The Círculo Ecuestre hosted a lecture by Dr. Josep Tabernero, one of the most renowned figures in oncology in Europe, in a colloquium that brought together nearly 100 people and was sponsored by the FERO Foundation. The event, held at the club's headquarters, included an institutional welcome from President Enrique Lacalle and was presented by Isabel Estany, Vice President of the club's Cultural Department.
Tabernero, head of the Medical Oncology Service at Vall d'Hebron Hospital and director of the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), gave a valuable presentation focusing on the main factors influencing the development of cancer and the innovations that are transforming its diagnosis and treatment.
During his presentation, he emphasized that "treating cancer before it develops will be possible in less than seven years, thanks to the combined advances in precision medicine, artificial intelligence, and new molecular analysis techniques." This transformation, he explained, will allow interventions to be made against the disease in its earliest stages and even prevent it from developing clinically.
Throughout the conference, Dr. Tabernero also addressed the current global cancer situation. He explained that by 2025, more than 20 million new diagnoses will have been recorded worldwide, and forecasts indicate that this figure could reach 30 million by 2040. In Spain, one in two men and one in three women will experience cancer in their lifetime.
In this context, he delivered a clear message in favor of prevention, noting that up to 30% of tumors could be avoided with reasonable lifestyle changes. "If the population adopted healthy behaviors, the risk would be significantly reduced", he stated. Among the recommendations he mentioned were reducing the consumption of red meat, sugar, and ultra-processed foods, increasing fiber intake, and protecting against the sun.
One of the points that sparked the most interest among attendees was his explanation of the rise in colorectal cancer in people under 50, a previously unprecedented trend that Tabernero directly linked to current dietary and lifestyle changes.
Despite the rising incidence, the specialist also highlighted positive developments: cancer mortality has been steadily declining since 1990, and the cure rate has doubled in the last 35 years. "This progress is unprecedented in any other field of medicine", he emphasized.
Dr. Tabernero also shared some of the tools that are already revolutionizing clinical practice, such as liquid biopsy, which allows the genetic makeup of a tumor to be analyzed through a blood sample, and new surgical and radiotherapy techniques that are more conservative and precise. He also highlighted the growing importance of artificial intelligence in the design of personalized treatments, in prevention, and in the development of new medications. Regarding immunotherapy, he explained that it is one of the most important advances in the fight against cancer. However, he warned that a significant challenge remains in the so-called "cold tumors", which are not recognized as a threat by the immune system. In these cases, the challenge is to "educate" the immune system to identify and act against them.
In the final part of his presentation, Dr. Tabernero praised the work of the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), of which he is director. The center, with 700 professionals and 37 research groups, has established itself as an international benchmark. In 2023, it published 435 scientific articles and treated nearly 1,700 patients in more than 800 active clinical trials, more than half in early phases. He also highlighted the work of VHIOTECHS, the institute's unit dedicated to translating research into clinical practice, with 39 registered patent families, four spin-offs created, more than €90 million raised, and more than 120 patients treated with innovative therapies.
The event concluded with the doctor thanking the FERO Foundation for its commitment to medical research and for supporting meetings that bring scientific knowledge to society. After the conference, attendees shared dinner at the club itself, in a relaxed atmosphere that fostered the exchange of ideas and reflections on the present and future of the fight against cancer.