Cell Signalling Mechanisms during Tumour Development and Progression

Strategic objectives

  • Characterisation of C3G function in cancer and liver pathophysiology.
  • Role of platelet C3G protein in chronic liver damage and hepatocellular carcinoma. Study of the role of HGF/Met, EGFR, and TGF-β pathways in chronic liver damage and hepatocellular carcinoma.
  • Role of the microenvironment in the regulation of molecular mechanisms of dormancy: Implications for metastasis.
  • Identification of new genes relevant to prostate cancer metastasis by CRISPR genomic screens to be used as biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets.

Lines of research

  • Analysis of the role of C3G during tumour development and progression in glioblastoma, hepatocarcinoma, and other tumours.
  • Characterisation of platelet C3G protein function in angiogenesis, liver, and cardiovascular pathologies.
  • Study of C3G function in the liver.
  • Analysis of the role of receptor tyrosine kinase (Met and EGFR) and TGF-β (TGF-β and BMP9) signalling pathways in the regulation of liver cell function during chronic liver damage.
  • Search and characterisation of relevant genes in the metastatic process in prostate cancer.
  • Identification of new treatments for different diseases – UCM & Arctic Therapeutics collaboration.
  • Characterisation of the role of plexins, neuropilins, and semaphorins in the biology of disseminated tumour cells and metastasis in breast, and head and neck cancer.
  • Search and characterisation of relevant genes in the process of dormancy and metastasis in breast, and head and neck cancer.

Publications

Projects