In 2020 our work focused on tumor heterogeneity and intercellular communication in the tumor environment. We published ground-breaking work on the role of ITGB3 in cell-cell communication via extracellular vesicles in the context of breast cancer metastasis. We are currently screening for inhibitors of ITGB3 to translate these findings to the clinic. Based on our previous work of p-eIF4E as prognostic marker independent of tumor heterogeneity, we have obtained the international patent for EB1 – the first in class allosteric inhibitor of the eIF4E phosphorylating kinases MNK1/2. We are currently exploring the clinical application in different cancers. We also reported on a role of the gap junction protein connexin 43 in the formation tunneling nanotubes (TNTs), creating an intercellular syncytium that regulates malignancy and therapy-resistance. We are currently exploring novel pathways that regulate connexin- and TNT-mediated heterocellular cell-cell communication networks.

Group Leader
Santiago Ramón y Cajal Agüeras

Principal Investigator (PI)
Trond Aasen, Cleofé Romagosa Pérez-Portabell

Researcher
Josep Castellví Vives, Rosa, Domínguez Oronoz, Elena Antima Martinez Saez, Vicente Peg Camara, Maria Teresa Salcedo Allende, Irene Sansano Valero, Javier Hernandez Losa, Marta Sese Faustino, Stefan Hümmer, Konstantin Slobodnyuk

PhD Students
Nikaoly Ciriaco Cortés, Jordi Temprana Salvador, Pedro Fuentes Varela, Cano Galietero, Marta

Lab Technician
Ximena Garcia Torres, Teresa Moline Marimon, Maria Rosa Somoza Lopez de Haro, Maria Jose Munoz

57

PUBLICATIONS

292

IMPACT FACTOR

5.12

AVERAGE IMPACT FACTOR

SELECTED ARTICLES

Fuentes P, Sesé M, Guijarro PJ, Emperador M, Sánchez-Redondo S, Peinado H, Hümmer S, Ramón Y Cajal S.
ITGB3-mediated uptake of small extracellular vesicles facilitates intercellular communication in breast cancer cells.
Nat Commun. 2020 Aug 26;11(1):4261.
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18081
IF: 12.121 – D1

Fuentes P, Sesé M, Guijarro PJ, Emperador M, Sánchez-Redondo S, Peinado H, Hümmer S, Ramón Y Cajal S.
ITGB3-mediated uptake of small extracellular vesicles facilitates intercellular communication in breast cancer cells.
Nat Commun. 2020 Aug 26;11(1):4261.
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18081
IF: 12.121 – D1

Fuentes P, Sesé M, Guijarro PJ, Emperador M, Sánchez-Redondo S, Peinado H, Hümmer S, Ramón Y Cajal S.
ITGB3-mediated uptake of small extracellular vesicles facilitates intercellular communication in breast cancer cells.
Nat Commun. 2020 Aug 26;11(1):4261.
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18081
IF: 12.121 – D1

Fuentes P, Sesé M, Guijarro PJ, Emperador M, Sánchez-Redondo S, Peinado H, Hümmer S, Ramón Y Cajal S.
ITGB3-mediated uptake of small extracellular vesicles facilitates intercellular communication in breast cancer cells.
Nat Commun. 2020 Aug 26;11(1):4261.
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18081
IF: 12.121 – D1

View all publications

Oncology

Research Areas