Càncer Growth Control and Cancer Metastasis

Roger Gomis

Group Leader

ICREA Research Professor

roger.gomis@irbbarcelona.org

+34 93 40 39959

Research keywords

Meet Our Scientists Videos

Roger Gomis: "Light and credibility"

Intricate signalling networks control cell division, differentiation, movement, organization and death. Understanding how cells read and transform these signals into changes in cell behaviour is a major research focus of our group. Cancer cells disobey these signals during tumour progression and metastasis. Metastasis is the final step in 90% of all fatal solid tumours. It is therefore a grave public health problem and consequently a field of considerable pharmaceutical interest.

Research interests

Growth Control and Cancer Metastasis

Our research centres on how growth factors, signalling pathways, and gene expression programmes control normal cell proliferation and cancer cell metastasis.

We study the ways in which cancer cells evade tumour suppressor mechanisms and engage in metastatic behaviour. We focus on a cytostatic programme involving the transcriptional activation of cell cycle inhibitors and the transcriptional repression of growth-promoting and anti-differentiation factors. Furthermore, we examine how tumour cells evade these gene responses in order to pursue metastatic behaviour. By combining in vivo selection of human metastatic cells, transcriptomic profiling and functional testing, we identify genes that selectively mediate breast metastasis to specific organs. Gene transfer techniques and RNAi-mediated gene silencing are used to functionally validate candidate genes. We are encouraged by the recent validation of these findings in clinical samples. Several of these genes encode products that are susceptible to therapeutic targeting.

Selected publications

The RNA binding protein CPEB2 regulates hormone sensing in mammary gland development and luminal breast cancer

Pascual R, Martín J, Salvador F, Reina O, Chanes V, Millanes-Romero A, Suñer C, Fernández-Miranda G, Bartomeu A, Huang YS, Gomis RR and Méndez R.

Sci Adv, 6 (20), eaax3868 (2020)

Genetic manipulation of LKB1 elicits lethal metastatic prostate cancer

Hermanova I, Zúñiga-García P, Caro-Maldonado A, Fernandez-Ruiz S, Salvador F, Martín-Martín N, Zabala-Letona A, Nuñez-Olle M, Torrano V, Camacho L, Lizcano JM, Talamillo A, Carreira S, Gurel B, Cortazar AR, Guiu M, López JI, Martinez-Romero A, Astobiza I, Valcarcel-Jimenez L, Lorente M, Arruabarrena-Aristorena A, Velasco G, Gomez-Muñoz A, Suárez-Cabrera C, Lodewijk I, Flores JM, Sutherland JD, Barrio R, de Bono JS, Paramio JM, Trka J, Graupera M, Gomis RR and Carracedo A.

J Exp Med, 217 (6), (2020)

Phenotypic changes of HER2-positive breast cancer during and after dual HER2 blockade

Brasó-Maristany F, Griguolo G, Pascual T, Paré L, Nuciforo P, Llombart-Cussac A, Bermejo B, Oliveira M, Morales S, Martínez N, Vidal M, Adamo B, Martínez O, Pernas S, López R, Muñoz M, Chic N, Galván P, Garau I, Manso L, Alarcón J, Martínez E, Gregorio S, Gomis RR, Villagrasa P, Cortés J, Ciruelos E and Prat A.

Nat Commun, 11 (1), 385 (2020)

Survival skills ensure that cancer spreads

Gomis RR.

Nature, 573 (7774), 353-354 (2019)

Publisher Correction: MSK1 regulates luminal cell differentiation and metastatic dormancy in ER+ breast cancer

Gawrzak S, Rinaldi L, Gregorio S, Arenas EJ, Salvador F, Urosevic J, Figueras-Puig C, Rojo F, Del Barco Barrantes I, Cejalvo JM, Palafox M, Guiu M, Berenguer-Llergo A, Symeonidi A, Bellmunt A, Kalafatovic D, Arnal-Estapé A, Fernández E, Müllauer B, Groeneveld R, Slobodnyuk K, Stephan-Otto Attolini C, Saura C, Arribas J, Cortes J, Rovira A, Muñoz M, Lluch A, Serra V, Albanell J, Prat A, Nebreda AR, Benitah SA and Gomis RR.

Nat Cell Biol, 20 (8), 990 (2018)

CLK2 blockade modulates alternative splicing compromising MYC-driven breast tumors

Salvador F and Gomis RR.

