About the VHIR
Here at the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) we promote biomedical research, innovation and teaching. Over 1,800 people are seeking to understand diseases today so the treatment can be improved tomorrow.
Research
We are working to understand diseases, to find out how they operate and to create better treatments for patients. Get to know about our groups and their lines of research.
People
People are the centre of the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR). This is why we are bound by the principles of freedom of research, gender equality and professional attitudes that HRS4R promotes.
Clinical trials
Our work is not just basic or translational; we are leaders in clinical research. Enter and find about the clinical trials we are conducting and why we are a world reference in this field.
Progress
Our aim is to make the research carried out at the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) a driving force for transformation. How? By identifying new channels and solutions for the promotion of people's health and well-being.
Core facilities
We offer specialist support for researchers, internal and external alike, ranging from specific services to preparing complete projects. All this, from a perspective of quality and speed of response.
News
We offer you a gateway for staying up to date on everything going on at the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), from the latest news to future solidarity activities and initiatives that we are organising.
Speaker: Jose Miguel Lizcano De Vega, Head of group Protein kinases in cancer research (VHIR)
Summary: I will present the preclinical and clinical development of ABTL0812 (2-hydroxylinoleic acid), a first-in-class anticancer molecule. ABTL0812 selectively kills cancer cells by inducing endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the UPR-mediated cytotoxic autophagy, without affecting healthy cells. Mechanistically, ABTL0812 inhibits desaturase-1, the last enzyme in the ceramide biosynthesis pathway, leading to an accumulation of long-chain dihydroceramides. This, in turn, results in the activation of ER stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR), ultimately inducing cytotoxic autophagy in cancer cells. This represents a novel therapeutic approach, highlighting the potential of ER stressors as effective anticancer agents. Clinical trial data demonstrate that ABTL0812 has a favourable safety and tolerability profile. Phase 2 clinical trials have shown that ABTL0812 enhances the efficacy of standard chemotherapy regimens in patients with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and advanced endometrial cancer. ABTL0812 is currently in Phase 2b clinical trial, as a first-line therapy in combination with FOLFIRINOX, for patients with advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. Additionally, I will present supporting preclinical data that provide a rationale for this clinical trial.
