Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a neoplasm that affects 1 in 200,000 children, produced by the proliferation and dysregulation of dendritic cells, a type of immune system cells. To investigate this disease, the association La Sonrisa de Daniela has donated 32.485 € to the group of Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders of the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR).

Langerhans cell histiocytosis can cause a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, which can range from relatively benign bone lesions to more serious conditions. A significant percentage of patients do not respond to initial treatment or relapse, most of them within the first two years after diagnosis.

There is currently no consensus on the most appropriate treatment or the optimal time to initiate it. The project led by Dr. Josep Roma, principal investigator of the Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders group at VHIR, will investigate the use of liquid biopsy (obtained from blood or cerebrospinal fluid) to improve the prediction of the evolution of patients. "The potential of liquid biopsy in the follow-up of histiocytosis is enormous, and its clinical potential is only beginning to emerge. However, comprehensive clinical implementation will not be possible without the completion of validation studies such as those proposed in this project", states Dr. Roma.

La Sonrisa de Daniela

La Sonrisa de Daniela is a non-profit association created by the parents of Daniela, a 7-year-old girl who in December 2016 was diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Its objective is to organize multiple activities (for children, sports, leisure, etc) to obtain resources that go entirely to the research line in Langerhans cell histiocytosis of VHIR, with which they have been collaborating since 2019.