EMBO Mol Med, 10 (6), (2018)

MSK1 regulates luminal cell differentiation and metastatic dormancy in ER+ breast cancer

Nat Cell Biol, 20 (2), 211-221 (2018)

Regulation of Mammary Luminal Cell Fate and Tumorigenesis by p38α

Del Barco Barrantes I, Stephan-Otto Attolini C, Slobodnyuk K, Igea A, Gregorio S, Gawrzak S, Gomis RR and Nebreda AR.

Stem Cell Reports, 10 (1), 257-271 (2018)

Effect of MAF amplification on treatment outcomes with adjuvant zoledronic acid in early breast cancer: a secondary analysis of the international, open-label, randomised, controlled, phase 3 AZURE (BIG 01/04) trial

Coleman R, Hall A, Albanell J, Hanby A, Bell R, Cameron D, Dodwell D, Marshall H, Jean-Mairet J, Tercero JC, Rojo F, Gregory W and Gomis RR.

Lancet Oncol, (2017)

Intrinsic Subtypes and Gene Expression Profiles in Primary and Metastatic Breast Cancer

Cejalvo JM, Martínez de Dueñas E, Galván P, García-Recio S, Burgués Gasión O, Paré L, Antolín S, Martinello R, Blancas I, Adamo B, Guerrero-Zotano Á, Muñoz M, Nucíforo P, Vidal M, Pérez RM, Chacón López-Muniz JI, Caballero R, Peg V, Carrasco E, Rojo F, Perou CM, Cortés J, Adamo V, Albanell J, Gomis RR, Lluch A and Prat A.

Cancer Res, 77 (9), 2213-2221 (2017)

TGF-β Family Signaling in Tumor Suppression and Cancer Progression

Seoane J and Gomis RR.

Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol, (2017)

EPCR promotes breast cancer progression by altering SPOCK1/testican 1-mediated 3D growth

Perurena N, Zandueta C, Martínez-Canarias S, Moreno H, Vicent S, Almeida AS, Guruceaga E, Gomis RR, Santisteban M, Egeblad M, Hermida J and Lecanda F.

J Hematol Oncol, 10 (1), 23 (2017)

Tumor cell dormancy

Gomis RR and Gawrzak S.

Mol Oncol, (2017)

Understanding the molecular mechanisms driving metastasis

Massagué J, Batlle E and Gomis RR.

Mol Oncol, 11 (1), 3-4 (2017)

Understanding the molecular mechanisms driving metastasis

Massagué J, Batlle E and Gomis RR.

Mol Oncol, 11 (1), 3-4 (2017)

Stem cell-like transcriptional reprogramming mediates metastatic resistance to mTOR inhibition

Mateo F, Arenas EJ, Aguilar H, Serra-Musach J, de Garibay GR, Boni J, Maicas M, Du S, Iorio F, Herranz-Ors C, Islam A, Prado X, Llorente A, Petit A, Vidal A, Català I, Soler T, Venturas G, Rojo-Sebastian A, Serra H, Cuadras D, Blanco I, Lozano J, Canals F, Sieuwerts AM, de Weerd V, Look MP, Puertas S, García N, Perkins AS, Bonifaci N, Skowron M, Gómez-Baldó L, Hernández V, Martínez-Aranda A, Martínez-Iniesta M, Serrat X, Cerón J, Brunet J, Barretina MP, Gil M, Falo C, Fernández A, Morilla I, Per

Oncogene, 36 (19), 2737-2749 (2017)

Tumor cell dormancy

Gomis RR and Gawrzak S.

Mol Oncol, (2016)

Stratification and therapeutic potential of PML in metastatic breast cancer

Martín-Martín N, Piva M, Urosevic J, Aldaz P, Sutherland JD, Fernández-Ruiz S, Arreal L, Torrano V, Cortazar AR, Planet E, Guiu M, Radosevic-Robin N, Garcia S, Macías I, Salvador F, Domenici G, Rueda OM, Zabala-Letona A, Arruabarrena-Aristorena A, Zúñiga-García P, Caro-Maldonado A, Valcárcel-Jiménez L, Sánchez-Mosquera P, Varela-Rey M, Martínez-Chantar ML, Anguita J, Ibrahim YH, Scaltriti M, Lawrie CH, Aransay AM, Iovanna JL, Baselga J, Caldas C, Barrio R, Serra V, Vivanco Md, Matheu A, Gomis RR

Nat Commun, 7 12595 (2016)

Stratification and therapeutic potential of PML in metastatic breast cancer

2. Martín-Martín N, Piva M, Urosevic J, Aldaz-Donamaria, P, Sutherland JD, Arreal, L, Fenandez-Ruiz, S, Torrano V, Cortazar AR, Planet E, Guiu M, Radosevic-Robin N, Garcia S, Macías I, Salvador, F, Domenici, G, Rueda, O, Zabala-Letona A, Arruabarrena

