Current lab members:

• Gilles PAGÈS, Research Director, DRCE INSERM
• Roser Busca: CR HC CNRS
• Sonia Martial: CR HC CNRS
• Philippe Lenormand: CRCN INSERM
• Frédéric Luciano: CRCN INSERM
• Sandy Giuliano: CRCN INSERM
• Cercina Onesto: MCU UCA
• Saharnaz Sarlak: Post Doc ARC
• Meng Tsai: Post Doc ANR JCJC
• Rima Salma: Post Doc ANR JCJC
• Monsef Idrissi: engineer CNRS student in bioinformatics
• Arthur Gouraud: Engineer Cancéropole
• Olivia Rastoin: Engineer Roca Therapeutics
• Manon Teisseire: PhD FRM
• Jessy Sirera: PhD UCA
• Arthur Karaulic: PhD UCA
• Audrey Bennetot: Master
• Clara Fialon: Master

Lab Alumni:

Our projects have focused on the ERK signaling pathway ; modulation of its activity, its role in tumor development (use of ERK1-/- mice) and its role in tumor angiogenesis (regulation of VEGF expression). We have highlighted regulators of VEGF expression that can serve as markers of tumor aggressiveness especially in the case of head and neck and breast cancers. We have established an original link between telomeric activity and the ERK signaling pathway. We are also interested in phenomena that could explain the varying efficiencies of Avastin/Bevacizumab (BVZ) depending on cancer origins. On models of breast and prostate cancers, the clinical efficiency of associations Taxol / BVZ could be explained by a direct effect on tumor cells expressing both VEGF and its receptor VEGF-R2. Clear cell renal cell carcinomas (RCC) express VEGF and pro-angiogenic factors of the family of ELR+CXCL cytokines. CXCL7 and CXCL8 (interleukin 8) are associated with increased mortality in patients. Monoclonal antibodies targeting CXCL7 and 8 are currently developed. In xenograft models of RCC tumors, BVZ accelerates tumor growth and induces the development of the lymphatic network that can explain the acceleration of the metastatic spread observed in patients.

Background of the team and self analysis

The group was created in 1999 when we moved from the Centre de Biochimie Parc Valrose to the Nice Cancer Centre, Centre Antoine Lacassagne (CAL). Our objectives were to decipher the links between activation of the ERK pathway and abnormal angiogenesis, two mains actors implicated in tumor development. Our localization at the CAL incited us to develop translational research aiming at reinforced the links with clinicians. My team was implicated in the discovery of new pertinent direct targets of ERK and on the molecular links between ERKs and regulation of VEGF expression at transcriptional and post transcriptional levels. Discussions with clinicians and our expertise on angiogenesis have oriented our thematic on the failure of anti-angiogenic therapies. The identification of the phosphorylation of the telomere binding factor TRF2 by ERK has established a new link between telomeric activity and activation of a major signaling pathway involved in tumor development.

Research Teams

IRCAN has a diverse research teams, tackling a wide range and resolution of topics in ageing and cancer.