Research and Advanced Education
Scientific Research Projects in Oncology, Prof. Sérgio Dias
The Editorial Team asked Prof. Sérgio Dias, head of the Abraço Association Research Grant Winner project in the field of breast cancer, in April, to show our readers the Scientific Research Projects in Oncology undertaken by the Institute of Molecular biology, FMUL.
Presentation of Scientific Research Projects in the Field of Oncology. Reference to projects involving the participation of the Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM), of the Services of Santa Maria Hospital (HSM) and of the Units of the Faculty of Medicine of Lisbon (FMUL).
Projects currently in progress at our Laboratory investigate the role of blood vessels in tumour development and progression. In particular, we explore molecular signs communicated through blood vessels of tumours and tumour cells (i.e. the Notch signalling pathway: delta), trying to understand which signs are essential to support tumour growth and seeking to develop strategies to prevent such communication.
Other strands of work in progress at the Laboratory aim to understand cancer as a “systemic” disease, i.e., involving more than just the organ where the tumour develops. In particular, we study the importance of bone marrow-derived cells in triggering various mechanisms that are essential for tumour development and progression, such as the formation of new vasculature (neoangiogenesis) and the activation of the mechanisms that lead to the formation of metastases, among others. The latter projects involve close collaboration with the Oncology Service of the HSM.
Introduction of the Working Team:Currently the team consists of two postdoc members: Ana Magalhães and Ana de Barros; three doctoral students: Inês Martins, Germana Domingues and Joana Afonso; three master students: Andreia Silva, Raquel Duarte and Celina Parreira, and Lab manager Inês Matias.
Awards I emphasise the most recent, which was awarded by the Laço Association, for the study of the importance of bone marrow cells in tumour immunity suppression.
(newsletter article)
Publications (Selected from the last 5 years)
Remédio L, Carvalho T, Caiado F, Bastos-Carvalho A, Martins D, Duarte A, Yagita H and Dias S. Context- and cell-dependent effects of Delta-like 4 targeting in the Bone Marrow microenvironment. PlosOne, 7(12):e52450. (2012)
Casalou C, Costa A, Carvalho T, Gomes AL, Zhu Z, Wu Y, Dias S. Cholesterol Regulates VEGFR-1 (FLT-1) Expression and Signaling in Acute Leukemia Cells. Mol Cancer Res. 9(2):215-24. (2011)
Real C, Remedio L, Caiado F, Igreja C, Borges C, Trindade A, Pinto-do-Ó P, Hyagita H, Duarte A, Dias S. Bone marrow-derived Endothelial Progenitors expressing Delta-like 4 (Dll4) regulate tumor angiogenesis. PlosOne. 6(4):e18323. (2011)
Schmidt T, Kharabi Masouleh B, Loges S, Cauwenberghs S, Fraisl P, Maes C, Jonckx B, De Keersmaecker K, Kleppe M, Tjwa M, Schenk T, Vinckier S, Fragoso R, De Mol M, Beel K, Dias S, et al. Loss or Inhibition of Stromal-Derived PlGF Prolongs Survival of Mice with Imatinib-Resistant Bcr-Abl1(+) Leukemia. Cancer Cell. 14;19(6):740-53. (2011).
Caiado F, Carvalho T, Silva F, Castro C, Clode N, Dye JF and Dias S. Fibrin E modulates endothelial progenitors adhesion, differentiation and angiogenic growth fator production and promotes wound healing. Biomaterials, 32(29):7096-105 (2011).
Gomes AL, Carvalho T, Torre C, Serpa J and Dias S. Hypercholesterolemia promotes bone marrow cell mobilization by perturbing the SDF1:CXCR4 axis. Blood 115(19):3886-94 (2010).
Serpa J, Caiado F, Carvalho T, Torre C, Goncalves LG, Casalou C, Lamosa P, Rodrigues M, Zhu Z, Lam EW, Dias S. Butyrate rich colonic microenvironment is a relevant selection factor for metabolically adapted tumour cells. J Biological Chemistry. 285(50):39211-23. (2010)
Presentation of Scientific Research Projects in the Field of Oncology. Reference to projects involving the participation of the Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM), of the Services of Santa Maria Hospital (HSM) and of the Units of the Faculty of Medicine of Lisbon (FMUL).
Projects currently in progress at our Laboratory investigate the role of blood vessels in tumour development and progression. In particular, we explore molecular signs communicated through blood vessels of tumours and tumour cells (i.e. the Notch signalling pathway: delta), trying to understand which signs are essential to support tumour growth and seeking to develop strategies to prevent such communication.
Other strands of work in progress at the Laboratory aim to understand cancer as a “systemic” disease, i.e., involving more than just the organ where the tumour develops. In particular, we study the importance of bone marrow-derived cells in triggering various mechanisms that are essential for tumour development and progression, such as the formation of new vasculature (neoangiogenesis) and the activation of the mechanisms that lead to the formation of metastases, among others. The latter projects involve close collaboration with the Oncology Service of the HSM.
Introduction of the Working Team:Currently the team consists of two postdoc members: Ana Magalhães and Ana de Barros; three doctoral students: Inês Martins, Germana Domingues and Joana Afonso; three master students: Andreia Silva, Raquel Duarte and Celina Parreira, and Lab manager Inês Matias.
Awards I emphasise the most recent, which was awarded by the Laço Association, for the study of the importance of bone marrow cells in tumour immunity suppression.
(newsletter article)
Publications (Selected from the last 5 years)
Remédio L, Carvalho T, Caiado F, Bastos-Carvalho A, Martins D, Duarte A, Yagita H and Dias S. Context- and cell-dependent effects of Delta-like 4 targeting in the Bone Marrow microenvironment. PlosOne, 7(12):e52450. (2012)
Casalou C, Costa A, Carvalho T, Gomes AL, Zhu Z, Wu Y, Dias S. Cholesterol Regulates VEGFR-1 (FLT-1) Expression and Signaling in Acute Leukemia Cells. Mol Cancer Res. 9(2):215-24. (2011)
Real C, Remedio L, Caiado F, Igreja C, Borges C, Trindade A, Pinto-do-Ó P, Hyagita H, Duarte A, Dias S. Bone marrow-derived Endothelial Progenitors expressing Delta-like 4 (Dll4) regulate tumor angiogenesis. PlosOne. 6(4):e18323. (2011)
Schmidt T, Kharabi Masouleh B, Loges S, Cauwenberghs S, Fraisl P, Maes C, Jonckx B, De Keersmaecker K, Kleppe M, Tjwa M, Schenk T, Vinckier S, Fragoso R, De Mol M, Beel K, Dias S, et al. Loss or Inhibition of Stromal-Derived PlGF Prolongs Survival of Mice with Imatinib-Resistant Bcr-Abl1(+) Leukemia. Cancer Cell. 14;19(6):740-53. (2011).
Caiado F, Carvalho T, Silva F, Castro C, Clode N, Dye JF and Dias S. Fibrin E modulates endothelial progenitors adhesion, differentiation and angiogenic growth fator production and promotes wound healing. Biomaterials, 32(29):7096-105 (2011).
Gomes AL, Carvalho T, Torre C, Serpa J and Dias S. Hypercholesterolemia promotes bone marrow cell mobilization by perturbing the SDF1:CXCR4 axis. Blood 115(19):3886-94 (2010).
Serpa J, Caiado F, Carvalho T, Torre C, Goncalves LG, Casalou C, Lamosa P, Rodrigues M, Zhu Z, Lam EW, Dias S. Butyrate rich colonic microenvironment is a relevant selection factor for metabolically adapted tumour cells. J Biological Chemistry. 285(50):39211-23. (2010)