Breast cancer

Group co-leader: Isabel Álvarez, M.D.

Donostialdea IHO E-mail isabelmanuela.alvarezlopez@osakidetza.eus

Group co-leader: María Muñoz Caffarel, PhD.

Biodonostia HRI E-mail maria.caffarel@biodonostia.org
Dr. Isabel Manuela Álvarez López has a Degree in Medicine and Surgery obtained at the University of Navarra in 1985 and has been a Specialist in Medical Oncology since 1989. An Attending Physician since 1990 with the Medical Oncology Unit of Donostia University Hospital (Donostialdea IHO) (she currently works in the Gipuzkoa Cancer Management Unit run by Osakidetza-SVS jointly with Onkologikoa). She has fundamentally developed her activity in the Breast Cancer Area. Founding member of the Cooperative Research Group in Breast Cancer (GEICAM) and member of its Board of Directors. Leader of the Breast Cancer Group at the Biodonostia HRI since 2021 and, since 2020, shares joint leadership of the Group with Dr. María Muñoz Caffarel. She has participated in more than 30 clinical trials on multicentric breast cancer, both in collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry and in academic studies. She has more than 30 publications related to breast cancer. In the Research Group, as well as clinical trials, work is underway on the areas of tumour heterogeneity, hormone sensitivity and inflammation in breast cancer (studies funded in public calls) Dr. María Muñoz Caffarel is an Ikerbasque Research Associate and Miguel Servet Researcher at the Biodonostia HRI, where she is Co-Leader of the Breast Cancer Research Group within the Oncology Area. She has a Degree in Biochemistry (National Award) from the UCM (Madrid), where she completed her PhD in 2008. She has more than 5 years’ international experience at the University of Cambridge (UK), as well as having spent study periods at the Curie Institute (France), CNIO and IDIBELL (Spain). Since she joined the Biodonostia HRI in 2015, she has obtained more than €1,200,000 as a Principal Researcher in public and private calls at regional, state and international level. She is the author of 28 scientific articles, 3 book chapters and the co-inventor of one patent (US20140314757); her publications have been highly cited (h-index of 17 > 1600 citations). She has directed two doctoral theses and is currently directing another 3. She is a Guest Professor on two master’s degrees (UPV/EHU) and member of the Board of Directors of ASEICA (Spanish Association for Cancer Research), where she coordinates the ASEICA-Youth work group. She is also President of the Biodonostia HRI Equality Committee and participates in other activities related to women and science (Emakumeak Zientzian, Conocelas – ASEICA). She similarly participates in dissemination activities, giving talks to associations of cancer patients and to the general public (Pint of Science, Donostia WEEK-INN).

Strategic Objectives

  • To contribute to the development of programmes which optimise a personalised approach to the treatment of breast cancer patients, taking into account the specific characteristics of both the tumour and the cancer patient.
  • Clinical research: To continue and promote the creation of clinical trials to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, and more specifically studies into new drugs.
  • Developing translational research programmes, either as independent studies or as parallel studies associated to clinical trials. The objective is to develop and implement new therapeutic strategies and diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers with a view to optimising treatments adapted to each molecular subtype.
  • Development of studies in the areas of epidemiology and the follow-up of breast cancer patients.

Main lines of research

  • Characterising the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines and their receptors in remodelling of the tumour microenvironment and in the progression of breast cancer.
  • Elucidating the role of pro-tumour inflammation in metastasis and the possible implications of blocking this signalling to improve immunotherapy response.
  • Understanding the molecular mechanisms responsible for measuring resistance to hormone therapies in luminal breast cancer, which represents more than 70% of cases diagnosed. Antioestrogens are the backbone of treatment for these patients and resistance to this therapy is an unsolved problem with high therapeutic impact.

Team Members

Name Surname Center E-mail
Andrea Abaurrea Larrañaga Biodonostia HRI andrea.abaurrea@biodonostia.org
Luis Alberto Álvarez Cuesta Onkologikoa Fundazioa laalvarez@onkologikoa.org
Nerea Ancizar Lizarraga Donostialdea IHO nerea.ancizarlizarraga@osakidetza.eus
Haritz Arrieta Etxeberria UPV-EHU harrieta@onkologikoa.org
Peio Azcoaga Azcoaga
María Cristina Churruca Galaz Donostialdea IHO cristinamaria.churrucagalaz@osakidetza.eus
Marta Fernández Calleja Donostialdea IHO mfernand@chdo.osakidetza.eus
Elena Guimón Olaizola Donostialdea IHO elena.guimonolaizola@osakidetza.eus
Ainhara Lahuerta Martínez Onkologikoa Fundazioa
Joanna Ines López Velazco Biodonostia HRI joannaines.lópez@biodonostia.org
Sara Manzano Figueroa Biodonostia HRI sara.manzano@biodonostia.org
Ana Paisán Ruiz Donostialdea IHO ana.paisanruiz@osakidetza.eus
Marta Rezola Bajineta Donostialdea IHO –
María Florencia Soler Biodonostia HRI flor.soler@biodonostia.org
Jose María Urraca De La Serna Donostialdea IHO josemaria.urracadelaserna@osakidetza.eus
Ander Urruticoechea Ribate Onkologikoa Fundazioa anderu@onkologikoa.org

 

Scientific Output