Research > Cancer

Molecular Oncology

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• Investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the initiation and progression of gastrointestinal tumors (colorectal and gastric), head and neck tumors and endometrial tumors. To understand the molecular mechanisms of the tumorigenic process with the ultimate goal of improving the diagnosis and treatment of patients. The group is currently investigating the role of the following proteins and their cell signaling pathways:
  • RhoA: Study the role of the mutations in the GTPase RhoA found in gastric tumors with diffuse histology, and head and neck tumors. Recurrent mutations in the RHOA gene have been identified in these tumor contexts, but their contribution to tumor development is unknown. The study of these mutations in diffuse gastric cancer has leaded a line of research focused on the therapeutic value of RhoA signaling.
  • Unconventional non-muscular myosins: the group has made important contributions on the role of different non-conventional myosins in intestinal tumor cells. The role of myosin Vb in colorectal cancer is currently being investigated, and how the levels of expression of the protein contribute to build a cellular vulnerability that can be exploited therapeutically.
  • Ephrin receptors: Our group has made significant contributions to understand the role of the signaling of different EPH receptors in colorectal cancer. Our data indicate that some of these receptors may also play a key role in endometrial cancer. Specifically, we study the value of these receptors to improve the stratification of patients and their therapy.
     
• Personalization of the chemotherapeutic treatment in patients with colorectal cancer. Our laboratory has been interested for long time in identifying new molecular biomarkers capable of predicting the response of patients with colorectal cancer to the treatment with different chemotherapy agents, specifically three compounds used in the initial phases of the oncological process (5-FU, irinotecan and oxaliplatin), and two compounds routinely used in the clinic for patients in advanced stages (regorafenib and TAS-102).  
    
• Study of drug-induced cellular senescence in colorectal cancer. The group studies in depth the senescence of colorectal tumors after the exposure to specific drugs, and the way to efficiently eliminate them to contribute to the improvement of oncological treatments in patients.
    
• Microvillus inclusion disease (MVID). Inactivating mutations in the MYO5B are responsible for MVID, a rare and severe genetic syndrome characterized by an intractable neonatal secretory diarrhea. The group has generated the first animal model of the disease, which has been instrumental to investigate the pathophysiology of the disease, and most importantly, the design of therapies. We are currently investigating the use of antioxidant agents as the first therapeutic option for these patients.