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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.

Publications

GRP78 Overexpression Triggers PINK1-IP3R-Mediated Neuroprotective Mitophagy.

PMID: 34440243
Journal: Biomedicines
Year: 2021
Reference: Biomedicines. 2021 Aug 18;9(8). pii: biomedicines9081039. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines9081039.
Impact factor: 6.081
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Romeo-Guitart, David, Herrando-Grabulosa, Mireia, Munoz-Guardiola, Pau, Polo, Miriam, Banuls, Celia, Petegnief, Valerie, Bosch, Assumpcio, Lizcano, Jose Miguel, Apostolova, Nadezda, Fores, Joaquim et al.
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9081039

ERK5 Inhibition Induces Autophagy-Mediated Cancer Cell Death by Activating ER Stress.

PMID: 34805151
Journal: Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
Year: 2021
Reference: Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 Nov 4;9:742049. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2021.742049. eCollection 2021.
Impact factor: 6.684
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Gamez-Garcia, Andres, Bolinaga-Ayala, Idoia, Yoldi, Guillermo, Espinosa-Gil, Sergio, Dieguez-Martinez, Nora, Megias-Roda, Elisabet, Munoz-Guardiola, Pau, Lizcano, Jose M et al.
DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.742049

The anti-cancer drug ABTL0812 induces ER stress-mediated cytotoxic autophagy by increasing dihydroceramide levels in cancer cells.

PMID: 32397857
Journal: Autophagy
Year: 2021
Reference: Autophagy. 2021 Jun;17(6):1349-1366. doi: 10.1080/15548627.2020.1761651. Epub 2020 May 25.
Impact factor: 16.016
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Domenech, Carles, Fabrias, Gemma, Velasco, Guillermo, Lizcano, Jose M, Alfon, Jose, Oaknin, Ana, Romeo, Margarita, Munoz-Guardiola, Pau, Casas, Josefina, Megias-Roda, Elisabet et al.
DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2020.1761651

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition).

PMID: 33634751
Journal: Autophagy
Year: 2021
Reference: Autophagy. 2021 Jan;17(1):1-382. doi: 10.1080/15548627.2020.1797280. Epub 2021 Feb 8.
Impact factor: 16.016
Publication type: Review in international publication
Authors: Arroyo, Daniela S, Agarwal, Anupam, Aggarwal, Bharat B, Agnello, Maria, Agostinis, Patrizia, Agrewala, Javed N, Agrotis, Alexander, Aguilar, Patricia V, Ahmad, S Tariq, Ahmed, Zubair M et al.
DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2020.1797280

STK11 (LKB1) missense somatic mutant isoforms promote tumor growth, motility and inflammation.

PMID: 32647375
Journal: Communications Biology
Year: 2020
Reference: Commun Biol. 2020 Jul 9;3(1):366. doi: 10.1038/s42003-020-1092-0.
Impact factor: 4.165
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Granado-Martinez, Paula, Garcia-Ortega, Sara, Gonzalez-Sanchez, Elena, McGrail, Kimberley, Selgas, Rafael, Grueso, Judit, Gil, Rosa, Naldaiz-Gastesi, Neia, Rhodes, Ana C, Hernandez-Losa, Javier et al.
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-1092-0

Blog

News

On World Cancer Research Day, we highlight research aimed at improving treatments for both pediatric and adult cancers through innovative techniques.

The research team has shown that inhibiting the TRIB3 protein slows the growth of rhabdomyosarcoma and improves survival in animal models.

A team from Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) highlights the ERK5 protein as a key factor in the resistance to cancer drugs.