Research Lab

Human Genetics and Cancer Therapeutics

29664

Lab Members

Research Interests

The major goals of Human Genetics and cancer therapeutics group are the identification and validation of cancer diagnostics biomarkers and the development of novel combinatorial cancer therapies.

For the development of cancer combinatory therapeutics, it is used in vitro 2D (cell monocultures) and 3D (spheroids) cellular models that simulate tumor microenvironment, cancer patient´s derived tumor cells or peripheral blood, or even in vivo models such as chick embryos, zebrafish and murines. Cellular models that mimic drug multiresistance observed in oncological patients were also established.

The identification of novel chemotherapeutic approaches, accomplished by screening of the biological targets of the most promising compounds, occurs with a high interaction with other international research groups.

Research Highlights

The biomarkers identification for cancer diagnostics and screening and validation of drugs for cancer therapeutics

Doxorubicin (Dox) sensitive and resistant colorectal tumor 3D spheroids were used as models to infer the therapeutic potential of Dox therapeutics combined with photothermia induced by gold nanoparticles.

The combination of photothermy and Dox accelerated the disintegration of the 3D structures. It was evaluated the effect of time of exposure to Dox, nanoparticles and irradiation in the efficacy of the combined therapeutic approach. Penetration of Dox into the spheroids is potentiated if preceded by irradiation of nanoparticles. As beta-testers of Lux3FL microscope from Cytosmart, the real-time visualization of the internalization of Dox in 3D spheroids originated an application note. To know more see here.

Representative Projects

NANOHEAT (2022.04315.PTDC) – "Gold nanoconjugates for improved photothermal ablation of colorectal cancer". AR. Fernandes Co-PI. PI. Pedro V Baptista. Total and Unit Funding: 249,7k€. (2023-02-203-2026-02-13).
"A molecular and nano approach to targeting the RANK-TRAF6 interface for bone metastases treatment". PI: João Galamba. IST-UL, Collaborators: AR Fernandes/Pedro V Baptista. Total funding: 248.329,40€. Unit funding: 20k€, 2022-2024.
“Arrows2cancer -Ruthenium-peptide conjugates: arrows for selectively targeting breast cancer” (PTDC/QUI-QIN/0146/2020 ). PI: Tânia Morais, Collaborators: AR Fernandes. Total funding: 249.985,01€. Unit funding: 42500€. (2021-03-01 - 2024-11-30).
"Tryptophan derivatives for reactivation of mutated forms of p53" (PTDC/QUI-QOR/1304/2020). PI: Maria Santos, Collaborators: AR Fernandes. Total funding: 249.956,25€. Unit funding: 28125€. (2021-03-29 - 2025-03-28).

Selected Publications

Rodrigo, AP; Mendes, VM; Manadas, B; Grosso, AR; de Matos, APA; Baptista, PV; Costa, PM; Fernandes, AR. 2021. Specific Antiproliferative Properties of Proteinaceous Toxin Secretions from the Marine Annelid Eulalia sp. onto Ovarian Cancer Cells. Marine Drugs, 19, DOI: 10.3390/md19010031

Roma-Rodrigues, C; Raposo, LR; Valente, R; Fernandes, AR; Baptista, PV. 2021. Combined cancer therapeutics-Tackling the complexity of the tumor microenvironment. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews-Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology, DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1704

Beola, L; Asin, L; Roma-Rodrigues, C; Fernandez-Afonso, Y; Fratila, RM; Serantes, D; Ruta, S; Chantrell, RW; Fernandes, AR; Baptista, PV; de la Fuente, JM; Grazu, V; Gutierrez, L. 2020. The Intracellular Number of Magnetic Nanoparticles Modulates the Apoptotic Death Pathway after Magnetic Hyperthermia Treatment. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 12, DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c12900

Alves-Barroco, C; Rivas-Garcia, L; Fernandes, AR; Baptista, PV. 2020. Tackling Multidrug Resistance in Streptococci - From Novel Biotherapeutic Strategies to Nanomedicines. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11, DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.579916

Alves-Barroco, C; Paquete-Ferreira, J; Santos-Silva, T; Fernandes, AR. 2020. Singularities of Pyogenic Streptococcal Biofilms - From Formation to Health Implication. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11, DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.584947