Academic Beneficiaries
In Memoriam Dr. Carmen de Torres Gomez-Pallete
Dr. Carmen de Torres was a clinical researcher in the field of pediatric oncology with particular interests in tumors of the peripheral nervous system, especially neuroblastomas. These tumors are sometimes diffuse and benign but in many cases can become metastatic and life threatening. The current treatment for these high-risk neuroblastomas involves surgical excision when possible and conventional radio- and chemotherapy but these therapies are not generally effective; patients with neuroblastomas often die at an early age.
Dr. de Torres’ research focused on the mechanisms underlying tumor progression with the aim of discovering new molecular targets for therapeutic intervention. She discovered that the extracellular calcium receptor (CaSR) might be one such target.
Neuroblastomas that have ceased proliferating and undergone differentiation are associated with favorable clinical outcomes. Dr. de Torres’ research revealed that such differentiated tumors express relatively high levels of the CaSR compared to non-differentiated, proliferating neuroblastomas that are associated with metastases and poor clinical outcomes. She showed that ectopic CaSR overexpression significantly reduced the proliferative rate of neuroblastoma cells lines and their tumorigenic capacity in mouse models and that CaSR loss-of-function polymorphisms are associated with worsened clinical outcomes. This gave her the idea that CaSR activation could offer a new therapeutic approach for treating patients with neuroblastoma.
Indeed, Dr. de Torres showed that many neuroblastoma cells exposed to calcimimetic compounds undergo apoptosis and those that remain enter terminal differentiation. While some animals developed hypocalcemia as a complication of the treatment, her most recent studies, using a different, less hypocalcemic calcimimetic, still prolonged survival in mice harbouring neuroblastoma tumours. Together, Dr. de Torres’ research has revealed a potentially new therapeutic approach to treating this devastating cancer afflicting young people.
As a member of the CaSR Biomedicine consortium, Dr. de Torres was an enthusiastic and inspiring contributor working to train young scientists to be not only excellent, but also passionate about their work. She was a delightful colleague and friend, ever thoughtful, generous and helpful.
We hope that her research will be continued to honour and fulfill her goal to help the patients and their families suffering from this disease.
Carmen, we will miss you.
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