SUMMARY

We mainly focus on the application of proteomic techniques to the identification and characterization of substrates of metalloproteases involved in tumor progression. Metalloproteases of the ADAM and ADAMTS families are known to play a crucial role in the regulation of the tumor microenvironment by mediating the remodeling of the extracellular matrix and the cleavage of specific extracellular and membrane proteins. Knowledge surrounding the substrates of these proteases in the context of tumor cells is required in order to elucidate their role in tumor growth and metastasis as well as evaluate their potential use as therapeutic targets. Our group employs mass spectrometry-based proteomic strategies to search for new substrates of these proteases and analyze their involvement in tumor progression. We also use proteomic techniques for screening and the validation of biomarkers for cancer diagnostics, personalized treatment and monitoring.

In 2014 we have proteomic services to VHIO and Vall d’Hebron University Hospital groups as well as to members of the ProteoRed-Instituto Salud Carlos III network, contributed to research aimed at the validation of a biomarker signature to facilitate patient selection and the monitoring of TGFbeta inhibitor-based treatment of glioma, and identified proteins shed by metalloproteases in breast cancer cells, using a new, highly efficient, proteomic methodology developed in our laboratory. We have also characterized the role of proteolysis by the metalloprotease ADAMTS1 of the insulin-like growth factor binding protein IGFBP2 in glioma, as well as collaborated in the unmasking of a new role of the kinase LKB1 as a UV damage sensor in melanoma.

PUBLICATIONS