Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 4 April. (Press Europa) –
The University of La Laguna will host the 45th EORTC-PAMM meeting until Saturday, a gathering that brings together researchers from the International Pharmacology Group and Molecular Mechanisms (PAMM) of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC).
The main aim of the meeting is to share the latest advancements and investigate new strategies for addressing drug-resistant tumours, which represent one of the significant challenges in oncology. Essentially, the focus is on offering therapeutic alternatives to treat resistant tumours, as noted by the academic institution in a statement.
“This is the issue of resistance: the prognosis is consistently poorer in cases of relapse, and the reasons behind it are not fully understood,” stated José Manuel Padrón, director of the Antonio González Bio-Organic University Institute and organiser of this Congress edition. He elaborated that each tumour has a unique cause and corresponding treatment, thus necessitating that research concentrates on developing more personalised solutions.
According to the University of La Laguna, this edition has prioritised the involvement of young researchers, including doctoral students from the host Institute, who will deliver two presentations and showcase fourteen posters.
Additionally, five guest speakers will be participating: Joseph Ciccolini, director of the PAMM Group and professor at Aix-Marseille University; Nelson Dusetti, a researcher in Cancer Research; Serena Pellegatta from the Besta Neurological Institute; Richard Clarksson of the European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, and Stefano Alcaro from University Magna Graecia.
The event will also see 40 members of the EORTC-PAMM group in attendance, amounting to approximately 70 participants in total.
Joseph Ciccolini emphasised the value of this meeting for fostering collaborative networks among researchers, “especially for the younger members.”
The PAMM group is part of EORTC, an organisation established to enhance treatment options and the quality of life for cancer patients. It aims for a collaborative approach, as its research in pharmacology can be crucial for the preclinical stages of various studies.
According to Ciccolini, pharmacological research serves as a “toolbox”, customised to meet the needs presented by different research groups, whether that involves assessing a specific drug’s performance, enhancing its administration phase, or examining how particular genetic factors can influence clinical outcomes.
Research at ULL
Padrón, the sole representative from the University of La Laguna in EORTC-PAMM since 2007, recalled that prior to the economic downturn of 2008, the group worked in collaboration with the US National Cancer Institute, where promising compounds developed in Europe were evaluated.
“The group has developed a distinctly European character, although some countries outside the European Union continue to contribute,” he added.
The University of La Laguna reminds us that the institution is currently pursuing several research avenues related to drug resistance in tumours.
The Biolab Group is actively seeking new molecules for cancer treatment, while other teams contribute by supplying compounds for evaluation. Meanwhile, the Quimioplan group conducts investigations into natural products with therapeutic potential across various domains, including cancer.
