Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory Cancers

At Institut Curie in Paris, research in respiratory tract diseases is strongly centered on non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer, with studies spanning early, locally advanced, and metastatic disease. These trials aim to improve treatment effectiveness, refine perioperative care, and test new immunotherapy and targeted approaches for patients with difficult-to-treat lung cancers.

  • Testing newer immunotherapy combinations for lung cancer control
  • Evaluating targeted treatment options for EGFR-mutated and other molecularly defined tumors
  • Improving outcomes after surgery or chemoradiotherapy in resectable disease

Research here also includes biomarker-driven strategies and imaging tools designed to better match treatment to each patient’s cancer profile.

Breast Cancer and Women’s Cancers

The site has a major focus on neoplasms affecting women, especially breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer. Trials are exploring ways to strengthen first-line treatment, reduce relapse risk, and personalize care for hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive, and triple-negative disease.

  • Assessing new treatments for advanced breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer
  • Studying biomarkers such as ctDNA and molecular imaging for earlier relapse detection
  • Evaluating treatment de-escalation and maintenance strategies in selected patients

These studies reflect a strong interest in both improving survival and tailoring care to reduce unnecessary treatment burden.

Hematology and Blood Cancers

Clinical research in hemic and lymphatic diseases is broad and includes acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, lymphoma, and other hematologic malignancies. The trials at Institut Curie are focused on improving frontline therapy, strengthening response rates, and finding better options for relapsed or high-risk disease.

  • Testing new approaches for ALL, AML, and aggressive lymphomas
  • Exploring immune-based strategies in resistant or recurrent blood cancers
  • Refining treatment pathways for younger adults and pediatric patients

Several studies also aim to improve long-term disease control while limiting the need for more intensive treatment.

Pediatric and Rare Cancers

A substantial part of the portfolio addresses pediatric cancer and rare tumors, including neuroblastoma, glioma, ependymoma, medulloblastoma, retinoblastoma, and atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors. These studies are designed to improve outcomes in cancers that are often hard to treat and may have limited established options.

  • Testing new therapies for recurrent or refractory childhood tumors
  • Studying treatment strategies for rare brain and eye cancers
  • Evaluating safer, more effective options for children and adolescents

The research combines innovation with a strong focus on unmet needs in younger patients.

Head and Neck, Digestive, and Other Solid Tumors

The oncology program also covers a wide range of solid tumors, especially head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, gastrointestinal cancers, biliary tract cancer, pancreatic cancer, and prostate cancer. Many trials are biomarker-driven and seek to improve treatment selection for advanced or recurrent disease.

  • Evaluating new therapies for head and neck cancer and other difficult solid tumors
  • Studying targeted treatment in cancers with specific molecular alterations
  • Assessing better options for advanced digestive, urologic, and rare tumors

This broad research area reflects the site’s strong interest in precision oncology across multiple tumor types.

Diagnostic Imaging and Precision Medicine

Beyond treatment studies, Institut Curie is active in diagnosis, investigative techniques, and therapeutic monitoring. Trials include advanced imaging and blood-based markers to better understand tumor behavior, detect relapse earlier, and guide treatment decisions.

  • Using PET/CT imaging to improve assessment of disease spread and treatment response
  • Studying circulating tumor DNA for early relapse detection and surveillance
  • Developing biomarkers to support more personalized cancer care

These efforts complement the therapeutic trials by helping clinicians choose and monitor treatment more precisely.