OncoObesity and Metabolism Group is a basic-clinical multidisciplinary group composed of Postdocs researchers, PhD students, clinicians and laboratory technicians experts in different areas of the Biomedicine field. It is a stable and highly qualified research team that maintains continuous financial support through competitive calls (both public and private) and has a highly productive and qualitative scientific record.
We focus on the study of cellular, molecular and pathophysiological bases that underlie the development and progression of metabolic diseases (such as obesity and diabetes), tumor pathologies and cancer and, on the pathophysiological association and interaction between both pathologies. More specifically, we have a special interest in the study of the function of some endocrine-metabolic factors (hormonal, inflammatory and lipidic systems, chemokines, miRNAs, etc), as well as the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying in the pathophysiological relationship between obesity and cancer, such as the machineries that control the expression and secretion of inflammatory components (inflammasome), regulators of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), factors associated with the regulation of the expression and secretion of miRNAs (DROSHA, DICER, etc.) and extracellular vesicles, as well as machineries and factors that control the splicing process [spliceosome and non-sense mediated mRNA decay (NSMD) and related factors/variants], etc.
We have discovered and patented several cellular and molecular markers associated with metabolic dysregulation processes and with the development and progression of tumour pathologies. Their presence is associated with a higher risk and/or worse prognosis in these patients and which are being studied in our laboratory in collaboration with diverse national and international groups and pharmacological companies. These studies are helping us to demonstrate that the heterogeneity observed in tumours, their phenotypic and clinic variability, their aggressiveness and their resistance to treatments and, as a result, patients’ survival, are strongly influenced by the endocrine-metabolic environment of the patient, but also by the intrinsic characteristics of each tumour [e.g. hormonal-peptide factors and molecular mechanisms dysregulated in tumour cells or in endocrine-metabolic tissues closely related with tumour cells (e.g. adipose tissue)], which altogether can be involved with the initiation and progression of several types of tumours.
The different research lines of our group have as a common aim: the identification of new diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic opportunities in the interaction between metabolic dysregulations (mainly obesity) and tumoral pathologies, in order to promote their transfer to the Society and improve the Public Health Systems.
Research Lines
Networks
Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn)
Red de Investigación Nacional (RED2018-102785-E) of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities
European Society of Endocrinology (ESE; Pituitary and Neuroendocrinology Focus Area; ESE Congress Committee)
Global Engagement Advisory Group of the Endocrine Society (USA)
European Neuroendocrine Association (ENEA; ENEA Young Researchers Committee-EYRC)
Spanish Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition (SEEN; Translational and Neuroendocrinology working group)
The Molecular Registry of Pituitary Adenomas (REMAH) (Registro Español Molecular de Adenomas Hipofisarios)
Andalusian Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition (SAEDYN; Neuroendocrinology working group)
Agrifood Campus of International Excellence (ceiA3)
PAIDI BIO-139 Cellular and Molecular Endocrinology (Andalusian Plan for Research, Development and Innovation - PAIDI)
Spanish Bioinformatics Network for Clinical Research (TransBioNet)
Keywords
- Obesity
- cancer
- tumor pathologies
- prostate cancer
- hepatocellular carcinoma
- breast cancer
- bladder cancer
- pituitary tumors
- brain tumors
- diabetes
- metabolic dysregulations
- adipose tissue
- inflammasome
- miRNAs
- senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP)
- extracellular vesicles
- splicing/spliceosome
- non-sense mediated mRNA decay
- RNA-exosome
- telomerase
- heterogeneity
- diagnostic biomarkers
- prognostic biomarkers
Additional Information
5 most relevant publicactions (2017-2019)
1- Hormaechea-Agulla D, Gahete MD, Jiménez-Vacas JM, Gómez-Gómez E, Ibáñez-Costa A, L-López F, Rivero-Cortés E, Sarmento-Cabral A, Valero-Rosa J, Carrasco-Valiente J, Sánchez-Sánchez R, Ortega-Salas R, Moreno MM, Tsomaia N, Swanson SM, Culler MD, Requena MJ, Castaño JP, Luque RM. The oncogenic role of the In1-ghrelin splicing variant in prostate cancer aggressiveness. Molecular Cancer 2017, 16(1):146. IF: 10.679 (Decile 1; Oncology area)
2- Hormaechea-Agulla D, Jiménez-Vacas JM, Gómez-Gómez E, L-López FL, Carrasco-Valiente J, Valero-Rosa J, Moreno MM, Sánchez-Sánchez R, Ortega-Salas R, Gracia-Navarro F, Culler MD, Ibáñez-Costa A, Gahete MD, Requena MJ, Castaño JP, Luque RM. The oncogenic role of the spliced somatostatin receptor sst5TMD4 variant in prostate cancer. FASEB J 2017, 31(11):4682-4696. IF: 5.595 (Decile 1; Biology area)
3- Gahete MD, Del Rio-Moreno M, Camargo A, Alcala-Diaz JF, Alors-Perez E, Delgado-Lista J, Reyes O, Ventura S, Perez-Martínez P, Castaño JP, Lopez-Miranda J, Luque RM. Changes in Splicing Machinery Components Influence, Precede, and Early Predict the Development of Type 2 Diabetes: From the CORDIOPREV Study. EBioMedicine 2018, 3964(18)30479-1. IF: 6.68. (Decil 1e; Medicine, Research & Experimental area).
