CANCER BIOLOGY AND EPIGENETICS GROUP

CBEG was established in 2008 and integrates predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers, with diverse academic backgrounds, including Biologists, Biochemists, Pathological, Cytological and Thanatological Anatomy graduates and Medical Doctors of several specialties, including Pathologists, Urologists, Gynecologists, Radiologists hemato-oncologists, and Medical Oncologists.

In the context of Precision Oncology, we are developing several patient-centered translational research projects in cancer biology addressing tumor biology, biopathology, epigenetics, epitranscriptomics, tumor metabolism and immunology topics.

SCIENTIFIC COORDINATOR

Carmen Jerónimo, PhD
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4186-5345
Assistant Researcher
Coordinator TL2 – Cancer / RISE@CI-IPO (Health Research Network, Research Center IPO)
Scientific Coordinator of the Tumor Bank-Department of PathologyGuest Full Professor at ICBAS-UP
Email: carmenjeronimo@ipoporto.min-saude.pt/cljeronimo@icbas.up.pt

TEAM

Senior Researchers

Rui Henrique, MD, PhD
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-3171-4666
Senior Researcher
Consultant Pathologist, Department of Pathology
Guest Full Professor at ICBAS-UP
Email: henrique@ipoporto.min-saude.pt / rmhenrique@icbas.up.pt

Margareta P. Correia, PhD
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4378-0820
Assistant Researcher
Lecturer in the Master Course in Oncology at ICBAS-UP & Master Course in Molecular Medicine and Oncology at FMUP
Guest Adjunct Professor at ESS.IPP
Email: margareta.correia@ipoporto.min-saude.pt

Junior Researchers

 Carla Bartosch, MD, PhD
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-0646-7667
Consultant Pathologist, Department of Pathology
Lecturer in Pathology, Integrated Master in Medicine at ICBAS-UP
Email: carla.bartosch@ipoporto.min-saude.pt 

João Lobo, MD, PhD
Resident in Pathology at IPO Porto
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6829-1391
Lecturer in Pathology, Integrated Master in Medicine at ICBAS-UP& Lecturer in Biopathology, Integrated Master in Dental Medicine at FMDUP
Email: jpedro.lobo@ipoporto.min-saude.pt

Nair Lopes, PhD
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4732-7361
Email: nair.ribeiro.lopes@ipoporto.min-saude.pt

Vera Miranda-Gonçalves, PhD
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4231-5532
Lecturer in the Master Course in Oncology at ICBAS-UP & Master Course in Molecular Medicine and Oncology at FMUP
Email: vera.miranda.goncalves@ipoporto.min-saude.pt

Invited Researchers

 Bianca Troncarelli Flores, PhD
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-6490-6309
Invited Researcher, Assistant Researcher; Department of Clinical Genetics
Vejle Sygehus, Sygehus Lillebælt; Denmark
E-mail: i37321@ipoporto.min-saude.pt; bianca.troncarelli@rsyd.dk

 Sara Monteiro-Reis, PhD
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2193-2793
Invited Researcher, Pos-Doctoral Researcher Fellowship
HEALTH AND BIOMECHANICAL-INEGI
E-mail: sara.raquel.reis@ipoporto.min-saude.pt; sreis@inegi.up.pt

  PhD Students

Ana Fernandes Rodrigues, MD (IPOP/Catalan Institute of Oncology, L’Hospitalet, Barcelona, Spain); Email: ana.fernandes.rodrigues@ipoporto.min-saude.pt  
Ana Catarina Macedo-Silva, MSc (IPOP/Università degli studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy); Email: ana.catarina.macedo.silva@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Bárbara Costa Matos, MSc (IBIMED-UA/IPOP-FCT SFRH/BD/146032/2019); Email: barbaracostamatos@ua.pt
Catarina Guimarães-Teixeira, MSc (IPOP-FCT-DFA/BD/6038/2020); Email: catarina.guimaraes.teixeira@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Catarina Lourenço, MSc (IPOP/i3S-FCT 2021.06731.BD); Email: i37296@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Cláudia Martins-Lima, MSc (IPOP/ Università degli studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy); Email: claudia.martins.lima@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Daniela Barros-Silva, MSc (IPOP/Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands-FCT-SFRH/BD/136007/2018); Email: daniela.silva@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Diana Montezuma Felizardo, MD (IPOP); Email: diana.m.felizardo@ipoporto.min-saude.pt

