•    The initiatives will be carried out by the Cancer Signalling and Oncoimmunology Units, with the participation of professionals from the Navarra University Hospital (HUN).

Researchers and management staff from Navarrabiomed visited the headquarters of SARAY, the Navarra Breast Cancer Association, in Pamplona today to express their gratitude for the €40,000 donation received to support public biomedical research. The funds, raised through the 14th Solidarity Race against Breast Cancer 2025 and other initiatives organized by the association, will enable the launch of two research projects led by the Cancer Signalling Unit and the Oncoimmunology Unit. Professionals from the Medical Oncology and Pathology Departments of the Navarra University Hospital (HUN) will also take part in these studies. The projects will focus on developing a new immunotherapy approach to strengthen the body's defenses against breast cancer and on identifying new therapeutic options for HER2-positive breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women. More than two million new cases are diagnosed worldwide each year, including over 30,000 in Spain. In this context, research is essential to better understand the mechanisms that drive tumor progression and to identify new therapeutic options that can improve patient outcomes.
Since 2015, SARAY has funded breast cancer research projects carried out within the public sector, helping to strengthen oncology research in Navarra and bring scientific advances closer to the real needs of patients. This latest funding will support the launch of two new initiatives at Navarrabiomed.

A new immunotherapy to strengthen the body’s defenses

The Oncoimmunology Unit, led by Dr. David Escors and Dr. Grazyna Kochan, aims to develop a new immunotherapy strategy for breast cancer patients who do not respond adequately to currently available immunological treatments. Specifically, the team will investigate an experimental drug that works by simultaneously blocking two mechanisms that limit the immune system's ability to fight tumors.

In addition to evaluating the drug’s effectiveness, researchers will analyze how patients’ immune systems respond to treatment through blood tests and tumor biopsies. These analyses will help identify changes in immune cells and in the tumor microenvironment. The drug will also be tested in experimental breast cancer models to assess its potential as a future therapeutic alternative for patients with advanced disease.

A strategy to improve treatment for HER2-Positive breast cancer

The second project funded by SARAY will be carried out by the Cancer Signalling Unit, headed by Dr. Imanol Arozarena, and will investigate the potential of ranolazine, a drug commonly used to treat heart conditions, to enhance the effectiveness of therapies for HER2-positive breast cancer. Previous studies conducted by the team have generated scientific evidence suggesting that this medication could improve tumor responses to trastuzumab and other targeted therapies.

Furthermore, ranolazine may offer a dual benefit, as it also appears to protect the heart from some of the adverse effects associated with these treatments. If its usefulness is confirmed, this strategy could contribute to increasing survival rates and improving the quality of life of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.