4- Vázquez-Borrego MC, L-López F, Gálvez-Moreno MA, Fuentes-Fayos AC, Venegas-Moreno E, Herrera-Martínez AD, Blanco-Acevedo C, Solivera J, Landsman T, Gahete MD, Soto-Moreno A, Culler MD, Castaño JP, Luque RM. A new generation somatostatin-dopamine analogue exerts potent antitumoral actions on pituitary neuroendocrine tumor cells. Neuroendocrinology 2019, 110(1-2):70-82. FI: 6.804. (Decile 1; Endocrinology and Metabolism area)
5- Jiménez-Vacas JM, Gómez-Gómez E, Montero-Hidalgo AJ, Herrero-Aguayo V, L-López F, Sánchez-Sánchez R, Guler I, Blanca A, Méndez-Vidal MJ, Carrasco J, Lopez-Miranda J, Requena-Tapia MJ, Castaño JP, Gahete MD, Luque RM. Clinical Utility of Ghrelin-O-Acyltransferase (GOAT) Enzyme as a Diagnostic Tool and Potential Therapeutic Target in Prostate Cancer. J Clin Med. 2019; 8(12). IF: 5.688 (Decile 1; Medicine, General and Internal).
Ongoing projects
1. Identification of novel endocrine-metabolic factors implicated in the pathophysiological interaction between obesity and the development and aggressiveness of prostate cancer. PI: Raúl Miguel Luque Huertas /Co-PI: Manuel D. Gahete Ortiz. Programa FEDER de la Junta de Andalucía 2014-2020; University Of Córdoba; Ref: 27416. 2019-2022. 49.500 €.
2. Therapeutic role of bioactive compounds of extra virgin olive oil in the pathological association of prostate cancer and obesity (PI-0152-2019). PI: Antonio José León González. Proyectos de Investigación en Salud. Consejería de Salud y Familias de la Junta de Andalucía. 2019-2022. 68.994,25 €.
3. Clinical-Molecular evolution of inflammatory, apoptotic and hormonal markers after bariatric surgery: metabolic changes, comorbidities improvements, splicing, prediction of complications and subjacent mechanisms (PI-0038-2019). PI: Aura Dulcinea Herrera Martínez. Proyectos de Investigación en Salud. Consejería de Salud y Familias de la Junta de Andalucía. 2019-2022. 69.000 €.
4. Spliceosomic strategy to improve the diagnostic, classification and treatment of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. G1909. PI: Justo P Castaño Fuentes. Beca GETNE 2019. 2020-2022. 60.000 €.
5. Telotristat Etiprate: utility on the mesenteric fibrosis and cardiac illness for carcinoid. Autocrine/paracrine effect of the serotonin in the fibrosis and carcinoid syndrome. PI: Aura Dulcinea Herrera Martínez. Beca GETNE Junior 2019. 2020-2022. 20.000 €.
6. Identification of new diagnostic, prognostic and/or therapeutic targets associated with the dysregulation of splicing mechanisms in neuroendocrine pituitary tumors. PI: Manuel D. Gahete Ortiz. Fundación de la Sociedad Española de Endocrinología y Nutrición (FSEEN). 2020-2021. 7.500 €.
7. Clinical-molecular changes after bariatric surgery: role of vitamin D in the reversion of metabolic comorbidities associated to the obesity. PI: Aura Dulcinea Herrera Martínez. Fundación Española de Investigación Ósea y del Metabolismo Mineral (FEIOMM). 2020-2021. 7.000 €
8. Molecular and functional characterization of bladder cancer and castration-resistant prostate cancer: search of novel therapies. PI: Raúl Miguel Luque Huertas /Co-PI: Manuel D. Gahete Ortiz. Eli Lilly & Company. 2019-2020. 74.800 €.
9. Spliceosomic strategy in NETs for the improvement of diagnostic, classification and treatment. FERP2019. PI: Justo P Castaño Fuentes. Fundación Eugenio Rodríguez Pascual 2019. 2019-2020. 7.000 €
10. Analysis of the in vitro combination of trastuzumab and lirilumab in breast cancer. Involvement of alternative splicing processes. PI: Cristina Morales Estévez / Co-PI: Manuel D. Gahete Ortiz. Sociedad Española de Oncología Médica (Beca FSEOM/BMS - Proyectos de investigación traslacional en Inmuno-Oncología 2018). 2019-2020. 40.000€.