Isaac Braga, MD (IPOP/CHUP); Email: isaac.braga@ipoporto.min-saude.pt

João André Carvalho, MD (IPOP); joao.m.carvalho@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Lígia Gonçalves, MD (IPOP); Email: ligiagoncalves@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Maria Miguel Castro, MSc (i3S/IPOP-FCT-2020.07439.BD); Email: i37273@ipoporto.min-saude.pt

Marta Peixoto, MD (FMUP/IPOP); Email: martamesquitapeixoto@gmail.com

Mónica Pires, MD (CINTESIS/IPOP); Email: monica.pires@ipoporto.min-saude.pt

Nuno Coimbra, MD (IPOP); Email: nuno.coimbra@ipoporto.min-saude.pT

Rita Canário, MD (i3S/IPOP-FCT-PD/BD/128001/2016); Email: rita.canario@ipatimup.pt

Rui Freitas, MD (IPOP); antoniofreitas@ipoporto.min-saude.pt

Sandra P. Nunes, MSc (IPOP/CIEMAT, Madrid, Spain-FCT-SFRH/BD/144241/2019); Email: sandra.pinto.nunes@ipoporto.min-saude.pt

Sérgio Chacim, MD (IPOP); Email: sergio.chacim@ipoporto.min-saude.pT

Sofia Salta, MSc (IPOP-FCT-SFRH/BD/143717/2019); Email: sofia.salta@ipoporto.min-saude.pt

Tânia Lima, MSc (IBIMED-UA/IPOP-FCT- SFRH/BD/136904/2018); Email:tanialima@ua.pt 

Vera Constâncio, MSc (IPOP/FChampalimaud- LCF/BQ/DR20/11790013); Email: vera.salvado.constancio@ipoporto.min-saude.pt

Research Assistants

Carina Carvalho-Maia, MSc (MindGaP- Horizon2020-FETOPEN-829040; Email: carina.carvalho.maia@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Filipa Moreira Silva, MSc (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-072678 – TeamUp4Cancer); Email: filipa.m.silva@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Gonçalo Outeiro-Pinho, MSc (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-072678 – TeamUp4Cancer); Email: goncalo.outeiro.pinho@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
José Pedro Sequeira, MSc (LPCC-Norte); Email: jose.leite.sequeira@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Nuno Tiago Tavares, MSc (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-072678 – TeamUp4Cancer); Email: i12807@ipoporto.min-saude.pt

MSc Students

Ana Beatriz Ferreira Costa; Email: ana.f.costa@ipoporto.min-saude.ptAna Rita Teixeira-Marques; Email: ana.t.marques@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Ângela Albuquerque-Castro; Email: i36015@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Filipa Domingues dos Reis; Email: filipa.reis@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Guilherme Machado da Silva; Email: guilherme.silva@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Helena Estevão-Pereira; Email: helena.estevao.pereira@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Mariana Cantante; Email: mferreira@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Mariana Silva-Ferreira; Email: i36014@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Miguel Oliveira Morim; Email: i37298@ipoporto.min-saude.ptSara Cardoso: Email: sara.cardoso@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Saulė Gumauskaitė; Email: i37297@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Tiago Brito da Rocha; Email: tiago.rocha@ipoporto.min-saude.pt

Other collaborators:

Andreia Coutada, MSc; Resident in Pathology
Ana Isabel Varelas, MSc; Resident in Pathology
Ana Luísa Cunha, MD; Consultant Pathologist
Ana Teresa Martins, MSc; Pathology Technician
Ângelo Rodrigues, MD; Consultant Pathologist
Davide Gigliano, MD; Attending Pathologist
Fernanda Silva, BSc; Pathology Technician
Isa Carneiro, MSc; Pathology Technician
João Pedro Costa, MD; Resident in Pathology
João Vaz Silva, MD, PhD; Resident in Pathology
Jorge Torres-Ferreira, MSc; Pathology Technician
Paula Dias, BSc; Pathology Technician
Paula Lopes, BSc; Pathology Technician
Paula Monteiro, MD; Consultant Pathologist
Renata Vieira, BSc; Pathology Technician
Rita Guimarães, MSc; Pathology Technician
Rui Silva-Santos, MSc; Pathology Technician
Sérgio Lopes, PhD; Cell Therapy Clinical Scientist
Sofia Paulino, MSc; Pathology Technician
Verónica Ferreira, BSc; Pathology Technician

Aims

The core aim of our group is to portray in depth epigenetic/ epitranscriptomic mechanisms involved in carcinogenesis, which might be used as clinical tools for early detection, diagnosis, prognostication, and therapy prediction. The investigation of the mechanism and role of epigenetic-modulating drugs (epi-drugs) is another major goal. Moreover, owing to the relevance that Immuno-oncology has demonstrated in recent years, we are also exploring the epigenetic modulation of biomolecules involved in immune responses, aiming at the improvement of immunotherapeutic strategies.

PROJECTS WITH EXTERNAL FUNDING

• KYMAB-Immunoprofiling characterisation of clinical samples by IHC and gene expression analysis and correlation with clinical outcomes in support of translational medicine strategies for ICOS and PD-L1-IC antibody therapeutics. Kymab Ltd. (Cambridge, UK); Funding: 159K€ (2019-2022) (PI: Prof. Rui Henrique)

This project aims to support translational medicine employment, from early discovery to clinical development, via the strengthening of the understanding of target expression in clinically relevant human samples and correlation with clinical features of disease and outcome.

• MindGaP- Bridging the gap between Mind, Brain and Body: Exosome role and monitoring-H2020-FETOPEN, Budget: 799K€ (2019-2023) (PI: Prof. Rui Henrique; Co-PI: Prof. Carmen Jerónimo). In collaboration with UCoimbra, School of Engineering of IPP and European universities (LINU, VTT, and UOULU)

MindGAP looks for sensitive health indicators among exosomes that circulate throughout the body and that may change under disease. To this end, the possibility of using MINDFULNESS meditation as a mind-related tool to control the cargo of exosomes is explored. If meditation is successful in changing the behavior and attitudes of many people, it means that the exosomes cargo may be changed through this process. The obtained knowledge aims at opening doors to an innovative device that may be used by everyone to understand his/her health status.

Publications

Monteiro-Reis S, Carvalho-Maia C, Bart G, Vainio SJ, Pedro J, Silva ER, Sales G, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. Secreted Extracellular Vesicle Molecular Cargo as a Novel Liquid Biopsy Diagnostics of Central Nervous System Diseases.Int J Mol Sci. 22(6):3267, 2021. doi: 10.3390/ijms22063267.

• TRIMARKCHIP- Assessing the trifecta of cancer circulating biomarkers: a combined microfluidics platform for detection of CTCs, exosomes and ctDNA IN COLLABORATION with INEB/i3S”, Funding agency: Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Technology and Science Foundation) – POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030831- (PTDC/BTM-TEC/30831/2017), Budget: 41K€ (2018-2022) (Co-PI: Prof. Carmen Jerónimo, PI-Prof. Fernando J Monteiro).

