitors.
To identify circulating tumor DNA in the fluid biopsies of patients with melanoma.
To create a Spanish national registry of cutaneous lymphomas, including both complete clinical information on each case and the results of their histological, immunohistochemical and molecular studies.
To carry out protein studies on tissue arrays with a view to study initiation proteins in mycosis fungoides.
To develop translational research studies on mycosis fungoides: analysis of its response to treatment with interferon, psoralen plus longwave ultraviolet A (PUVA) and suberolyanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) in tumor samples and experimental models.
To develop clinical trials (phase II and III) aimed at evaluating the efficacy of various treatments in patients with mycosis fungoides and melanoma.