Team description

Keywords: Colon and stomach cancers, cancer stem cells, alternative pre-mRNA splicing, lipid metabolism, myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative syndromes

Our team represents the second research axis of INSERM U1078. We are involved in cancer research, both for solid tumors, such as colon and stomach, and for dysplastic or proliferative myeloid blood diseases, which frequently transform into cancers. Our main working hypothesis is that alterations of pre-mRNA splicing may drive cancer promotion since the early stages. For this reason, we have been characterizing splicing anomalies in colon adenomas, precursor lesions of colon adenocarcinomas, and we are currently deciphering the mechanisms of altered splicing in stomach cancer as well as in myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative syndromes. We are also engaged in the analysis of the effects of statins on cancer control in experimental models. In addition, we are pursuing two main collaborative projects related to the combination of positron tomography images and transcriptome alteration for cancer analysis and response to therapy (D. Visvikis, Brest) and to the role alternative pre-mRNA splicing in the activity of pro- and anti-oxidant genes in hematopoietic cells (O. Hérault, Tours).

Expertises / technical competence

We perform molecular biology and analytical biochemistry techniques and pathway analyses using the Cytoscape environment and various bioinformatics tools. We also analyze pre-mRNA splicing control (prediction tools for RNA binding proteins, minigenes approach, etc.).

Collaborations

Local

Dimitris VISVIKIS, Inserm UMR1101-UBO, Brest

Jacques-Olivier PERS, Inserm UMR1227-UBO, Brest

Cédric Le Maréchal, PU-PH, Brest University Hospital,

Gérald Le Gac, MCU-PH, Brest University Hospital

Brest University hospital (anatomopathology, hepatology and gastroenterology, radiotherapy, Cancer Institute)

Séverine Loisel, animal facility-UBO, Brest

Regional

Olivier Hérault, CNRS UMR 7292 - GICC, Tours

University Hospital William ERB, Rennes University

Catherine Cheze-Le Rest, Poitiers University Hospital

Valérie Ugo, Angers University Hospital

Genomic platform-Biosit, Rennes

European

Gwendal Dujardin, CRG, Barcelona, Spain

Chiara Molinari, IRST-IRCCS, Biosciences Laboratory, Meldola (FC), Italy

INSERM UMR1078 - Equipe ECLA