The Immuno-Oncology Specialization Program, launched by the School of Medicine of the Universidad de Navarra in collaboration with the Bristol-Myers Squibb laboratory, has celebrated the close of its first edition, which included 26 oncologist doctors from all of Spain.

The program, the only one of its kind in Spain, intends to develop medical specialists in immunotherapy against cancer. For that reason, oncologists received a broad theoretical formation about the fundamentals of immunology and recent advances in clinical trials, as well as practical training to equip them with the necessary tools to promote new immunotherapy clinical trials.

The program represents an alliance between teaching and research experience at the Universidad de Navarra, in collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb, a company that is making waves in the development of this new era of cancer treatment.

According to Dr. Pedro Berraondo, deputy director of the Immuno-Oncology Expert Degree Program and researcher of the Center for Applied Medical Research of the Universidad de Navarra, "the course has been designed to promote immunotherapy. That is, to strengthen the body's defenses so they can fight cancer. This new branch will require that oncologists know the basics of immunology and may be involved in multiple clinical trials. They also may be involved in multiple clinical trials that are being promoted by pharmaceutical trials. Additionally, they may be able to propose new clinical trials themselves."

Cáncer de pulmón: 1,5 millones de muertes cada año

After the success of the course and the high number of requests, the second edition is planned to offer places for up to 60 students. The tumors of this kind that have the most scientific evidence at the moment are metastatic melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer.

These are cancers with unmet medical needs and whose impact is reflected in its prevalence and the mortality data. "Lung cancer is the most lethal tumor in the world, with more than 1.5 deaths per year according to the World Health Organization (WHO). While melanoma is the ninth most common cancer in Europe, with about 100,000 new cases diagnosed annually and more than 20,000 deaths." Recalled Dr. Berraondo.

Only since yesterday and until tomorrow Tuesday, the Hospital and the Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) will host an international conference on Immune-Oncology, bringing together 350 experts from around the world to advance immunomodulatory therapies in the fight against cancer.