Breast cancer

Group co-leader: Isabel Álvarez, M.D.

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

Group co-leader: María Muñoz Caffarel, Ph.D.

Biogipuzkoa HRI E-mail maria.munozcaffarel@bio-gipuzkoa.eus
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 Biogipuzkoa 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) María Muñoz Caffarel  is an Ikerbasque Research Associate and Miguel Servet Researcher at the Biogipuzkoa 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 Biogipuzkoa 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 Biogipuzkoa 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
Luis Alberto Álvarez Cuesta Onkologikoa Fundazioa laalvarez@onkologikoa.org
Uxue Alvarez Huesa Biogipuzkoa HRI uxue.alvarezhuesa@bio-gipuzkoa.eus
Nerea Ancizar Lizarraga Donostialdea IHO nerea.ancizarlizarraga@osakidetza.eus
Haritz Arrieta Etxeberria UPV-EHU harrieta@onkologikoa.org
Peio Azcoaga Azcoaga Biogipuzkoa HRI peio.azcoagaazcoaga@bio-gipuzkoa.eus
Marta Fernández Calleja OSI Donostialdea mfernand@chdo.osakidetza.eus
Irati Garmendia Iturbe Biogipuzkoa HRI irati.garmendiaiturbe@bio-gipuzkoa.eus
Elena Guimón Olaizola Donostialdea IHO elena.guimonolaizola@osakidetza.eus
Ainhara Lahuerta Martínez Onkologikoa Fundazioa  –
Joanna Ines López Velazco Biogipuzkoa HRI joannaines.lopezvelazco@bio-gipuzkoa.eus
Sara Manzano Figueroa Biogipuzkoa HRI sara.manzanofigueroa@bio-gipuzkoa.eus
Ana Paisán Ruiz Donostialdea IHO ana.paisanruiz@osakidetza.eus
Paloma Petit de Prado Biogipuzkoa HRI paloma.petitdeprado@bio-gipuzkoa.eus
Marta Rezola Bajineta Donostialdea IHO
Ainhoa Romo Varela Biogipuzkoa HRI ainhoa.romovarela@bio-gipuzkoa.eus
Zuhara Telletxea Garmendia Biogipuzkoa HRI zuhara.telletxeagarmendia@bio-gipuzkoa.eus
Jose María Urraca De La Serna Donostialdea IHO josemaria.urracadelaserna@osakidetza.eus
Ander Urruticoechea Ribate Onkologikoa Fundazioa anderu@onkologikoa.org

Scientific Output

NUEVOS BIOMARCADORES PARA SUPERAR LA RESISTENCIA A INMUNOTERAPIA EN CANCER DE MAMA. ANDER URRUTICOECHEA
Código: SEOM24/301
Investigador Principal (IP): ANDER URRUTICOECHEA RIBATE
Entidad Financiadora: SOCIEDAD ESPAÑOLA DE ONCOLOGIA MEDICA
Fecha de Inicio: 2024-11-01
Fecha de finalización: 2026-10-31
Importe Concedido: 25.000,00 €
PAPEL DE MYD88 COMO REGULADOR CLAVE DE LA INFLAMACION INTRINSECA DEL CANCER DE PULMON
Código: 2024-CIE4-000013-01
Investigador Principal (IP): IRATI GARMENDIA ITURBE
Entidad Financiadora: DIPUTACION FORAL GIPUZKOA
Fecha de Inicio: 2024-06-06
Fecha de finalización: 2025-09-30
Importe Concedido: 0,00 €
DESENTRAÑANDO LA ECUACION DEL VALOR EN MEDICINA BASADA EN EL VALOR: DE LA TEORIA A LA PRACTICA
Código: 2023111085/BD
Investigador Principal (IP): ISABEL MANUELA ALVAREZ LOPEZ
Entidad Financiadora: DEPARTAMENTO DE SALUD
Fecha de Inicio: 2023-12-01
Fecha de finalización: 2026-12-01
Importe Concedido: 1.732,12 €
BECAS LEONARDO A INVESTIGADORES Y CREADORES CULTURALES 2023. PAPEL DE LA CITOQUINA OSM EN EL CANCER DE MAMA AVANZADO: IMPLICACION EN LA REGULACION DE LA INMUNIDAD TUMORAL Y POTENCIAL TERAPEUTICO.
Código: FBBVA23/301
Investigador Principal (IP): MARIA MUÑOZ CAFFAREL
Entidad Financiadora: FUNDACION BBVA
Fecha de Inicio: 2023-10-01
Fecha de finalización: 2025-03-31
Importe Concedido: 40.000,00 €
DESARROLLO PRECLINICO DE UNA TERAPIA CAR-T ANTI-SIGLEC-15 PARA EL TRATAMIENTO DE TUMORES SOLIDOS
Código: CPP2022-009535
Investigador Principal (IP): MARIA MUÑOZ CAFFAREL
Entidad Financiadora: MINISTERIO DE CIENCIA E INNOVACION
Fecha de Inicio: 2023-10-01
Fecha de finalización: 2026-09-30
Importe Concedido: 150.004,00 €
IMMUNE4ALL, EXPLORANDO LA VIABILIDAD DE BIOMARCADORES PREDICTIVOS Y FARMACODINAMICOS DE INMUNOTERAPIA EN TUMORES SOLIDOS
Código: PMP22/00054
Investigador Principal (IP): MARIA MUÑOZ CAFFAREL
Entidad Financiadora: ISCIII INSTITUTO DE SALUD CARLOS III
Fecha de Inicio: 2023-01-01
Fecha de finalización: 2025-12-31
Importe Concedido: 79.000,00 €
DESARROLLO DE METODOS DIAGNOSTICOS Y NUEVAS TERAPIAS EN LA ERA DE LA MEDICINA DE PRECISION EN CANCER. BG22
Código: KK-2022/00045
Investigador Principal (IP): MARIA MUÑOZ CAFFAREL
Entidad Financiadora: DEPARTAMENTO DE DESARROLLO ECONOMICO, SOSTENIBILIDAD Y MEDIO AMBIENTE
Fecha de Inicio: 2022-03-11
Fecha de finalización: 2024-03-31
Importe Concedido: 118.349,45 €
MODULACION DE LA INFLAMACION PRO-TUMORAL EN CANCER DE MAMA POR LA CITOQUINA ONCOSTATINA M: IMPLICACIONES EN INMUNOTERAPIA
Código: PI21/01208
Investigador Principal (IP): MARIA MUÑOZ CAFFAREL
Entidad Financiadora: ISCIII INSTITUTO DE SALUD CARLOS III
Fecha de Inicio: 2022-01-01
Fecha de finalización: 2026-06-30
Importe Concedido: 183.920,00 €
IDENTIFICACION DE NUEVOS MARCADORES PARA EL USO DEL TRATAMIENTO HORMONAL PRIMARIO Y DE NUEVAS TERAPIAS PARA TUMORES RESISTENTES EN CANCER DE MAMA LUMINAL
Código: PI20/01253
Investigador Principal (IP): ANDER URRUTICOECHEA RIBATE
Entidad Financiadora: ISCIII INSTITUTO DE SALUD CARLOS III
Fecha de Inicio: 2021-01-01
Fecha de finalización: 2025-06-30
Importe Concedido: 74.415,00 €