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RESEARCH GROUPS
Group U749
Programme: Hereditary Cancer and Related Syndromes
Lead Researcher: Fernández Piqueras, José Group Members
STAFF MEMBERS: Cobos Fernández, María de los Ángeles | González Sánchez, Laura ASSOCIATED MEMBERS: Santos Hernández, Javier | Villa Morales, María
Main lines of research
In the last year we have been working on genetics and epigenetics cancer susceptibility, with particular reference to T-cell lymphoblastic lymphomas (T-LBL) . Precursor T-cell lymphoblastic neoplasms are aggressive haematological malignancies, which mainly develop in children (in particular adolescent males) but can also affect adults . The molecular basis of these neoplasms has been well established in T-cell lymphoblastic leukaemia (in particular T-ALL) but to a lesser extent in T-LBL, which consists of a rare subtype . The integration of genomic approaches has enabled us to reveal a map of genetic alterations in coding and non-coding genes (microRNAs), which provided new insights about T-LBL development . Specifically, we have been working with specific mutations or deregulations of several members of the Fas/FasL apoptotic signalling pathway to assess about the involvement of this apoptotic pathway . Another interesting initiative was to unravel how activating JAK2 mutations may be contributing to T-LBL development . In addition our team has collaborated with other groups in the study of the cannabinoid receptor CB2 as a pivotal regulator in breast cancer . Finally, we have been working with some rare forms of psychiatric illnesses to identified new susceptibility genes involved in alcohol use disorders . Present and future initiatives of our group are to assess a role for key genes as NOTCH1, FBXW7 and other members of the JAK/STAT pathways (in particular JAK1, and JAK3), combining/integrating mutational screening and changes of expression due to epigenetic mechanisms and microRNA deregulation; and to exploit the collateral damage of common deletions for the development of more effective therapies to specifically killing lymphoma cells, avoiding the damage of normal accompanying cells (ACCI project) .
158 CIBERER » Annual report 2014