2020SCIENTIFIC REPORT A year of challenges, opportunities and hope. Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) CELLEX CENTER C/Natzaret, 115 – 117 08035 Barcelona, Spain Tel. +34 93 254 34 50 www.vhio.net Direction: Amanda Wren Photography: Katherin Wermke Design: Parra estudio Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) | 2021 VALL D'HEBRON INSTITUTUE OF ONCOLOGY (VHIO) SCIENTIFIC REPORT 2020 A year of challenges, opportunities and hope. Extended version online: memorias.vhio.net/2020 PDF version: memorias.vhio.net/2020/SR-VHIO-2020.pdf INDEX INTRODUCING VHIO 06 Foreword by VHIO’s Director 18 José "Pepe" Baselga, MD, PhD: In Memoriam (1959-2021) A personal tribute by VHIO's Director, Josep Tabernero 22 VHIO in 2020: A year of challenges, opportunities and hope. 52 Scientific Productivity: research articles 53 Selection of some of the most relevant articles by VHIO researchers published in 2020 PRECLINICAL & TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH 66 Cellular Plasticity & Cancer Group 68 Chromatin Dynamics in Cancer Group 70 Experimental Therapeutics Group 72 Gene Expression & Cancer Group 74 Growth Factors Group 76 Mouse Models of Cancer Therapies Group 78 Prostate Cancer Translational Research Group 80 Sarcoma Translational Research Group 82 Stem Cells & Cancer Group 84 Tumor Biomarkers Group 86 Tumor Immunology & Immunotherapy Group CLINICAL RESEARCH 90 Breast Cancer & Melanoma Group 92 Early Clinical Drug Development Group 94 Experimental Hematology Group 96 Gastrointestinal & Endocrine Tumors Group 98 Genitourinary, CNS Tumors, Sarcoma & Cancer of Unknown Primary Site Group 100 Gynecological Malignancies Group 102 Hereditary Cancer Genetics Group 104 Oncology Data Science (ODysSey) Group 106 Radiation Oncology Group 108 Radiomics Group 110 Thoracic Tumors & Head and Neck Cancer Group CORE TECHNOLOGIES 114 Bioinformatics Support Unit 116 Cancer Genomics Group 118 Molecular Oncology Group 120 Proteomics Group INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAMS & TASK FORCES 122 Institutional Programs 126 VHIO’s Task Forces VHIO’s TRANSVERSAL CLINICAL TRIALS CORE SERVICES 130 Clinical Trials Office 133 Research Unit for Molecular Therapy of Cancer (UITM) – CaixaResearch 136 Clinical Research Oncology Nurses 138 Clinical Research Oncology Pharmacy Unit 140 Molecular Prescreening Program 142 Quality & Processes Unit VHIO's SCIENTIFIC COORDINATION AREA 144 Scientific oordinationC Area 146 Academic CRO (VHIO – aCRO) 148 Full listing of articles published by VHIO Investigators in 2020 172 Funding, Consortia & Accreditation 182 New funding and projects in 2020 3 A year of challenges, opportunities and hope. Championed by VHIO’s Director, Josep Tabernero, our Principal Investigators as well as the Heads of our Transversal Clinical Trials Core Services, Units and Programs, spearhead efforts aimed at solving cancer sooner. They lead their respective groups and teams to turn obstacles in oncology into opportunities, and work tirelessly to resolve current and future challenges in combating this hugely complex disease. Throughout 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked its havoc at societal level, affecting all aspects of humanity everywhere. It has undoubtedly had a tremendous effect on how the cancer research community has had to re-think interaction, adapt infrastructures and approaches to ensure that progress against cancer advances, no matter how disruptive this past year has been. To mark this terribly challenging year, we invited each of our Group and Unit leaders to reflect on 2020, and submit a noun, adjective, concept, or priority area, which they felt was particularly relevant- though not exclusive- to this past year. 4 VHIO Scientific Report 2020 surmountable teamwork proactive dedication generosity restructure MARÍA ABAD JOAQUÍN ARRIBAS JUDITH BALMAÑA MARTA BELTRÁN FRANCESC BOSCH FRANCESC CANALS exacting transformation resolve digital support flexibility JOAN CARLES RODRIGO DIENSTMANN ENRIQUETA FELIP JOSÉ FERNÁNDEZ ELENA GARRALDA JORDI GIRALT reinvention zeal together growth ALENA GROS TERESA MACARULLA JOAQUIN MATEO SUSANA MUÑOZ determination creativity valor resilience hope PAOLO G. NUCIFORO ANA OAKNIN JOSEP TABERNERO HÉCTOR G. PALMER SANDRA PEIRÓ moving patients' opportunities fortitude safety fortified forward collegiality M ÁNGELES PEÑUELAS RAQUEL PEREZ-LOPEZ ALEX PIRIS MARÍA QUERALT GEMMA SALA CRISTINA SAURA innovation reflection connected adaptive zooming strength JOAN SEOANE VIOLETA SERRA CÉSAR SERRANO LAURA SOUCEK JOSEP VILLANUEVA ANA VIVANCOS INTRODUCING VHIO FOREWORD leaders to reflect on 2020, and come up with a noun, adjective, concept, or priority area, which they each considered as particularly relevant -- though not exclusive -- to this momentous past year. Written on each of their respective