Cancer Biology Unit - UBCA

Cancer Biology Unit
Instituto de Medicina Molecular
Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa
Edifício Egas Moniz, P3-C48
Av. Prof. Egas Moniz
1624-028 Lisboa
Portugal

Phone: + 351 21 799 9524
Fax: + 351 21 799 9527

Internal phone extension: 47368

THE OFFICIAL UBCA WEBSITE AT IMM

• Cancer biology (focus on lymphoid leukemia).
• Signal transduction.
• Cellular and molecular biology.

Tumor cells interact with the surrounding environment in a bi-directional manner and cancer progression is not exclusively dependent on tumor cell-autonomous alterations. Our research explores the role of both cell-intrinsic aberrations and microenvironmental factors on tumor development.

We aim to characterize the cellular and molecular mechanisms implicated in the acquisition of a selective advantage by malignant/leukemic cells over their normal counterparts, focusing on the dissection of signaling pathways activated by cell-intrinsic events and extra-cellular factors. Ultimately, this should allow us to identify molecular targets that can translate into clinical applications with high tumor selectivity and minimal side-effects.

For a full list of publications, check: UBCA FULL PUBLICATION LIST

UBCA papers

P.P. Zenatti, D. Ribeiro, W. Li, L. Zuurbier, M.C. Silva, M. Paganin, J. Tritapoe, J.A. Hixon, A.B. Silveira, B.A. Cardoso, L.M. Sarmento, N. Correia, M.L. Toribio, J. Kobarg, M. Horstmann, R. Pieters, S.R. Brandalise, A.A. Ferrando, J.P. Meijerink, S.K. Durum, J.A. Yunes, J.T. Barata (2011). Oncogenic IL7R gain-of-function mutations in childhood T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Nature Genetics 43 (10): 932-939.Abstract

A. Silva, A. Gírio, I. Cebola, C.I. Santos, F. Antunes, J.T. Barata (2011). Intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species are Essential for PI3K/Akt/mTOR-dependent IL-7-mediated Viability of T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells. Leukemia 25 (6): 960-967.
Abstract

L.R. Martins, P. Lúcio, M.C. Silva, P. Gameiro, M.G. Silva, J.T. Barata (2010). Targeting CK2 Overexpression and Hyperactivation as a Novel Therapeutic Tool in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Blood 116 (15): 2724-2731.
Abstract

C.M. Henriques, J. Rino, R.J. Nibbs, G.G. Graham, J.T. Barata (2010). IL-7 induces rapid clathrin-mediated internalization and JAK3-dependent degradation of IL-7Rα in T cells. Blood 115 (16): 3269-3277.
Abstract

P.Y. Jotta, M.A. Ganazza, A. Silva, M.B. Viana, M.J. da Silva, L.J.G. Zambaldi, J.T. Barata, S.R. Brandalise, J.A. Yunes (2010). Negative prognostic impact of PTEN mutation in pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leukemia 24 (1): 239-42.
Abstract

A. Silva, P.Y. Jotta, A.B. Silveira, D. Ribeiro, S.R. Brandalise, J.A. Yunes, J.T. Barata (2010). Regulation of PTEN by CK2 and Notch1 in primary T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: rationale for combined use of CK2- and gamma-secretase inhibitors. Haematologica 95 (4): 674-678.
Abstract

B.A. Cardoso, L.R. Martins, C.I. Santos, L.M. Nadler, V.A. Boussiotis, A.A. Cardoso, J.T. Barata (2009). Interleukin-4 stimulates proliferation and growth of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells by activating mTOR signaling. Leukemia 23 (1): 206-208.
Abstract

A. Silva, J.A. Yunes, B.A. Cardoso, L.R. Martins, P.Y. Jotta, M. Abecasis, A.E. Nowill, N.R. Leslie, A.A. Cardoso, J.T. Barata (2008). PTEN posttranslational inactivation and hyperactivation of the PI3K/Akt pathway sustain primary T cell leukemia viability. Journal of Clinical Investigation 118 (11): 3762-3774.
Abstract

Pre-UBCA papers

J.T. Barata, A. Silva, M. Abecasis, N. Carlesso, A. Cumano, A.A. Cardoso (2006). Molecular and Functional Evidence for Activity of Murine IL-7 on Human Lymphocytes. Experimental Hematology 34 (9): 1132-1141.
Abstract

J.T. Barata, T.D. Keenan, A. Silva, L.M. Nadler, V.A. Boussiotis, A.A. Cardoso (2004). Common Gamma Chain-Signaling Cytokines Promote Proliferation of T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Haematologica 89 (12): 1459-1467.
Abstract

J.T. Barata, A. Silva, J.G. Brandão, L.M. Nadler, A.A. Cardoso, V.A. Boussiotis (2004). Activation of PI3K is Indispensable for Interleukin 7-Mediated Viability, Proliferation, Glucose Use, and Growth of T Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells. Journal of Experimental Medicine 200 (5): 659-669.
Abstract

