Skip to main content
15/07/2022

Vall d'Hebron organizes the first international congress on the ERK5 protein in cancer

Congrés ERK

15/07/2022

The meeting allows establishing the basis for collaboration between experts from around the world, with the aim of promoting research on this protein and its role in cancer.

On July 14 and 15, Vall d'Hebron hosted the first international meeting on ERK5 signaling, a protein whose role in tumor development has been under special investigation in recent years. This congress has been promoted by Dr. José M. Lizcano, head of the Protein Kinases and Cancer group, and Dr. Miquel Segura, principal investigator of the Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders group, both from Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) in order to bring together most of the experts working on this protein worldwide.

ERK5 protein is a kinase that plays an important role in the control of tumor cell survival and proliferation. Therefore, ERK5 has recently been proposed as a possible therapeutic target for the treatment of different types of adult tumors, such as endometrial, lung, colon, breast, liver and prostate tumors, and also in pediatric solid tumors such as neuroblastoma. Recent studies also indicate that ERK5 may be involved in resistance to targeted cancer therapies.

The congress held this week presented the latest developments in ERK5 and included discussions on the future of research in this field. "This first meeting allows us to establish the basis for collaboration to promote studies of this factor with the aim of being able to take the advances to clinical practice", says Dr. Miquel Segura. "The research we are carrying out will allow us to promote ERK5 as a prognostic marker of the disease and also as a therapeutic target", adds Dr. José M. Lizcano.

Nearly 40 specialists in this field of research attended the conference, both from Spanish centers and from the United States, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom and France.

Related news

La iniciativa "Sin Piedad" explica la història d'en David, un nen que s'està tractant d'un càncer pediàtric, un exemple d'actitud lluitadora davant la malaltia.

The money will allow research into paediatric nervous system tumours and childhood sarcomas to continue, with the aim of improving children's chances of survival and reducing the side effects of treatment.

The association makes the fifth annual donation of 52,390€ that will finance a project to study new therapies for this childhood tumor.

Related professionals

Miguel Segura Ginard

Miguel Segura Ginard

Main researcher
Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders
Read more
Ariadna Garcia Rodriguez

Ariadna Garcia Rodriguez

Research technician
Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders
Read more
Constantino Sábado Álvarez

Constantino Sábado Álvarez

Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders
Read more
Elena Andretta

Elena Andretta

Research technician
Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders
Read more

Subscribe to our newsletters and be part of the Campus life

We are a world-leading healthcare complex where healthcare, research, teaching and innovation go hand in hand.