masks (see fold-out pages 4-5), the design depicts the very familiar Zoom virtual meeting scenario, which is so symbolic of the COVID-19 era. Due to the safety and logistical considerations brought about Josep Tabernero by COVID-19, and to reflect Director, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) the reality of balancing those physically working in the lab and clinical settings with those working from home, we 2020: An Extraordinary revisited our approach to this year’s report’s photo shoot. We Year for Biomedicine, translated this obstacle into Cancer Science and opportunity. With the exception of our larger groups, we sought to include Clinical Oncology as many group members as possible without masks. Each photo was taken individually, Considering the many challenges vaccines against related viruses; at a distance, in locations away posed by the COVID-19 years of critical basic research from areas dedicated to the pandemic in 2020, I cannot in understanding and applying care of our cancer patients. We forget the particularly dark times. RNA biology; faster ways to also welcomed faculty who were How this terrible virus swept the manufacture vaccines; hefty working at home during each world and ravaged human lives, funding that enabled the running photo session, inviting them to with a devastating death toll. But, of multiple trials in parallel; and send their photos from home. in the context of biomedicine, regulatory bodies moving more there were many bright moments quickly in response. COVID-19: from crisis that translated into opportunities to opportunity and hope. There are many lessons here that could be applied to other Using a combination of surveys This pandemic has shone a diseases including cancer in and interviews of oncology light on the breathtaking ability order to accelerate progress clinical investigators globally, of medical science to identify and accelerate improved clinical and analyses of data from IQVIA and combat a major new threat outcomes for countless patients and Clinical Trials.gov, a study(1) to public health globally. At worldwide. explored how COVID-19 has lightning speed, researchers Shaped by these reflections, affected the management of around the world worked ongoing clinical trials. tirelessly together to successfully the theme of this year’s report develop COVID-19 vaccines. -- VHIO in 2020: a year of The focus of this research was challenges, opportunities and to provide an initial evaluation Open They were able to do so quickly hope -- captures our experiences, of COVID-19 on the landscape for several reasons: research endeavors, and collective spirit. of clinical trials for cancer experience in developing We invited our Group and Unit around the world. As noted 6 VHIO Scientific Report 2020 A year of challenges, opportunities and hope. by the authors, while the data extensive changes to reduce institutions in treating cancer were limited by sample size, the COVID-19 exposure among during such difficult times. findings indicated that patient patients and our healthcare enrolment in active clinical trials teams. In addition to some We also co-led a multi-center (4) for cancer has been severely deviations from existing observational study to hampered by the pandemic protocols and administration provide a clinical portrait of the during the survey assessment of novel therapies, including epidemic in European cancer period (23 March–3 April). immunosuppressive treatment patients .This study addressed regimens, we also adopted several important questions Crucially, their data highlighted the technology-based as well as as to whether, within a broader importance of getting telemedicine remote interventions and patient population of cancer patients, running smoothly in advance to care activities to reduce on-site outcome of COVID-19 is more enable a seamless transition in monitoring visits and in-person strongly related to patients’ patient care. I completely agree. visits, thereby minimizing risk of demographic factors including The application of telemedicine viral infection and disease spread. age and comorbidities over has most certainly been oncologic features. expedited by COVID-19, possibly Regarding the future impact of representing a tipping point, the COVID-19 on cancer treatment Between February and April advent of remote patient care in and research, we should expect 2020, almost 900 patients with bringing crucial medical expertise further challenges ahead, confirmed COVID-19 and cancer to more patients. especially given the threat of were identified across the 19 new waves and strains. We surveyed European centers. (This Authors of a comprehensive must all continue to adapt was, at the time, the largest and (2) survey on what physicians have and respond to the ongoing most geographically diverse study learned and