Oncolliga Lleida funds an IRBLleida project to predict melanoma progression using artificial intelligence

The Oncolliga Lleida association has awarded funding from the first edition of its call for proposals supporting cancer research to the project PredIHC-MEL: Predictive Immunohistochemistry-Based Algorithm for Molecular Stratification, Prognosis and Personalized Treatment of Primary Melanoma Patients, led by Anna Macià Armengol, a researcher in the Oncology Pathology research group. The project aims to develop an artificial intelligence-based tool capable of predicting the progression of melanoma patients from the time of diagnosis.

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer and shows considerable variability in its clinical progression. Despite advances in treatments and diagnostic tools, it remains difficult to predict how the disease will evolve in each patient. For this reason, the PredIHC-MEL project seeks to harness the potential of artificial intelligence to improve predictive capabilities and enable more precise and personalized medicine.

The new tool will integrate information that is already routinely generated in healthcare settings, including patients' clinical, histological, molecular and genetic data. Using machine learning techniques, the research team will develop an algorithm capable of identifying patterns associated with disease progression, the risk of metastasis and potential responses to treatment.

The ultimate goal is to provide healthcare professionals with a decision-support tool that enables better adaptation of monitoring strategies and therapeutic approaches to the characteristics of each patient. Furthermore, because it is based on biomarkers and techniques already used in routine clinical practice, its future implementation in hospitals could be faster and more accessible.

The project has significant translational potential and aligns with the shared commitment of Oncolliga Lleida and IRBLleida to promote research with a direct impact on patients' lives. This collaboration reinforces both institutions' dedication to advancing knowledge and developing new tools that contribute to improving cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.