Through the European LUCIA Project, in which we collaborate, a study on lung cancer risk factors is being conducted in partnership with Osakidetza (the Basque Health Service); the Virgen de la Macarena University Hospital , part of the Andalusian Health Service; and the University Hospital of Liège , Belgium. Members of BILBOMÁTICA are also volunteering for this study, and we would like to express our sincere gratitude to them.
Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and its relationship to genetic and environmental factors remains an area of ongoing research. The LUCIA project aims to deepen our understanding of how factors such as genetic mutations, biomarkers, and environmental elements like air pollution and smoking affect the onset and progression of this disease.
One of the most important innovations that LUCIA has incorporated into its research is the use of knowledge graphs. This technology allows for the organization and connection of complex data, providing a more comprehensive view of the interactions between different factors that influence disease . Thanks to these graphs, it is possible to relate and analyze large volumes of data, facilitating the identification of patterns that would go unnoticed in more traditional analyses.
For example, knowledge graphs allow researchers to map the relationships between genetic mutations, such as those affecting the EGFR gene, and environmental or lifestyle-related risk factors, such as smoking. This approach helps uncover how these mutations increase the likelihood of resistance to certain treatments and allows researchers to ask more complex questions about the disease.
Personalized treatments
One of LUCIA's main objectives is to develop more personalized and effective treatments for lung cancer. By integrating clinical data with genetic and environmental information, researchers can design more precise therapies for each patient, representing a significant advance in the field of personalized medicine . Furthermore, graph technology has allowed researchers to correct erroneous theories about cancer risk factors .
One particular case was the analysis of the relationship between certain dietary habits and cancer risk, which led to the erroneous conclusion that consuming certain types of fats was directly linked to a higher risk of developing the disease. However, by incorporating graph technology and mapping the interactions between mutated genes, diet, and family history, researchers discovered that the incidence of cancer in some population groups was not related to diet, but rather to specific genetic mutations that had not been previously considered.
The LUCIA project is a prime example of the importance of international collaboration in the fight against complex diseases . The participation of various institutions allows researchers from different countries to share knowledge and experience, enriching the research process, improving the quality of studies, and accelerating the development of new therapies.
At BILBOMÁTICA we are committed to technological innovation to improve public health and, thanks to the commitment and support of everyone involved, the LUCIA project continues to move forward towards its goal of improving the quality of life of many patients, providing new knowledge about lung cancer and helping to develop more effective and personalized treatments.
The LUCIA project receives funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement 101096473 .