SUMMARY

In 2014, we have led and participated in nu merous cooperative and singular research projects related to Gastrointestinal Malignancies. In addition to our key participation in international consortia of excellence including the WIN (Worldwide Innovative Networking in personalized cancer medicine) Consortium and other initiatives funded by the European Commission’s 7th Framework Program (e.g. EurocanPlatform, COLTHERES, and MErCuRIC), at both preclinical and clinical levels, we have continued to further strengthen our purely multidisciplinary and translational approach to research.

Reflected by publications in the most prestigious scientific titles in 2014, our group has led and collaborated in studies with important clinical implications – please refer to our list of publications. Other research lines have included the use of validated biomarkers and their respective reference isogenic cell lines to develop next generation, non-invasive, blood-based diagnostics that can monitor the burden of disease, its respective molecular specificities, and response to novel targeted therapies. We have also participated in several pre-clinical and clinical studies on predicted responsive patient subsets using genetically annotated tumor surgical specimens (‘Xenopatients’) in mice, further expanding our collaboration with VHIO’s Stem Cells & Cancer and Tumor Biomarkers Groups. In partnership with pharmaceutical companies or academic groups, our dedicated efforts have continued to focus on the validation of repurposed drugs or candidate drugs.

PUBLICATIONS