9. Ghrelin-O-acil-Transferase (GOAT): New Biomarker for the screening of prostate cancer. (DTS18/00131). PI: Raúl Miguel Luque Huertas. Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Modalidad Proyectos de Desarrollo Tecnológico en Salud. 2018-2020. 88.550€.
11. New molecular mechanisms in the pathological interaction between obesity and prostate cancer: alternative splicing and miRNAs as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. (FIS Project PI16/00264). PI: Raúl Miguel Luque Huertas. Instituto de Salud Carlos III. 2017-2020. 212.052,50€.
12. Involvement of new molecular and endocrine-metabolic factors in the pathological interaction between obesity and the development of hepatocarcinoma. (FIS Project PI17/02287). PI: Manuel David Gahete Ortiz. Instituto de Salud Carlos III. 2018-2020. 194.507,50€.
13. Ghrelin-O-aciltransferase (GOAT): new biomarker for prostate cancer (FIPSE Project 3188-17). PI: Raúl M Luque. Fundación para la Innovación y la Prospectiva en Salud en España. 2018-2019. 30.000€.
14. Diagnosis and personalized postoperative prognosis of human gliomas using a new interactive approach. PI-0143-2016. PI: Juan Solivera Vela. Consejería de Salud (Junta de Andalucía). 2017-2019. 46.970,42 €.
15. Acquisition of scientific-technical equipment: polyvalent system of genomic analysis of last generation (EQC2018-005254-P). PI: Raúl Miguel Luque Huertas. Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. Spanish Plan I+D+I 2017-2020 and European foundation for Regional development (FEDER). 2019. 372.930€.
Patents
1. Transgenic mouse "rGHp-Cre", which allows the selective alteration of specific genes (elimination or overexpression) in the somatotropic cells of the pituitary gland using the "Cre / LoxP" system. Luque RM, Amargo G, Ishii S, Lobe C, Franks R, Kiyokawa H, Kineman RD.
2. Ghrelin Variants and its use. Luque RM, Castaño JP, Gahete MD, Gracia-Navarro F, Martínez-Fuentes AJ, Córdoba-Chacón J, Benito P, Kineman RD. P201030905.
3. Ghrelin-O-acyltransferase (GOAT) and its use. Luque RM, Castaño JP, Gahete MD, Hormaechea-Agulla D, Requena-Tapia MJ, Gómez-Gómez E, Carrasco-Valiente J, Ibáñez-Costa A, Moreno MM, Valero-Rosa J. P201531731 - PCT/ES2016/070844
4. Non-invasive diagnostic method for cancer. Luque RM, Castaño JP, Gahete MD, Ibáñez-Costa A, Hormaechea-Agulla D, Jiménez-Vacas JM, Sarmento-Cabral A, L-López F, Requena-Tapia MJ, Gómez-Gómez E, Carrasco-Valiente J.P201631606 - PCT/ES2017/070797
5. Peptides derived from the truncated somatostatin receptor sst5TMD4 as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in tumor pathologies.Luque RM, Castaño JP, Gahete MD, del Río-Moreno M, Alors-Pérez E. P201730702 - PCT/ES2018/070361
6. Method for the prediction and prognostic of the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Luque RM, Gahete MD, López-Miranda J, Perez-Martínez P, Delgado-Lista J, García-Ríos A, Alcalá-Díaz JF, Yubero-Serrano E, Camargo-García A, del Río-Moreno M, Alors-Pérez E, Castaño JP, Ventura-Soto S, Reyes-Pupo O. P201831095
7. Method for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of neuroendocrine tumors. Luque RM, Castaño JP, Gahete MD, Pedraza-Arévalo S, del Río-Moreno M, Alors-Pérez E, Gálvez-Moreno MA, Herrera-Martínez A, Serrano-Blanch R. P201831039
8. Method for the diagnosis and prognosis of the development of prostate cancer. Luque RM, Gahete MD, Castaño JP, Jiménez-Vacas JM, Sarmento-Cabral A, L-López F, Requena-Tapia MJ, Gómez-Gómez E, Carrasco-Valiente J. P201930104
9. Method of obtaining useful data for the diagnosis, stratification and / or follow-up of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Luque RM, López-Pedrera R, Perez-Sanchez C, Collantes- Estevez E, Ortega -Castro R, Castaño JP, Ibáñez-Costa A, Pedraza-Arévalo S, del Río-Moreno M, Barbarroja-Puerto N, Jimenez-Gomez Y. P201930123
10. Method for the diagnosis and prognosis of the development of brain tumors. Luque RM, Gahete MD, Fuentes-Fayos AC, Castaño JP, Ibañez-Costa A, Vazquez-Borrego MC, Lopez-Lopez F, Blanco-Acebedo C, Solivera-Vela J, Toledano-Delgado A, Galvez-Moreno MA. P201931147