The proposed project focuses on developing an advanced microfluidics one-chip system for isolation and characterization of three circulating biomarkers present in peripheral blood of cancer patients: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and exosomes. This advanced system will be applied for lung cancer diagnosis, prognosis, assist in treatment selection, and assess cells response to therapy. Lung cancer continues to be the deadliest cancer worldwide, difficult to detect at early stages and in many cases, inaccessible for tissue biopsy. New strategies are needed for early detection of the primary tumor and metastases and correct selection of patient-specific treatments depending on tumor mutations. This system would be a thorough and powerful tool to assess, from a simple blood draw, the complete genetic landscape of the disease, from the primary site to possible metastases, assisting in a continuous, real-time, monitoring of each patient disease.

Publications

Carvalho Â, Ferreira G, Seixas D, Guimarães-Teixeira C, Henrique R, Monteiro FJ, Jerónimo C. Emerging Lab-on-a-Chip Approaches for Liquid Biopsy in Lung Cancer: Status in CTCs and ctDNA Research and Clinical Validation. Cancers (Basel). 13(9):2101, 2021. doi: 10.3390/cancers13092101.

Lourenço C, Constâncio V, Henrique R, Carvalho Â, Jerónimo C. Urinary Extracellular Vesicles as Potential Biomarkers for Urologic Cancers: An Overview of Current Methods and Advances. Cancers (Basel). 13(7):1529, 2021. doi: 10.3390/cancers13071529.

PROJECTS WITH INTERNAL FUNDING

• MethylBiom4Can – Assessment and validation of a panel of methylation-based Biomarkers in cell free DNA for Detection of recurrent first primary cancer (RFPC) and second primary cancers (SPC) (CI-IPOP-74-2016),Budget: 192K€ (2016-2022) (PI: Prof. Carmen Jerónimo)

Current standard approaches for cancer patients’ follow-up includes a limited set of clinical, imagiological and serological tests, of limited efficacy and mostly devoted to detection of primary disease recurrence and progression. Thus, a test that may simultaneously provide information about recurrence of first primary cancer (RFPC) and emergence of second primary cancers (SPC) might have a strong impact in patient management. The main goal of this project is the development of a single multigene test, based in a limited set of previously characterized DNA methylation-based markers, for the detection of primary cancer recurrence and/ or detection of secondary cancer among patients primarily diagnosed with prostate, breast, lung or colorectal cancers.

Publications

Constâncio V, Nunes SP, Moreira-Barbosa C, Freitas R, Oliveira J, Pousa I, Oliveira J, Soares M, Dias CG, Dias T, Antunes L, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. Early detection of the major male cancer types in blood-based liquid biopsies using a DNA methylation panel. Clin Epigenetics. 11(1):175, 2019. doi: 10.1186/s13148-019-0779-x 127. 125.
Nunes SP, Diniz F, Moreira-Barbosa C, Constâncio V, Silva AV, Oliveira J, Soares M, Paulino S, Cunha AL, Rodrigues J, Antunes L, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. Subtyping Lung Cancer Using DNA Methylation in Liquid Biopsies. J Clin Med. 8(9). pii: E1500, 2019. doi: 10.3390/jcm8091500.
Salta S, Nunes SP, Fontes-Sousa M, Lopes P, Freitas M, Caldas M, Antunes L, Castro F, Antunes P, Palma de Sousa S, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. A DNA Methylation-Based Test for Breast Cancer Detection in Circulating Cell-Free DNA. J Clin Med. 7;7(11). pii: E420, 2018. doi: 10.3390/jcm7110420.
Moreira-Barbosa C, Barros-Silva D, Costa-Pinheiro P, Torres-Ferreira J, Constâncio V, Freitas R, Oliveira J, Antunes L, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. Comparing diagnostic and prognostic performance of two-gene promoter methylation panels in tissue biopsies and urines of prostate cancer patients. Clin Epigenetics. 10(1):132, 2018. doi: 10.1186/s13148-018-0564-2.
Nunes SP, Moreira-Barbosa C, Salta S, Palma de Sousa S, Pousa I, Oliveira J, Soares M, Rego L, Dias T, Rodrigues J, Antunes L, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. Cell-Free DNA Methylation of Selected Genes Allows for Early Detection of the Major Cancers in Women. Cancers 10(10). pii: E357, 2018. doi: 10.3390/cancers10100357.
Freitas M, Ferreira F, Carvalho S, Silva F, Lopes P, Antunes L, Salta S, Diniz F, Santos LL, Videira JF, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. A Novel DNA Methylation Panel Accurately Detects Colorectal Cancer Independently of Molecular Pathway J Transl Med 16(1):45, 2018. doi: 10.1186/s12967-018-1415-9.

