Oncology
Biomedical Research in Melanoma. Cancer Animal Models
Juan Angel Recio Conde
Researchers Vicenç Garcia Patos, Mileidys Pérez Alea, Eva Muñoz Cosuelo, Domingo Bodet | Researchers in training Elena Gonzalez Sánchez, Oriol Vidal Cortés, Berta Ferrer Fabregas | Nursing, technical and administrative staff Sara Sánchez-Redondo
Summary
Our main interest is to investigate the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying skin cancer and melanoma development and progression for therapeutical purposes. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, and If it is not recognized and treated at early stages, it becomes hard to treat and can be fatal. We have studied how UV radiation, the most relevant environmental insult associated to these diseases cooperates with BRAF an oncogene driver in melanomagenesis. We also are deciphering the role of the LKB1 tumor suppressor mutations in human samples, and how this protein regulates the transcription genome wide and in response to UV radiation. An important part of our investigations are performed in cooperation with clinicians to understand and solve challenges associated to patient´s treatment and management. In this matter, we are conducting two different preclinical studies targeting cancer metabolism in melanoma using patient derived xenografts and defined the genetic evolution of benign lesions toward recurrent tumors in patients. Importantly these results promoted decision-driven therapies against melanoma.