Among the main efforts of the Biomedical Research in Urology group at Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR) is the study of prostate cancer. Once again, in November, we join the Movember movement to highlight the importance of research to improve men's health and, in particular, we present the most important research areas of the group to improve the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.

In particular, the research group is made up of a team that includes professionals specialised in molecular biology, urology, oncology and pathology, who lead different projects in three fundamental research areas:

Use of Radiogenomics and Big Data and Artificial Intelligence Technologies

One of the most outstanding projects the team is working on is the TARTAGLIA project, which uses artificial intelligence to improve the early diagnosis of prostate cancer. To this end, clinical variables that are routinely used to diagnose the disease are being used to generate an algorithm that can accurately identify aggressive prostate tumours and differentiate them from those that are more benign.

In this sense, the group is also involved in a European project that uses artificial intelligence to improve the diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer, using a federated network involving different European centres.

The TARTAGLIA project is funded through the Artificial Intelligence R&D Missions Programme of the State Secretariat for Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence (SEDIA) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation (File No. MIA.2021.M02.0005), corresponding to the funds of the Recovery, Resilience and Transformation Plan.

Improving diagnosis and management of patients with BRCA2 mutations

The team also focuses on prostate cancer patients with mutations in the BRCA2 gene. To do so, they explore the molecular alterations that contribute to the onset of the disease and study the mechanisms of resistance to current treatments in this group of patients. This approach is relevant to study new strategies to improve the diagnosis and management of patients with this type of mutation.

Study of Cell Division Regulators and Resistance to Hormone Therapy

On the other hand, the group investigates regulators of cell division involved in resistance to drugs with hormonal action, with the aim of developing new therapeutic agents for the treatment of more aggressive prostate tumours. Using ex vivo primary culture models and a large collection of liquid and tissue biopsies of prostate cancer, advances are being made in understanding the mechanisms of progression and resistance to therapy.