• DNAmeCERVIX- DNA methylation biomarkers for triage of hrHPV positive cases in the Northern Portugal population-based cervical cancer screening program funded by the Research Centre of Portuguese Oncology Institute (PI 142-CI-IPOP-130-2020), Budget: 25K€ (2020-2022) (PI: Prof. Carmen Jerónimo; Co-PI: Prof. Rui Henrique). In collaboration with ARS-Norte.

HPV-based screening strategies attain high throughput due to automation and display high sensitivity, compared to cytology, but they lack specificity, especially among young women, due to the high prevalence of transient infections. Nonetheless, DNA methylation has shown promise as a triage marker for referral to colposcopy of HR-HPV-positive women, disclosing higher sensitivity than cytology in this setting. The main aim of this project is to validate a panel of DNA methylation-based marker as triage test for women with HR-HPV positive testing in the context of population-based cervical cancer screening.

Publications

Salta S, Maia-Moço L, Estevão-Pereira H, Sequeira JP, Vieira R, Bartosch C, Petronilho S, Monteiro P, Sousa A, Baldaque I, Rodrigues J, Sousa H, Tavares F, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. Performance of DNA methylation-based biomarkers in the cervical cancer screening program of northern Portugal: A feasibility study. Int J Cancer, 149(11):1916-1925, 2021. doi: 10.1002/ijc.33778.

• EpImmunoPCa – Epigenetic regulation of Immune Responses in prostate Cancer funded by the Research Centre of Portuguese Oncology Institute (PI 143-CI-IPOP-131-2020), Budget: 49K€ (2020-2022) (PI: Prof. Carmen Jerónimo; Co-PI Dr. Margareta P. Correia)

Currently, most therapeutic strategies for metastatic CRPC (mCRPC) are not curative and largely ineffective, only marginally increasing in survival. Therefore, novel therapeutics strategies are urgently needed. Similarly to other solid tumors, immunotherapy has been investigated to treat CRPC, leading to the FDA approval of sipuleucel-T to mCRPC patients, although overall survival was shown to be  rather marginal. Since aberrant epigenetic marks are key alterations for prostate tumor progression, and have been associated with immune escape, epigenetic targeting may be beneficial in cancer immunotherapy by reversing immune avoidance and escape mechanisms employed by prostate cancer cells, as well as by modulating immune cell differentiation and function. Hence, in this study, we intend to identify the epigenetic profile in both cancer cells and distinct tumor-infiltrating immune cell populations, that could offer novel immunotherapies for mCRPC to overcome primary resistance.

• EpiPaRTy – Advances in Epigenetic targeting for PCa: Dissecting the interplay between ncRNAs and chromatin remodelers and their role as biomarkers of RadioTherapy resistance (PI-159-CI-IPOP-152-2021),Budget: 15K€ (2021-2022) (PI: Prof. Carmen Jerónimo).

Prostate cancer (PCa) constitutes the major incident neoplasm in men. Although high survival rates, some of these tumors acquire aggressive phenotype and might disseminate, becoming resistant to therapy. Concerning therapeutic approaches, external beam radiation therapy is currently used with curative intent for localized PCa. However, radiation effectiveness decreases in more advanced stages, with the appearance of biochemical recurrences or metastization. According to cell death challenge in radiation-based therapy, epigenetic alterations, including, non-coding RNAs deregulation and chromatin remodelling modifications, affect the expression of several critical target genes related to the cell growth, DNA damage repair and cell cycle deregulation. Thus, in this project we intent to discover novelty therapeutic strategies against major epigenetic players that might reverse radioresistant PCa phenotype, as well as, unveiling novel prognostic and predictive biomarkers with a clinical value in PCa patient stratification.

