A project coordinated by the National Center for Oncological Research (CNIO), involving nine hospitals, two universities (the Polytechnic University of Madrid and the Carlos III University), and the Cris against Cancer Foundation, is making strides in personalized medicine.To date, 150 women with advanced cancer have joined the study, marking half of the participant goal.

The Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII) promotes and funds this initiative as part of its precision medicine infrastructure.

The project focuses on creating digital twins of advanced cancer patients using artificial intelligence to Customize treatments in future clinical trials and anticipate the evolution of the disease.

A digital twin is a virtual representation that Precise and dynamic reproduce the health status of a patient in real time.Unlike conventional medical histories, this model integrates multiple data layers, from molecular tumor data (DNA, protein, or metabolism disorders) to physiological indicators from devices like smart watches, which track heart rate, sleep, and physical activity.

The model also incorporates details about the emotional state and quality of life, gathered via a mobile app, along with clinical data like treatments and analytical results. This continuously updated information helps doctors and researchers understand disease evolution and treatment responses, anticipate complications and side effects, and personalize therapies in real time.

150 cancer patients already participate

The study, involving nine Spanish hospitals and the Polytechnic University of Madrid and the Carlos III University, plans to include 300 women with metastatic breast, lung, or colon cancer before they start treatment.With 150 patients recruited,the project is at a key point,confirming its feasibility.

Initial results, presented at the Congress of the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO), indicate that It is indeed possible to perform remote quality and that the collected data are robust enough to feed computational models capable of predicting disease evolution.

The research team is preparing for the Congress of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (disgust) 2025, where they will discuss how remotely obtained information-from daily life parameters to emotional state indicators-can anticipate early response to treatments in metastatic cancer patients.

It is possible to perform remote quality and that the collected data are robust enough to feed computational models capable of predicting disease evolution.

New steps to incorporate biological age

A key innovation is the study of How the patient’s body ages during treatment, not just the tumor’s behavior. An advanced biological clock model, developed by the CNIO, estimates the body’s real biological age from DNA analysis. This clock can detect if the body is aging faster than expected, influenced by cancer type, treatment toxicity, and emotional factors.

This adds a New dimension to clinical monitoring, allowing health professionals to assess treatment impacts and adjust intensity based on each patient’s biological situation. This is the first practical application of this technology in a real clinical follow-up study.

while the study is in development and not directly therapeutic for participants, its goal is to Generate tools and knowledge that contribute to transforming the medicine of the future. Integrating molecular data, real-time remote monitoring, and biological age estimation paves the way for more precise, individualized oncology. It is among the most ambitious personalized medicine efforts in Spain.

Led by the CNIO with €2.5 million over three years, the project, technically named High-definition oncology in women’s cancer, is supported by the Carlos III Health institute (ISCIII) and funded by European funds from the Newgeneu/PRTR program. It is part of Impact, the precision medicine infrastructure associated with science and technology, driven by the ISCIII.