Research into lung cancer wins 2024 Robalo Cordeiro Award
In 2018, researcher Joana Catarata was distinguished by the Portuguese Society of Pulmonology with the Robalo Cordeiro Award, and in 2019 with the Thomé Villar SPP/Boehringer Ingelheim Award. Now, she has once again been awarded the Robalo Cordeiro Award. Worth ten thousand euros, this award is given annually to recognize a new generation of scientists dedicated to respiratory research.
Awarded during the 40th Congress of the Portuguese Society of Pulmonology, this award “allows us to continue working on early detection and personalised treatments for lung cancer patients with malignant bone and pleural disease. It will also help to create a cohort of patients with malignant pleural pathology”, explains the i3S researcher and pulmonologist at ULS Braga. In this way, she adds, “we hope to make our contribution to the advancement of science and improvement of clinical practice in thoracic oncology”.
This research project is being developed by Joana Catarata and Maria Inês Almeida, a researcher at the i3S and the Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), who is co-principal investigator of the project. It also includes the participation of pulmonologists from ULS Braga, and masters and doctoral students from the i3S group “Tumour and Microenvironment Interactions”, led by researcher Maria José Oliveira. Together, Joana Catarata stresses, “we will explore the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) as key regulators and potential biomarkers in lung cancer patients with bone metastases or malignant pleural effusion”.
“Given the critical role of miRNAs in regulating gene expression and cancer progression, our hypothesis is that specific miRNA signatures may play a dual role as prognostic biomarkers and as therapeutic targets to inhibit bone and pleural metastasis in lung cancer”, adds Maria Inês Almeida.
Our goal, highlights Joana Catarata, “is to develop miRNA-based diagnostic tools that can provide personalised treatment strategies and improve clinical outcomes for lung cancer patients with malignant bone and pleural disease”.
About lung cancer with malignant pleural and bone disease
Malignant pleural effusion is a relatively common complication, affecting up to 15% of cancer patients. The incidence has been increasing as a consequence of the increase in the overall incidence of cancer and the increase in overall survival. The presence of malignant pleural effusion is associated with metastatic disease and, consequently, with poor survival. Lung cancer is the most common cause, accounting for almost one-third of malignant pleural effusions, followed by breast, lymphoma, and ovarian cancer.
Bone metastases in lung cancer are the third most common site of metastasis and can cause serious complications as the disease progresses. These complications affect the spine and bone integrity and cause metabolic changes that can compromise functional capacity. Early detection of bone metastases is crucial for timely intervention to improve the quality of life and prognosis of patients with lung cancer.