This project comes from the need to adapt current European legislation in clinical trials. The main aim of this programme is to identify areas needing an improvement through surveys directed to sectors involved in clinical trials. This study will be open until the 20th of July and results will be presented in Brussels next 2nd December.

To date, no efficient treatment existed for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. In a study led by the Hospital Clínic, it is demonstrated that Sorafenib improves the survival of these patients in three months, what consolidates this drug as the first therapeutic strategy with a positive impact on life expectancy. The results of this trial have already modified the recommendations of international guidelines for the treatment of liver cancer.

The mitochondrion is an essential organelle for cell metabolism and for the organisation of the molecular mechanism responsible for cell death. IIBB-CSIC-IDIBAPS researchers have demonstrated that the increase of cholesterol concentration in the mitochondrial membrane makes the action of chemotherapy difficult in cellular hepatocarcinoma. According to these results, drugs such as statins could sensitise cancer cells against chemotherapy since they diminish the level of mitochondrial cholesterol.