The main interest of our group is study colorectal (CRC) and testicular
germ cell tumors (TGCT) focusing in three main objectives: a) Genes
involved in the development and progression of both type of tumors;
b) Mechanisms of resistance to chemotherapy treatment with 5-FU
(5-fluorouracil) in CRC, and cisplatin (CDDP) in non-seminomatous
TGCT; c) Study of Prognostic factors in colorectal tumors. This
research is developed in a multidisciplinary team shaped by biologist,
oncologist, surgeons, and pathologist.
Our experimental approach combines the use of human primary
tumor series, and animal models, basically nude mice and the
nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C.elegans). In the last three
years, we have developed in nude mice a model for the study of
non-seminomatous germ cell tumors after orthopical (in the testis)
implantation of primary TGCT, as well a library of colorectal
(CRC-X) and hepatic metastases (HM-X) xenografts in nude mice
after subcutaneous implantation. We are also using the small
nematode C. elegans as a model system to study the mechanisms
of resistance to 5-FU. Despite of its simplicity, C. elegans
is a multicellular organism that shares many fundamental genetic
programs with humans. Therefore, many results obtained in the
C. elegans system are likely to be applicable to colorectal tumors.
Current projects:
