To fulfill the FERO Foundation’s vision of a future without cancer, or a future where the disease is not a cause of death, its main mission is to promote translational cancer research in Spain. With this objective, over 21 years of effort and dedication since its inception, the FERO Foundation has funded research whose discoveries have positively contributed to the knowledge, detection, and treatment of the disease.
In an interview with the president of FERO’s Scientific Advisory Committee, Dr. Josep Tabernero, we discuss the current state of cancer research, how the FERO Foundation has contributed to recent advances in cancer knowledge, and finally, the current challenges posed by the disease.
Where do we stand in terms of cancer research?
It is a good time for cancer research. Today, we have the possibility of offering more personalized treatments because, thanks to advances in precision medicine, we better understand the disease, how it develops, and the vulnerabilities of each tumor type.
Furthermore, we diagnose the disease earlier thanks to awareness efforts and improvements in screening techniques.
The figures are also positive. Less than 20 years ago, overall survival rates were around 30%, and today there is an average survival rate of 70%. But all of this can improve much more!
(Our publication “With the latest advances in oncology research, cancer has no future” showcases the latest breakthroughs in the fight against cancer).
What were the FERO Foundation’s achievements in 2021?
The FERO Foundation’s achievements in 2021 include the translational research projects that continued to receive funding (more than 25 studies initiated in previous years), such as the TILS Project on immunotherapy in breast cancer, the IRONMAN Registry for prostate cancer, and the Advanced Molecular Diagnostics Program (DIAMAV).
Also noteworthy are the three new research projects aimed at addressing current challenges posed by the disease, such as support for the Translational Sarcoma Research Group, a colorectal cancer project seeking to better understand resistance to certain treatments, and the liquid biopsy program for pediatric brain cancer.
And finally, the winning projects of the 8 grants we awarded last year. These address two of the most common cancers in Spain, prostate and breast cancer, propose new advances in the treatment of advanced melanoma, personalized immunotherapy treatments for breast cancer, and the treatment of aggressive B-cell lymphomas. Additionally, two projects focused on two of today’s most lethal tumors, diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL) and pancreatic cancer, were funded.
(More information on the research projects funded this year and the research projects that received FERO Grants can be found in the 2021 annual report).
What are the most important projects the FERO Foundation has funded throughout its history?
The FERO Foundation has contributed to the study of genetic alterations in tumors, what we call the disease’s vulnerabilities, to enable targeted diagnosis and treatment of the tumor.
It has also funded very important projects in liquid biopsy, genetic screening of patient tumors, and also in immunology and immunotherapy, to better understand the body’s defense mechanism that is already prepared to fight diseases, but sometimes fails to recognize them.
What are the short-term goals of oncology research?
The immediate goal is to increase disease survival and improve prevention measures. Figures indicate that 50% of tumors could be avoided with lifestyle changes and more early detection programs, what we call screening. Because, as the saying goes, prevention is better than cure.
