Protein kinases in cancer research
Our group is interested in dissecting new cellular signaling pathways that control cancer cell proliferation and differentiation. We collaborate with academics and Biopharma Companies to perform preclinical development of new anticancer drugs. Specifically, we are interested in deciphering the role of the new MAP kinase ERK5 in cancer proliferation and survival. We are also interested in the modulation of autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress as new strategies to tackle cancer, to improve chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments.
We are involved in potentiating translational aspects of our resources. We actively collaborate with Ability Pharmaceuticals SL in the preclinical/clinical development of the new antitumor drug ABTL0812, which it is Clinical Trial Phase II to treat cancer patients with advanced endometrial and squamous NSCLC cancers (NCT02201823). We uncovered the mechanism involved in the antitumor action of ABTL0812: by modulating the Akt/mTORC1 axis and ER stress, this molecule induces cancer cell death by activating cytotoxic autophagy in cancer cells.
