Immortality is a universal characteristic of cancer cells. We study the mechanisms by which tumour cells are immortal and normal cells are mortal. Mutations in telomerase and telomere proteins that lead to longer telomeres are very frequent in all types of cancer. Telomeres are essential for chromosome protection and genomic stability. Their progressive shortening with life leads to ageing. Telomere alterations maim the regenerative capacity of adult stem cells.
Our research focuses on the following:
Study the role of telomeres and telomerase as therapeutic targets for cancer and age-related diseases.
Role and regulation of non-coding telomeric RNAs (TERRA).
Telomerase gene therapy in telomere syndromes and age-related diseases.
Role of telomeres in:
Adult stem cell biology
Nuclear reprogramming of differentiated cells to iPS cells.
Establishing reactivation of telomerase activity as a unified therapeutic approach for fibrosis.
Recent publications
Santos-Pujol E, Noguera-Castells A, Casado-Pelaez M, García-Prieto CA, Vasallo C, Campillo-Marcos I, Quero-Dotor C, Crespo-García E, Bueno-Costa A, Setién F, …, Martínez P, Sánchez-Vázquez R, Blasco MA, Oviedo J, Lemos B, Rius-Bonet J, Torrubiano M, Massip-Salcedo M, Khidir KA, Cao TH, Quinn PA, Jones DJL, Macip S, Brigos-Barril E, Moldes M, Barteri F, Muntané G, Laayouni H, Navarro A, Esteller M (2025).The multiomics blueprint of the individual with the most extreme lifespan. Cell Rep Med 6, 102368. CNIO Publication.
Sanz-Moreno A, Becker L, Xie K, da Silva-Buttkus P, Dragano NRV, Aguilar-Pimentel A, Amarie OV, Calzada-Wack J, Kraiger M, Leuchtenberger S, Seisenberger C, Marschall S, Rathkolb B, Scifo E, Liu T, Thanabalasingam A, Sanchez-Vazquez R, Martinez P, Blasco MA, Savage SA, Fuchs H, Ehninger D, Gailus-Durner V, de Angelis MH. (2025).Loss of Ten1 in mice induces telomere shortening and models human dyskeratosis congenita. Sci Adv 11, eadp8093. CNIO Publication.
Montero-Conde C, Leandro-García LJ, Martínez-Montes ÁM, Martínez P, Moya FJ, Letón R, Gil E, Martínez-Puente N, Guadalix S, Currás-Freixes M, García-Tobar L, Zafon C, Jordà M, Riesco-Eizaguirre G, González-García P, Monteagudo M, Torres-Pérez R, Mancikova V, Ruiz-Llorente S, Pérez-Martínez M, Pita G, Galofré JC, Gonzalez-Neira A, Cascón A, Rodríguez-Antona C, Megías D, Blasco MA, Caleiras E, Rodríguez-Perales S, Robledo M (2022).Comprehensive molecular analysis of immortalization hallmarks in thyroid cancer reveals new prognostic markers. Clin Transl Med 12, e1001. CNIO Publication. Open Access
Monteagudo M, Martínez P, Leandro-García LJ, Martínez-Montes ÁM, Calsina B, Pulgarín-Alfaro M, Díaz-Talavera A, Mellid S, Letón R, Gil E, Pérez-Martínez M, Megías D, Torres-Ruiz R, Rodriguez-Perales S, González P, Caleiras E, Jiménez-Villa S, Roncador G, Álvarez-Escolá C, Regojo RM, Calatayud M, Guadalix S, Currás-Freixes M, Rapizzi E, Canu L, Nölting S, Remde H, Fassnacht M, Bechmann N, Eisenhofer G, Mannelli M, Beuschlein F, Quinkler M, Rodríguez-Antona C, Cascón A, Blasco MA, Montero-Conde C, Robledo M (2021).Analysis of Telomere Maintenance Related Genes Reveals NOP10 as a New Metastatic-Risk Marker in Pheochromocytoma/Paraganglioma. Cancers 13, 4758. CNIO Publication. Open Access
Saraswati S, Martinez P, Graña-Castro O, Blasco MA (2021).Short and dysfunctional telomeres sensitize the kidneys to develop fibrosis.. Nature Aging 1, 269-283. CNIO Publication.
Open Access