Immunity, inflammation and cancer

Summary

Our group is focused on three research lines. Regarding the exonuclease TREX2, our studies have been pioneering in unraveling the specific expression of TREX2 in keratinocytes and its key role in skin carcinogenesis and psoriasis. We also study how chromatin factors integrate extracellular signals into the nucleus to regulate gene expression and ultimately, influence cell fate and behavior. Our aim is to understand chromatin dynamics in cancer disease to find novel therapeutic interventions. Concerning oncolytic vaccinia viruses (VACV), our group is focused on improving their capacity to generate robust antitumor immune responses through an activation of an Immunogenic Cancer Cell Death (ICD) after infection. In addition, combination of these agents with other cancer immunotherapies are also explored in order to achieve a combinatory immunotherapy with a real potential to cure solid tumors.

107 Publications

Strategic lines

Selected Publications

Riederer,S;del Canizo,A;Navas,J;Peter,MG;Link,EK;Sutter,G;Rojas,JJ, Improving poxvirus-mediated antitumor immune responses by deleting viral cGAMP-specific nuclease, Cancer Gene Ther., 2023;30(7):1029-1039, doi:10.1038/s41417-023-00610-5
Moreta Moraleda,C;Queralt,C;Vendrell Ayats,C;Forcales,S;Martínez Balibrea,E, Chromatin factors: Ready to roll as biomarkers in metastatic colorectal cancer?, Pharmacol. Res., 2023;196106924-106924, doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106924
Zoroddu,S;Sanna,L;Bordoni,V;Lyu,WD;Murineddu,G;Pinna,GA;Forcales,SV et al, RNAseq Analysis of Novel 1,3,4-Oxadiazole Chalcogen Analogues Reveals Anti-Tubulin Properties on Cancer Cell Lines, Int. J. Mol. Sci., 2023;24(14):doi:10.3390/ijms241411263
Llorente,X;Esteruelas,G;Bonilla,L;Agudelo,MG;Filgaira,I;Lopez Ramajo,D;Gong,RC et al, Riluzole-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Hyperproliferative Skin Diseases, Int. J. Mol. Sci., 2023;24(9):doi:10.3390/ijms24098053
Langenmayer,MC;Luelf Averhoff,AT;Marr,L;Jany,S;Freudenstein,A;Adam Neumair,S;Tscherne,A et al, Newly Designed Poxviral Promoters to Improve Immunogenicity and Efficacy of MVA-NP Candidate Vaccines against Lethal Influenza Virus Infection in Mice, Pathogens, 2023;12(7):doi:10.3390/pathogens12070867

Selected Projects

Towards a viral immunotherapy able to generate robust antitumor immune responses. Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (AECC). 215.071,91€. 2022-2024. IP: Juan José Rojas Expósito

Small molecule TREX2 inhibitors as novel non-immunosuppressive therapeutics for psoriasis. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. Ref. PDC2021-120879-I00. 149.500,00 €. 01/12/2021-30/11/2023. IP: Concepció Soler Prat. Entitat: Universitat de Barcelona.

New strategies to overcome limitations of immune-oncolytic vaccinia virus threapy. Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades. Ref. PID2019-109102RA-I00. 145.200,00 €. 01/06/2020-31/05/2023. IP: Juan José Rojas Expósito. Entitat: Universitat de Barcelona.

Unravelling the mechanisms of macrosatellite NBL2 and its associated lncRNA, TNBL, in cancer; promising new biomarkers and targets for therapy. Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades. Ref. PID2019-105278RB-I00. 145.200,00 €. 01/06/2020-30/05/2023. IP: Sònia-Vanina Forcales Fernàndez. Entitat: Universitat de Barcelona.

Function and mechanisms of TREX2 in skin pathogenesis. A novel strategy for the treatment of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. Ref. PID2020-114477RB-I00. 108.900,00 €. 01/09/2021-31/08/2024. IP: Concepció Soler Prat. Entitat: Universitat de Barcelona.

Technology transfer