Research

Research Interests

A) Molecular mechanisms of differentiation and tumour progression of neoplastic cells (neuroblastoma) and non-neoplastic cells of neural crest origin.

- Identification, isolation and molecular and functional characterization of differentially expressed genes using techniques of Differential Display in the thymic stroma cells derived from the neural crest:  study of the role of nuclear proteins HMGI - C and HMGI (Y) in the sensitivity of retinoic acid neuroblastoma cells.

-Study of the role of metalloproteinase - 9 (MMP9) of the extracellular matrix in the invasiveness control of neuroblastoma cells and molecular aspects of transcriptional regulation.

B) Activation mechanisms of immune response to tumors.

-Study of molecular and cellular aspects of thymocyte differentiation: in vivo and in vitro study of the role of transcription factors and / or transduction involved in the pathogenesis of lymphoproliferative diseases in murine models.

C) Analysis of Notch1, Notch2 and microRNA networks in pediatric brain tumors.

- Study of networks between Notch1, Notch2 and microRNAs and their role in the proliferation of tumor cells and invasiveness of the tumour.