• PCaEXOBone – Prostate Cancer pre-metastatic niche formation: Exosomal osteotropism (PI 158-CI-IPOP-151-2021), Budget: 30K€ (2021-2022). (PI: Prof. Carmen Jerónimo)

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major public health concern worldwide. Despite the high incidence, PCa-related deaths are mostly due to metastatic disease, for which no curative treatments are available. Although bone metastasis represents up to 84% of all PCa metastasis, the mechanisms underlying PCa osteotropism remain largely unknown. Exosomes can transfer their cargo, functionally impacting recipient cells. Thus, exosomes have been linked with the formation of pre-metastatic niches by creating a distant pro-tumour environment. Moreover, although exosomes have been associated with metastatic organ tropism in several cancer types, exosomal signatures and their biological relevance in PCa carcinogenesis and metastization are still poorly understood. Therefore, we aim to unravel the function of PCa derived exosomes in bone metastasis development and identify exosomal cargo contributing to osteotropism. Additionally, we intend to develop a specific prognostic tool of bone pre-metastatic niche formation able to predict the likelihood of progression to metastatic disease.

• MiRVeBlad- Identification of Exosomal-derived miRNAs as non-invasive high-risk BlCa biomarkers (PI-160-CI-IPOP-153-2021), Budget: 25K€ (2021-2022). (PI: Prof. Carmen Jerónimo) This project has been developed within the frame of Porto.CCC

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have an essential functional role in local tumor progression, metastatic spread, and emergence of drug resistance in different types of cancer. As such, EVs are being explored as potential diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive markers of malignancy. Virtually all biomolecules (such as DNA, RNA, ncRNA or proteins) present within EVs can be tested. In the setting of urothelial tumors, there is recent evidence suggesting that EVs reflect the molecular signature of the primary tumor cells and can, therefore, serve as an effective tool for molecular characterization of tumors themselves as well as to uncover clinical useful biomarkers We aim to discover and validate these biomarkers in liquid biopsies from patients with urothelial tumors. Effective biomarkers will allow us to diagnose tumors at early stages and to adequately stratify low- and high-risk lesions.

• EpiMetaboK – Epitranscriptomic alterations within renal cancer metabolism reprogramming: uncovering new therapeutic targets (PI 112-CI-IPOP-92-2018), Budget: 20K€ (2022-2023) (PI: Prof. Carmen Jerónimo; Co-PI Dr. Vera Miranda-Gonçalves)

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common neoplasm affecting the kidney. Current therapies are mostly curative for localized disease, but do not completely preclude recurrence and metastization. There is an unmet need for biomarkers that may accurately discriminate patient that are effectively cured by surgery alone from those which will eventually relapse and develop metastatic disease. In this vein, improved understanding of the biology of RCC progression and metastization is imperative. Epitranscriptomic is a new layer of gene expression regulation at RNA level. Presently, metabolic reprogramming is considered a cancer hallmark, and its interplay with epigenetics has been addressed by several research teams, contrarily to interactions with epitranscriptomics, whose implications in RCC are still mostly unknown. Hence, this project aims to explore the role of epitranscriptomic modulation in RCC and, specifically, to uncover which metabolic enzymes are regulated by m6A.

