VI FERO-ASEICA Grant – Dr. Francisco Lorenzo Martín

Colorectal cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. We know that the gut microbiome—the collection of bacteria and microorganisms living in our intestine—influences tumor progression and treatment response. However, we still need to study this relationship in depth.

The project led by Dr. Francisco Lorenzo Martín, winner of the VI FERO-ASEICA Grant, seeks to create “mini-colons” in the laboratory from patient tissues that reproduce what occurs in the tumor, not only regarding cancer cells but also their environment, including the bacteria that coexist with the cancer. Using advanced tissue engineering techniques and molecular analyses, the team will study how the gut microbiome drives tumor progression.

The ultimate goal is to identify new therapeutic opportunities for colorectal cancer patients, aimed at modulating the relationship between the microbiome and the tumor.