Molecular signaling Group
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Francesc Viñals- Group Leader Agnès Figueras - Associate researcher Alvaro Lahiguera - PhD Student Núria Gendrau - Master Student Ferran Medina - Undergraduate Student |
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The molecular signaling cascades that take place inside the cells are essential to respond to changes in their environment or to alter their homeostasis, for example, at the level of cell proliferation, movement, growth or metabolism. Understanding how these mechanisms of signal transduction work can explain how biological processes are controlled in a normal physiological context, but also, the alterations that take place in many pathologies. Thus, changes in signaling can be used to detect the presence of many diseases and signaling molecules are targeted by many drugs. In addition, these signaling pathways are affected in response to therapies used to treat for example, cancer, and will participate in the generation of drug resistance.
Our group investigates the role of different signaling pathways in physiological processes, as members of the families of TGFbeta and EGFR control angiogenesis, or the role of different ubiquitin ligases regulating the function of signal proteins. A second block corresponds to projects on ovarian epithelial cancer. We studied the role of different receptor tyrosine kinases (such as PDGF or c-Kit receptors) and cytokine receptors (such as CXCR4) in the development and metastasis of this type of cancer. Finally, a third aspect of our research is how different signaling pathways participate in the generation of resistance to chemotherapy in testicular and epithelial ovarian cancer. |
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Original publications by the group
- Alsina-Sanchís E, Figueras A , Lahiguera A, Gil-Martín M, Pardo B, Piulats JM, Martí L, Ponce J, Matias-Guiu X, Vidal A, Villanueva A, Viñals F. " The TGFB Controls Ovarian Cancer Cell Proliferation ". International Journal Molecular Science 18: E1658, 2017.
- Figueras A, Alsina-Sanchís E, Lahiguera A, Abreu M, Muinelo-Romay L, Moreno-Bueno G, Casanovas O, Graupera M, Matias-Guiu X, Vidal A, Villanueva A, Viñals F. " A role for CXCR4 in peritoneal and hematogenous ovarian cancer dissemination" . Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 17: 532-543, 2018.
- Alsina-Sanchís E, García-Ibáñez Y, Figueiredo AM, Riera-Domingo C, Figueras A, Matias-Guiu X, Casanovas O, Botella LM, Pujana MA, Riera-Mestre A, Graupera M, Viñals F. " ALK1 (Activin-Receptor Like Kinase 1) Loss Results in Vascular Hyperplasia in Mice and Humans Through PI3K ( Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase) Activtion". Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 38(5):1216-1229, 2018.
- Alsina-Sanchís E, Figueras A, Lahiguera A, Vidal A, Casanovas O, Graupera M, Villanueva A, Viñals F. “The TGFβ pathway stimulates ovarian cancer cell proliferation by increasing IGF1R levels.” International Journal of Cancer: 139: 1894-1903, 2016.
- Juliachs M , Muñoz C, Moutinho C.A ,Vidal A , Condom E, Esteller M , Graupera M , Casanovas O, Germà JR, Villanueva A, Viñals F. “The PDGFRbeta-AKT Pathway Contributes To CDDP-Acquired Resistance In Testicular Germ Cell Tumors” Clinical Cancer Research: 658-667, 2014.
- Juliachs M, Vidal A, Del Muro XG, Piulats JM, Condom E, Casanovas O, Graupera M, Germà JR, Villanueva A, Viñals F. “Effectivity of pazopanib treatment in orthotopic models of human testicular germ cell tumors.” BMC-Cancer 13: 382, 2013.
- Juliachs M, Castillo-Ávila W, Vidal A, Piulats JM, Garcia Del Muro X, Condom E, Hernández-Losa J, Teixidó C, Pandiella A, Graupera M, Casanovas O, Germà JR, Villanueva A, Viñals F. “ErbBs inhibition by lapatinib blocks tumor growth in an orthotopic model of human testicular germ cell tumor” International Journal of Cancer 133: 235-246, 2013.
- Figueras, M.A. Arbós, M.T. Quiles, F. Viñals, J.R. Germà, & Capellà G. “The impact of KRAS mutations on VEGF-A production and tumour vascular network”. BMC-Cancer 13: 125, 2013.
- Vives M, Ginestà MM, Gracova K, Graupera M, Casanovas O, Capellà G, Serrano T, Laquente B & Viñals F. “Metronomic chemotherapy following the maximum tolerated dose is an effective anti-tumour therapy affecting angiogenesis, tumour dissemination and cancer stem cells.” International Journal of Cancer 133: 2464-2472, 2013.
