A researcher from Zaragoza leads a promising project against ovarian cancer in Paris

In the coming years, the incidence of cancer will increase by approximately 30% compared to current values. Sedentary lifestyle, pollution, lack of care in what we eat or the external radiation to which we are exposed are the main factors. In addition, a greater number of cancers will be detected due to improved diagnosis. Given this scenario, investment in science and its projects is essential to find treatments and alleviate the situation. In this context, Zaragoza chemist Marta Redrado Domingo has developed a promising project at the University of Paris, which is led by Professor Gilles Gasser and which could revolutionize the way in which ovarian cancer  is treated.

Ovarian cancer is one of the most deadly cancers due to its difficulty in early detection. It is estimated that less than 30% of women diagnosed with this disease survive more than five years, since, in most cases, the diagnosis occurs in advanced stages, when the tumor has already spread to other organs. Faced with this worrying reality, the Spanish scientist is working on the development of a treatment based on metals such as ruthenium and iridium, seeking more effective alternatives with fewer side effects than current platinum-based chemotherapy.

WHAT THE TREATMENT CONSISTS OF

The project, funded by the French Biomedical Research Foundation, involves designing nanoparticles coated with biodegradable polymers to selectively transport drugs to the tumor. Thanks to a phenomenon known as the “permeability and retention effect (EPR),” these nanoparticles can accumulate in the tumor without affecting healthy cells as much, which could reduce the toxicity of current treatments.

“The drugs we have developed have shown promising results in laboratory tests and we are currently testing them in animal models,” explains Redrado. “The next step would be to evaluate their effectiveness and safety in humans, although there is still a long way to go, since the validation process for new drugs can take between 5 and 10 years.”

The study was based on ovarian cancer, although Redrado has pointed out that “the drug can be specialized” to treat other types of cancer, but they have not yet begun to study this.

THE CAREER OF THE SCIENTIST FROM ZARAGOZA

Marta Redrado’s academic career began at the University of Zaragoza, where she studied Chemistry. She subsequently completed a master’s degree in Molecular Chemistry and Homogeneous Catalysis and continued with her PhD at the same institution under the supervision of Professor María Concepción Gimeno and Dr. Vanesa Fernández. During her PhD, she did a stay at the University of Cambridge, in the Department of Early Cancer Detection. Since September 2023, she has been working at the University of Paris in Gilles Gasser’s laboratory and since April 2024 she has been developing her current project.

With all this experience, Marta confesses that her first (and only) option when she finished high school was to study Biotechnology. She did not enter the degree and studied Chemistry in order to be able to enter her dream career in another way. “After a week in Chemistry, I was offered a place in Biotechnology and I turned it down. I think I couldn’t have made a better decision, because in the end I am doing what I want,” explains the scientist.

When asked about her role models in science, she mentions Rosalind Franklin, the scientist whose work was key to the discovery of the structure of DNA, although her contribution was ignored at the time. She also highlights the importance of providing more support for research in Spain, an aspect she considers essential so that more scientists can develop their careers in the country instead of being forced to seek opportunities abroad.

On the Day of Women and Girls in Science, Marta Redrado encourages young women to follow their vocations without fear. “If they are passionate about science, they should not hesitate to follow their path. And of course, it is essential to continue fighting for more support for research in Spain so that we can develop our careers in our own country,” Redrado claimed.