J.T. Barata, V.A. Boussiotis, J.A. Yunes, A.A. Ferrando, L.A. Moreau, J.P. Veiga, S.E. Sallan, A.T. Look, L.M. Nadler, A.A. Cardoso (2004). IL-7-dependent human leukemia T-cell line as a valuable tool for drug discovery in T-ALL. Blood 103 (5): 1891-1900.
Abstract

J.T. Barata, A.A. Cardoso, L.M. Nadler, V.A. Boussiotis (2001). Interleukin-7 promotes survival and cell cycle progression of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells by down-regulating the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27kip1. Blood 98 (5): 1524-1531.
Abstract

Reviews

J.T. Barata (2011). The impact of PTEN regulation by CK2 on PI3K-dependent signaling and leukemia cell survival. Advances in Enzyme Regulation 51: 37–49.
Abstract

L.M. Sarmento, J.T. Barata (2011). The therapeutic potential of Notch inhibition in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: rationale, caveats and promises. Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy 11 (9): 1403-1415.
Abstract

B.A. Cardoso, A. Gírio, C. Henriques, L.R. Martins, C. Santos, A. Silva, J.T. Barata (2008). Aberrant signaling in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: biological and therapeutic implications. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research 41 (5): 344-350.
Abstract

J.T. Barata, A.A. Cardoso, V.A. Boussiotis (2005). Interleukin-7 in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: an extrinsic factor supporting leukemogenesis? Leukemia and lymphoma 46 (4): 483-495.
Abstract

Recent collaborations with other groups at IMM

I.S. Vala, L.R. Martins, N. Imaizumi, R.J. Nunes, J. Rino, F. Kuonen, L.M. Carvalho, C. Ruegg, I. Monteiro Grillo, J.T. Barata, M. Mareel, S.C.R. Santos (2010). Low Doses of Ionizing Radiation Promote Tumor Growth and Metastasis by Enhancing Angiogenesis. PLoS ONE 5(6): e11222.
Abstract

T. Lança, D.V. Correia, C.F. Moita, H. Raquel, A. Neves-Costa, C. Ferreira, J.S. Ramalho, J.T. Barata, L.F. Moita, A.Q. Gomes, B. Silva-Santos (2010). The MHC class Ib protein ULBP1 is a non-redundant determinant of leukemia/ lymphoma susceptibility to gamma-delta T cell. Blood 115 (12): 2407-2411.
Abstract

D.V. Correia, F. d’Orey, B.A. Cardoso, T. Lança, A.R. Grosso, A. deBarros, L.R. Martins, J.T. Barata, B. Silva-Santos (2009). Highly active microbial phosphoantigen induces rapid yet sustained MEK/Erk- and PI-3K/Akt-mediated signal transduction in anti-tumor human γδ T-cells. PLoS ONE 4 (5):e5657.
Abstract

R.I. Azevedo, M.V.D. Soares, J.T. Barata, R. Tendeiro, A. Serra-Caetano, R.M.M. Victorino and A.E. Sousa (2009). IL-7 sustains CD31 expression in human naive CD4+ T cells and preferentially expands the CD31+ subset in a PI3K-dependent manner. Blood 113 (13): 2999-3007.
Abstract

Recent collaborations with external groups

C. Grimaldi, F. Chiarini, G. Tabellini, F. Ricci, P.L. Tazzari, M. Battistelli, E. Falcieri, R. Bortul, F. Melchionda, I. Iacobucci, P. Pagliaro, G. Martinelli, A. Pession, J.T. Barata, J.A. McCubrey and A.M. Martelli (2012). AMP-Dependent Kinase/Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 Signaling in T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Therapeutic Implications. Leukemia 26 (1): 91-100.
Abstract

American Society of Hematology (ASH)
http://www.hematology.org/

European Association for Cancer Research (EACR)
http://www.eacr.org/

Society for Hematology and Stem Cells (ISEH)
http://www.iseh.org/

Associação Portuguesa contra a Leucemia (APCL)
http://www.contraleucemia.org/

SINAL - Signal Transduction Network
http://www.imm.fm.ul.pt/sinal/doku.php

• Luís Bicheiro - Undergrad student at UBCA … now a PGDB PhD student, working in the Division of Immunology, Infection and Inflammation, Glasgow University, UK
• Luís Vinagre - Undergrad student at UBCA … now working in the industry
• Inês Cebola - Part-time undergrad at UBCA … now a PhD student at Institut Català d'Oncologia, Barcelona, Spain
• Cristina Santos - MSc student at UBCA … now a PhD student at the Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK
• Ana Silva - The very first PhD student at UBCA … now a postdoc at NIMR, Mill Hill, London, UK
• Catarina Henriques - PhD student at UBCA … now a postdoc at IGC, Oeiras, Portugal
• Priscila Zenatti - visiting PhD student at UBCA … now finished her PhD at Centro Infantil Boldrini, Campinas, SP, Brazil
• Maureen Spit - visiting MSc student at UBCA … now a PhD student at Utrecht University, The Netherlands
• Milene Silva - technician (BI) at UBCA … now a GABBA PhD student in Germany

|UBCA lab members only