Research

Area 5

Molecular and translational oncology

Team leader

Strategic objectives

The strategic objectives of the laboratory are centered in three fields:

1. A purely scientific area corresponding to the consolidation of the investigational lines and groups that work in each of them.

2. A second area corresponding to the obtainment of aids and funding for research, in order to ensure the good functioning of the laboratory.

3.A third area established in recent years aims to expand the laboratory - this process being completed this year with the transfer to the new CIBEK building. This will make it possible to contract new investigators needed for the laboratory research objectives.

The first of the mentioned areas (scientific) comprises a qualitative and quantitative increase in scientific production. In particular, the colorectal and breast cancer stem cell lines are in their early stages.

Both the subject and the quality of research can attract investigators interested in a stay, in preparing a doctoral thesis, or in becoming part of the laboratory personnel. In this sense we have incorporated three new biologists into the group.

As regards the second area (funding of research), we must continue with the same criterion established years ago in order to ensure the continuity of all the research lines and facilitate the recruitment/contracting of new personnel members. At present, the laboratory has four FISS grants (2007, 2008, 2009, 2009), Networks funding from the Carlos III Institute, three aids from the Spanish Association Against Cancer (2007, 2008, 2009), and different research grants from the CELLEX Foundation.

Main lines of research

1. Tumor chemoresistance mechanisms:

  • 1.1. Resistance mechanisms in colorectal cancer linked to the extrinsic apoptotic pathway, in vitro and in vivo (Joan Maurel)
  • 1.2. Change in Fas receptor signaling during the acquisition of chemoresistance in colon cancer (Vanessa Almendro; Susana Garcia; Elisabet Ametller)
  • 1.3. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition and resistance to chemotherapy (Elisabet Ametller; Vanessa Almendro; Cristina Mayordomo)
  • 1.4. Resistance to antitumor drugs in head and neck cancer (Principal investigator: Juan J. Grau. Collaborators: Carmen Muñoz; Miguel Caballero; Andrea
    Tagliapietra; Mariano Monzó)
  • 1.5. Electrochemotherapy in solid tumors. Study of electroporation. (Principal investigator: Juan J. Grau. Collaborators: Carmen Muñoz; Miguel Caballero
  • 1.6. Implication of IGF-1R and MMP-7 in the mechanisms of resistance to chemotherapy and antibodies against tyrosine kinase receptors. Therapeutic strategies
    for the reversal of chemoresistance (IDIBAPS: Joan Maurel; Jordi Codony; Mercedes Marín. Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital: Albert Abad; Eva Martínez; Anna Martínez)
  • 1.7. Characterization of the role of MMP-7 in resistance to bevacizumab in colon cancer (Joan Maurel; Estela Pineda; Jordi Codony; Mercedes Marín; Cristobal
    Mezquita; Jovita Mezquita; Betlem Mezquita)
  • 1.8. Platform in orthotopic murine platforms characterized by the study of new drugs in pancreatic cancer (IDIBAPS: Joan Maurel; Pere Gascón; Salvador Navarro;
    David Fuster; Rosa Miquel; Jordi Codony. University of Barcelona: Adela Mazo; Sandra Pérez-Torras; Anna Vidal-Pla; Nerea Urtasun. CETIR: Yolanda González;
    Ignasi Carrió).

2. Stem cells, microenvironment and mechanisms of metastasis.

  • 2.1. Implications of substance P in the regulation of avb3 and a5b1 in breast cancer cell lines (Pere Gascón; Vanessa Almendro; Susana Garcia).
  • 2.2. Interaction between GPCRs and RTKs (Vanessa Almendro; Elisabet Ametller; Susana Garcia).
  • 2.3. Role of the PPT-I gene in the metastatic process (Pere Gascón; Vanessa Almendro; Cristina Mayordomo; Elisabet Ametller)
  • 2.4. Pre-angiogenic micrometastases of circulating cells (Cristina Nadal)
  • 2.5. Mechanisms of liver metastasis in colorectal cancer (Cristina Nadal)

3. Pharmacodynamic studies and prediction of therapeutic response

  • 3.1. Predictive and pharmacodynamic study of the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in prostate cancer. (Begoña Mellado)
  • 3.2. Mechanisms and markers of chemoresistance in prostate cancer. Therapeutic strategies for the reversal of chemoresistance. (Begoña Mellado; Jordi Codony; Mercedes Marín)

4. Study on the determination and characterization of circulating tumor cells

  • 4.1. In prostate cancer (Begoña Mellado)
  • 4.2. In breast cancer (Montse Muñoz; Xavier González)

5. Micro-RNAs in the development and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer. (Nuria Viñolas).

6. Study of the tumor and stroma interactions in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): role of fibroblasts associated with cancer in
NSCLC (N. Reguart; J. Alcaraz; Marta Puig)

7. Effect of anomalous hardening of tumor tissue in NSCLC (J. Alcaraz; N. Reguart; Marta Puig)

8. Study of sensitivity to trastuzumab in relation to the expression of topoisomerase I (Xavi González; Montse Muñoz; Ana Arance)

9. Characterization of the metastatic profile of malignant melanoma in circulating cells and primary tumors (Ana Arance; Laura Visa)