On October 8, João Casanova , a Gynecologic Oncology specialist at Hospital da Luz Lisboa, successfully completed his PhD in Medicine at the Faculty of Medical Sciences – Nova Medical School, NOVA University Lisbon. His dissertation was unanimously approved by the examination panel and awarded with distinction. His thesis, entitled "High-grade endometrioid endometrial carcinoma: molecular and RNA signature and its implication in the overall prognosis of this neoplasm," was supervised by Jorge Lima , a university professor and specialist at Hospital da Luz Lisboa. The research led to the publication of five scientific papers in leading peer-reviewed journals in the fields of Oncology, Gynecologic Oncology, and Molecular Science. The work included three meta-analyses assessing oncological outcomes and the prevalence of three molecular subtypes of high-grade endometrioid endometrial carcinoma. This was followed by an exploratory study aimed at integrating molecular classification of endometrial cancer into routine clinical practice at Hospital da Luz Lisboa. By adopting this classification, Hospital da Luz Lisboa's multidisciplinary teams are able to make more accurate and personalized treatment decisions, further enhancing the quality of care provided to patients diagnosed with this disease. The research also included a pioneering study evaluating the RNA expression of deubiquitinating enzymes (the biological process through which ubiquitin molecules are removed from a target protein) across different molecular subtypes of malignant endometrial neoplasms. The main findings of João Casanova's research were: The three molecular subtypes evaluated through meta-analysis showed markedly different prognoses. The use of genetic sequencing techniques, together with immunohistochemistry, makes it possible to classify endometrial cancer patients according to their molecular subtype, which may, in selected cases, influence decisions regarding adjuvant therapy. Differences in RNA expression of deubiquitinating enzymes among the various molecular subtypes may contribute to the development of new therapeutic approaches for this disease. Hospital da Luz Lisboa and Luz Saúde thank João Casanova for his dedication, commitment, and vision, and proudly congratulate him on achieving his doctorate . In the photo above (from left to rigth), the examination panel for João Casanova's PhD defense included Jorge Lima (thesis supervisor), Luís Costa (Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon), Deolinda Pereira (Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto), Rui Maio (Nova Medical School and chair of the examination panel), João Casanova, Célia Costa (Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto), and José Luís Passos Coelho (Nova Medical School).
