The Catalan Institute
of Oncology (ICO) is a comprehensive cancer centre with more than
3500 new cancer patients
per year. The mission of the Translational Research Laboratory is
to provide a better care to these patients through research. Our
group
is recognised for the development of new gene and viral therapies
based on adenoviruses. To achieve selective replication of adenovirus
in
tumor cells we mutate certain viral genes and substitute viral promoters
with tumour-selective promoters. We are currently working on conditionally
replicating adenoviruses that target the Ras and the Rb pathways.
To allow for systemic treatment of metastatic cancer we combine the
insertion
of tumour-targeting ligands in the virus capsid with mutations that
eliminate the adenovirus hepatotropism. We are arming the replicating
viruses with therapeutic genes such as prodrug-converting genes,
tumour suppressor genes, and fusogenic genes. We use normal human
tissues
in culture and orthotopic tumour models to test these therapeutic adenoviruses.
Collaborators:
Juan Fueyo MDAnderson Cancer Center , Houston USA.
Cristina Fillat, CRG , Barcelona
Elena Mercade , Universistat de Barcelona
Adela Mazo, Universitat de Barcelona.
Angels Fabra, IRO, Barcelona
Javier García Castro, Hospital Niño Jesus, Madrid
|