Nat Commun, (2016)

The metabolic co-regulator PGC1α suppresses prostate cancer metastasis

Torrano V, Valcarcel-Jimenez L, Cortazar AR, Liu X, Urosevic J, Castillo-Martin M, Fernández-Ruiz S, Morciano G, Caro-Maldonado A, Guiu M, Zúñiga-García P, Graupera M, Bellmunt A, Pandya P, Lorente M, Martín-Martín N, David Sutherland J, Sanchez-Mosquera P, Bozal-Basterra L, Zabala-Letona A, Arruabarrena-Aristorena A, Berenguer A, Embade N, Ugalde-Olano A, Lacasa-Viscasillas I, Loizaga-Iriarte A, Unda-Urzaiz M, Schultz N, Aransay AM, Sanz-Moreno V, Barrio R, Velasco G, Pinton P, Cordon-Cardo C,

Nat Cell Biol, 18 (6), 645-56 (2016)

The metabolic co-regulator PGC1α suppresses prostate cancer metastasis

Nat Cell Biol, 18 (6), 645-56 (2016)

FoxA and LIPG endothelial lipase control the uptake of extracellular lipids for breast cancer growth

Slebe F, Rojo F, Vinaixa M, García-Rocha M, Testoni G, Guiu M, Planet E, Samino S, Arenas EJ, Beltran A, Rovira A, Lluch A, Salvatella X, Yanes O, Albanell J, Guinovart JJ and Gomis RR.

Nat Commun, 7 11199 (2016)

Tumour stroma-derived lipocalin-2 promotes breast cancer metastasis

Ören B, Urosevic J, Mertens C, Mora J, Guiu M, Gomis RR, Weigert A, Schmid T, Grein S, Brüne B and Jung M.

J Pathol, 239 (3), 274-85 (2016)

MiniAp-4: A Venom-Inspired Peptidomimetic for Brain Delivery

Oller-Salvia B, Sánchez-Navarro M, Ciudad S, Guiu M, Arranz-Gibert P, Garcia C, Gomis RR, Cecchelli R, García J, Giralt E and Teixidó M.

Angew Chem Int Edit, 55 (2), 572-5 (2016)

Enhanced MAF Oncogene Expression and Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis

Pavlovic M, Arnal-Estapé A, Rojo F, Bellmunt A, Tarragona M, Guiu M, Planet E, Garcia-Albéniz X, Morales M, Urosevic J, Gawrzak S, Rovira A, Prat A, Nonell L, Lluch A, Jean-Mairet J, Coleman R, Albanell J and Gomis RR.

Jnci-j Natl Cancer I, 107 (12), (2015)

MAPK signaling control of colon cancer metastasis

Urosevic J, Nebreda AR and Gomis RR.

Cell Cycle, 13 (17), 2641-2 (2014)

RARRES3 suppresses breast cancer lung metastasis by regulating adhesion and differentiation

Morales M, Arenas EJ, Urosevic J, Guiu M, Fernández E, Planet E, Fenwick RB, Fernández-Ruiz S, Salvatella X, Reverter D, Carracedo A, Massagué J and Gomis RR.

EMBO Mol Med, 6 (7), 865-81 (2014)

Colon cancer cells colonize the lung from established liver metastases through p38 MAPK signalling and PTHLH

Urosevic J, Garcia-Albéniz X, Planet E, Real S, Céspedes MV, Guiu M, Fernandez E, Bellmunt A, Gawrzak S, Pavlovic M, Mangues R, Dolado I, Barriga FM, Nadal C, Kemeny N, Batlle E, Nebreda AR and Gomis RR.

Nat Cell Biol, 16 (7), 685-94 (2014)

Funding

The Growth control and cancer metastasis group receives financial support from the following sources:

Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Spanish Ministry of Science and Education)
Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer

Projects

"Mecanismos de latencia metastática en cancer de mama" cofinanciado por el Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad y por el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER). Referencia: SAF2016-76008-R (MINECO/FEDER, UE)

"LIPID targeting in breast cancer" Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) de la Unión Europea en el marco del Programa operativo FEDER de Catalunya 2014-2020. Referencia: 2016 PROD 00086

"Metastasis Cell Fate Mapping" La Caixa Foundation under the agreement LCF/PR/HR17/52150014

"Vulnerabilities of Tumour and Stroma Interactions in Castration-Naïve Metastatic Prostate Cancer" Acrónimo: PROSTARGET de la Asociación Española contra el Cáncer (AECC).