One of the most universal characteristics of cancer cells is their immortality. We study the mechanisms by which tumour cells are immortal and normal cells are mortal. Over 95% of all types of human cancers exhibit the enzyme telomerase, absent in normal cells in the body. Telomeres, nucleoprotein complexes at the ends of chromosomes, are essential for chromosome protection and genomic stability. Their progressive shortening as the organism ages leads to ageing. If telomeres are altered, the regenerative capacity of adult stem cells is maimed.
Our research focuses on:
Mouse models to validate telomeres and telomerase as therapeutic targets for cancer and age-related diseases.
Interplay between telomeres and DNA repair pathways.
Role and regulation of non-coding telomeric RNAs (TERRA).
Telomerase gene therapy in telomere syndromes and age-related diseases.
Role of telomerase and telomeres in:
adult stem cell biology
nuclear reprogramming of differentiated cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells).
Recent publications
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. Publication in other institutions.
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