- del Valle-Pérez, V.G. Martínez, C. Lacasa-Salavert, A. Figueras, S.S. Shapiro, T. Takafuta, O. Casanovas, G. Capellà, .F. Ventura & F. Viñals. “Filamin B plays a key role in VEGF-induced endothelial cell motility through its interaction with Rac-1 and Vav-2” Journal of Biological Chemistry 285: 10748-10760, 2010.
- Castillo-Ávila W, Piulats J.M , Garcia del Muro X, Vidal A, Condom E, Casanovas O, Mora J, Germà JR, Capellà G, Villanueva A,Viñals F. “Sunitinib inhibits tumor growth and synergizes with cisplatin in orthotopic models of cisplatin-sensitive and resistant human testicular germ cell tumors” Clinical Cancer Researcch 15: 3384-3395, 2009.
- da Silva-Diz V, Simón-Extremera P, Bernat-Peguera A, de Sostoa J, Urpí M, Penin RM, Pérez Sidelnikova D, Bermejo O, Viñals JM, Rodolosse A, Gonzalez-Suarez E, Gómez Moruno A, Pujana MA, Esteller M, Villanueva A, Viñals F, Muñoz P. “Cancer stem-like cells act at via distinct signaling pathways in promoting late stages of malignant progression.” Cancer Research 76:1245-1259, 2016.
- Jiménez‐Valerio G, Martínez‐Lozano M, Bassani N, Vidal A, Ochoa‐de‐Olza M, Suárez C, García‐del‐Muro X, Carles J, Viñals F, Graupera M, Indraccolo S & Casanovas O. “Resistance to Antiangiogenic Therapies by Metabolic Symbiosis in Renal Cell Carcinoma PDX Models and Patients” Cell Reports 15: 1134-1143, 2016.
- R. Ola, A. Dubrac, J. Han, F. Zhang, J.S. Fang, B. Larrivée, M. Lee, A.A. Urarte, J.R. Kraehling, G. Genet, K.K. Hirschi, W.C. Sessa, F. Viñals Canals, M. Graupera, M. Yan, L.H. Young, P.S. Oh & A. Eichmann. “PI3 kinase inhibition improves vascular malformations in mouse models of hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia” Nature Communications 7: 13650, 2016.
- Serra H, Chivite I, Angulo-Urarte A, Soler A, Sutherland JD, Arruabarrena-Aristorena A, Ragab A, Lim R, Malumbres M, Fruttiger M, Potente M, Serrano M, Fabra À, Viñals F, Casanovas O, Pandolfi PP, Bigas A, Carracedo A, Gerhardt H, Graupera M. ”PTEN mediates Notch-dependent stalk cell arrest in angiogenesis.” Nature Communications 6: 7935, 2015.
- P. Lopez-Serra, M. Marcilla, A. Villanueva, A. Ramos-Fernandez, A. Palau, L. Leal-Esteban, J. Wahi, F. Setien-Baranda, K. Szczesna, C. Moutinho, A. Martinez-Cardus, H. Heyn, J. Sandoval, S. Puertas, A. Vidal, X. Sanjuan, E. Martinez-Balibrea, F. Viñals, J.C. Perales, J. Bramsen, T. Ørntoft, C.L Andersen, J. Tabernero, U. McDermott, M. Boxer, M. Vander Heiden, J. Pablo Albar, and M. Esteller. “A DERL3 Associated Defect in the Degradation of SLC2A1 Mediates the Warburg Effect” Nature Communications 5: 3608, 2014.
- Méndez-Lucas A, Hyroššová P, Novellasdemunt L, Viñals F, Perales JC. “Mitochondrial Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (PEPCK-M) Is a Pro-survival, Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Stress Response Gene Involved in Tumor Cell Adaptation to Nutrient Availability”. Journal of Biological Chemistry 289: 22090-22102, 2014.
- Cepeda D, Ng HF, Sharifi HR, Mahmoudi S, Cerrato VS, Fredlund E, Magnusson K, Nilsson H, Malyukova A, Rantala J, Klevebring D, Viñals F, Bhaskaran N, Zakaria SM, Rahmanto AS, Grotegut S, Nielsen ML, Szigyarto CA, Sun D, Lerner M, Navani S, Widschwendter M, Uhlén M, Jirström K, Pontén F, Wohlschlegel J, Grandér D, Spruck C, Larsson LG, Sangfelt O. ”CDK-mediated activation of the SCFFBXO28 ubiquitin ligase promotes MYC-driven transcription and tumourigenesis and predicts poor survival in breast cancer.” EMBO Molecular Medicine 5: 999-1018, 2013.
