Protein kinases in Cancer Research

• Role of new signalling pathways in cancer cell proliferation, survival and immunosuppression.  
• Preclinical development of protein kinase inhibitors that senstize solid tumors to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. 
• Preclinical and clinical development of drugs that modulate cellular autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, as new strategies to tackle cancer. 

• Targeting MEK5-ERK5 pathway to improve the prognostic of neuroblastoma,  a paediatric tumor originating from neural crest-derived cells 
• MAP kinase ERK5 inhibitors as a tool to sensitize endometrial cancer to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. 
• Preclinical and clinical development of ABTL082, an ER stress and autophagy inducer that sensitizes lung, endometrial and pancreatic cancers to chemotherapy and immunotherapy 

We are interested in dissecting new cellular signaling pathways that control the proliferation and survival of solid paediatric and adult cancers. We collaborate with academics and Biopharma Companies to perform preclinical development of new anticancer drugs that sensitize tumor to standard anticancer treatments, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Specifically, we are interested in deciphering the role of the new MAP kinase ERK5 in cancer proliferation and survival, as well as in tumor immunosuppression. We are also interested in modulation of autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress as new strategies to tackle cancer. 

• New anticancer therapies based on the immunomodulatory properties of MAPK ERK5 pharmacologic inhibitors (IMMUNONCOERK5). Ref. PID2022-136391OB-I00. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento 2022. PI: Jose M Lizcano. 
• Investigation of the immunomodulatory effects of ABTL0812, a phase 2 clinical stage antitumor autophagy inducer, and discovery of new antitumor immunotherapeutics based on autophagy. Ref. PLEC2022-009428. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. Proyecto en Líneas Estratégicas 2022. PI: Jose M Lizcano. 
• Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders. Ref.2021SGR00638. AGAUR, Grups de Recerca de Catalunya 2021. PI: Lucas Moreno 
• New anticancer therapies based on modulation of the MAPK kinase ERK5 (ONCOTHERK5). Ref. PID2019-107561RB-I00. Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades. Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento 2019. PI: Jose M Lizcano. 
• Nuevas estrategias para incrementar la efectividad de los tratamientos con ABTL0812. Ref. RTC-2017-6261-1. Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades. Proyectos Retos-Colaboración 2017. PI: Jose M Lizcano. 

• PID2019-107561RB-I00 (funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033)