Salamanca Cancer Center Advances Metastasis and Relapse Research with Cutting-Edge Technology
SALAMANCA, Spain – February 23, 2026 – The Salamanca Cancer Research Center (CIC) has announced a significant advancement in its analytical capabilities with the implementation of two new technologies: single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics. These tools are designed to improve understanding of the origins of metastasis and relapse in cancer treatments.
Understanding the New Technologies
The CIC, a joint research center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the University of Salamanca, and the USAL Foundation for Cancer Research, explains that spatial transcriptomics provides a “molecular GPS” to map the complexity of tumors in two dimensions without disrupting the original sample structure. This allows researchers to identify interactions between tumor cells and normal cells that were previously undetectable, potentially explaining variations in patient treatment responses.
According to Dr. Sandra Blanco, scientific coordinator of the Genomics Unit at the Salamanca Cancer Research Center, maintaining the tissue structure is crucial. “By maintaining the structure of the analyzed tissue, we can identify interactions of tumor cells with each other, or with other normal cells, which were previously invisible and which can explain, for example, why some patients respond to treatment and others suffer relapses,” she stated.
Single-cell sequencing, allows for the analysis of the individual “instruction manual” of each cell within a tumor. This enables the identification of rare genetic alterations often missed by conventional analyses. The technique allows for precise identification of cell types and subtypes within the tumor mass.
Dr. Encarna Fermiñán, the technical manager of these services, highlighted the versatility of the technologies, noting their ability to analyze tumor cells at multiple levels – gene expression, genetic alterations, and protein expression.
Addressing the Heterogeneity of Cancer
Traditional genetic analyses often involved crushing tissue samples, resulting in an “average” of gene expression across all cells. However, the CIC emphasizes that cancer is not uniform. It’s a complex ecosystem where a small number of cells can drive tumor initiation, treatment resistance, and metastasis.
Tumor cells can also exhibit varying gene expression patterns depending on their location within the tumor, and the surrounding normal cells play a critical role. Understanding this “geographical” variability is essential for predicting malignant properties, treatment response, and immune evasion.
“Cancer is no longer studied globally as an isolated and uniform mass, but as a complex mosaic in which each cell that composes it, whether tumorous or normal, can change depending on its environment,” explains Dr. Blanco.
Strategic Investment and National Impact
The acquisition of this equipment positions Salamanca at the forefront of oncological research in Spain. The investment was made possible through funding from the Scientific Infrastructure Acquisition Program of the State Research Agency, with co-financing from the University of Salamanca. The equipment is now available through the Genomics Unit of the Salamanca Cancer Research Center, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Dr. Xosé Bustelo, director of the Cancer Research Center, emphasized that the new infrastructure is not only for internal researchers but is also accessible to the broader national scientific community. “We want any academic group, hospital or biotechnology company to be able to access these cutting-edge tools to accelerate their discoveries,” he said.