Harnessing the immune system to treat cancer
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide with an increasing incidence and morbidity. Despite recent advances in patient care and treatment, many cancers relapse or are diagnosed at advanced stages, when chances of cure are significantly reduced. Chemotherapy and other systemic therapies used in these circumstances are effective in only a minority of cases and bear significant toxicity.
Immunotherapy has revolutionized patient care and management. Analogous to the immune response against viral and bacterial infections, immunotherapies aim at mobilizing the patient’s immune system to target cancer cells. In this webinar, we will discuss what cancer is, what immune-based approaches are being explored in patient care and present the unparalleled benefits obtained with these therapies. Furthermore, we will review major caveats and detail how these can be overcome in the future.
After graduating from St. Peter’s School in 2008 with a special mention in the University Access Exams (PAU), I pursued my Medical studies at the University of Barcelona and obtained an Extraordinary Licensure Award in 2014. I subsequently received a special award for the MIR 2015 exam and started a specialization in Medical Oncology at the Institut Català d’Oncologia (ICO, Hospitalet de Llobregat), which I completed in May 2020. During these years, I pursued a Master in Clinical Oncology and a Master in Molecular Oncology. I am currently working at the Liver Cancer Translational Research Group in IDIBAPS and exploring the molecular and immune underpinnings of liver cancer, under the supervision of Prof. Josep M. Llovet.