Therapeutic strategies against carcinoma metastasis

Angélica Figueroa Conde-Valvís

Fundación Profesor Novoa Santos, Spain

Around 90 % of cancer-related mortality is due to metastasis. Although cancer survival rate has significantly improved in recent years, mainly due to early diagnosis and cancer growth inhibition, the progress in cancer metastasis treatment has been limited. Therefore, cancer metastasis prevention and treatment is one the most crucial challenges in cancer research, in oncology and for all of society.

Most human malignant tumors are carcinomas arising from transformations of epithelial cells. Carcinomas include different types of cancers such as colorectal, breast, lung and prostate cancer between others. At very early stages of tumor progression and metastasis, a process named Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) takes place.

EMT process is a promising therapeutic target for cancer metastasis treatment. Figueroa Conde-Valvís' group has identified novel small-molecule inhibitors directly targeting EMT with a potent anti-tumor activity. Preclinical studies show an inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis, without important systemic toxic effects. The project’s preclinical data will make it possible to advance into future clinical development.