Publications

• Guimarães-Teixeira C, Lobo J, Miranda-Gonçalves V, Barros-Silva D, Martins-Lima C, Monteiro-Reis S, Sequeira JP, Carneiro I, Correia MP, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. Downregulation of m6 A writer complex member METTL14 in bladder urothelial carcinoma suppresses tumor aggressiveness. Mol Oncol. 16(9):1841-1856, 2022. doi: 10.1002/1878-0261.13181.
• Miranda-Gonçalves V, Lobo J, Guimarães-Teixeira C, Barros-Silva D, Guimarães R, Cantante M, Braga I, Maurício J, Oing C, Honecker F, Nettersheim D, Looijenga LHJ, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. The component of the m6A writer complex VIRMA is implicated in aggressive tumor phenotype, DNA damage response and cisplatin resistance in germ cell tumors. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 40(1):268, 2021. doi: 10.1186/s13046-021-02072-9.
• Lobo J, Constâncio V, Guimarães-Teixeira C, Leite-Silva P, Miranda-Gonçalves V, Sequeira JP, Pistoni L, Guimarães R, Cantante M, Braga I, Maurício J, Looijenga LHJ, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. Promoter methylation of DNA homologous recombination genes is predictive of the responsiveness to PARP inhibitor treatment in testicular germ cell tumors. Mol Oncol. 15(4):846-865, 2021. doi: 10.1002/1878-0261.12909.
• Outeiro-Pinho G, Barros-Silva D, Aznar E, Sousa AI, Vieira-Coimbra M, Oliveira J, Gonçalves CS, Costa BM, Junker K, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. MicroRNA-30a-5pme: a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for clear cell renal cell carcinoma in tissue and urine samples. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 39(1):98, 2020. doi: 10.1186/s13046-020-01600-3.
• Barros-Silva D, Lobo J, Guimarães-Teixeira C, Carneiro I, Oliveira J, Martens-Uzunova ES, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. VIRMA-Dependent N6-Methyladenosine Modifications Regulate the Expression of Long Non-Coding RNAs CCAT1 and CCAT2 in Prostate Cancer. Cancers 12(4): E771, 2020. doi: 10.3390/cancers12040771.

PATENTS

(2012) Methods and biomarkers for detection of bladder cancer; US 20130210011/ EP 2630261 A1/ WO 2012052844 A1 (in collaboration Oslo University Hospital)

NATIONAL COLLABORATIONS

Dr. Bruno Costa-Silva, Fundação Champalimaud
Prof. Celso Reis, IPATIMUP, i3S
Prof. Joana Paredes, IPATIMUP, i3S
Prof. Fátima Baltazar & Dr. Bruno Costa, ICVS/3Bs, U. Minho
Prof. Fernando Jorge Monteiro & Dr. Ângela Carvalho; INEB, I3S
Prof. Goreti Sales, U. Coimbra
Prof. João F Mano, CICECO – U. Aveiro
Prof. Luisa Helguero, IBiMED, U. Aveiro
Prof. Margarida Fardilha, IBiMED, U. Aveiro
Prof. Maria José Oliveira, INEB, i3S
Dr. Meriem Lamghari, INEB, i3S
Prof. Paula Guedes & Prof. Márcia Carvalho, REQUIMTE-FF, U. Porto
Prof. Raquel Almeida, IPATIMUP, i3S

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS

Dr. Aamir Ahmed, King’s College London, UK
Prof. Antonio Lopez-Beltran, Cordoba University Medical School, Cordoba, Spain
Dr. Elena Martens-Uzunova, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Dr. Florence Le Calvez-Kelm, IARC, Lyon, France
Dr. Giuseppina Carbone, Belinzona, Switzerland
Dr. Guro Lind, Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
Dr. Hector Peinado, CNIO; Madrid, Spain
Dr. Jesús M. Paramio, Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT, & Instituto de Investigacion Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
Prof. Lucia Altucci, School in Life Sciences, Università degli studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
Prof. Marianne G. Rots, Groningen, The Netherlands
Prof. Matthias Schwab, Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany
Dr. Mónica Martínez-Fernández, CiMUS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Dr. Paola Arimondo, Institute Pasteur, Paris, France
Dr. Wilbert Zwart, NKI, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. Valérie Taly, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France

*The information described in the group is the sole responsibility of the respective coordinator.