- Soler, H. Serra, W. Pearce, A. Angulo, J. Guillermet-Guibert, L. Friedman, F. Viñals, H. Gerhardt, O. Casanovas, M. Graupera & B. Vanhaesebroeck. “Inhibition of the p110 isoform of PI3 kinase stimulates non-functional tumor angiogenesis.” Journal of Experimental Medicine 210: 1937-1945, 2013.
Title: MECANISMOS DE SEÑALIZACIÓN Y CONTROL METABÓLICO IMPLICADOS EN LA DISEMINACIÓN Y QUIMIORESISTENCIA EN CÁNCER EPITELIAL DE OVARIO
Institution: DGICYT Ref SAF2017-85869-R
Years: 2018-2020
PI: Francesc Viñals Canals
Title: GENÉTICA, TERAPIA Y RESISTENCIA EN TUMORES EPITELIALES Y GERMINALES
Institution: Ayuda para Grupos Consolidados 2017, 2017-SGR-449. Generalitat de Catalunya
Years: 2018-2020
PI: Francesc Viñals Canals
Title: A PILOT PROJECT FOR PERSONALIZED CANCER MEDICINE: ONCOPROFILE
Institution: INSTITUTO DE SALUD CARLOS III, Proyectos Integrados de Excelencia en los Institutos de Investigación Acreditados Ref PIE13/00022.
Years: 2014-2016
PI: Manel Esteller (Co-PI: Francesc Viñals)
Title: GENÉTICA, TERAPIA Y ANGIOGÉNESIS DE TUMORES EPITELIALES Y GERMINALES.
Institution: Ayuda para Grupos Consolidados 2014, 2014SGR364. Generalitat de Catalunya.
Years: 20142017
PI: Francesc Viñals Canals
Title: NUEVAS DIANAS PARA EL TRATAMIENTO Y DIAGNÓSTICO DEL CÁNCER EPITELIAL DE OVARIO: VÍAS DEL TGFBETA Y DE LOS RECEPTORES PDGF
Institution: DGICYT Ref SAF2013-46063-R
Years: 20142017
PI: Francesc Viñals Canals
Institution: DGICYT Ref SAF2017-85869-R
Years: 2018-2020
PI: Francesc Viñals Canals
Title: GENÉTICA, TERAPIA Y RESISTENCIA EN TUMORES EPITELIALES Y GERMINALES
Institution: Ayuda para Grupos Consolidados 2017, 2017-SGR-449. Generalitat de Catalunya
Years: 2018-2020
PI: Francesc Viñals Canals
Title: A PILOT PROJECT FOR PERSONALIZED CANCER MEDICINE: ONCOPROFILE
Institution: INSTITUTO DE SALUD CARLOS III, Proyectos Integrados de Excelencia en los Institutos de Investigación Acreditados Ref PIE13/00022.
Years: 2014-2016
PI: Manel Esteller (Co-PI: Francesc Viñals)
Title: GENÉTICA, TERAPIA Y ANGIOGÉNESIS DE TUMORES EPITELIALES Y GERMINALES.
Institution: Ayuda para Grupos Consolidados 2014, 2014SGR364. Generalitat de Catalunya.
Years: 20142017
PI: Francesc Viñals Canals
Title: NUEVAS DIANAS PARA EL TRATAMIENTO Y DIAGNÓSTICO DEL CÁNCER EPITELIAL DE OVARIO: VÍAS DEL TGFBETA Y DE LOS RECEPTORES PDGF
Institution: DGICYT Ref SAF2013-46063-R
Years: 20142017
PI: Francesc Viñals Canals
To inquire about open positions please contact:
Dr. Francesc Viñals Canals
Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance, ProCURE
Catalan Institute of Oncology
Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute, IDIBELL
3 floor, LRT1, Hospital Duran i Reynals
Gran Via 199-203, 08907 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat
Dr. Francesc Viñals Canals
Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance, ProCURE
Catalan Institute of Oncology
Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute, IDIBELL
3 floor, LRT1, Hospital Duran i Reynals
Gran Via 199-203, 08907 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat
