History of the Lab

The laboratory of "Cancer Epigenetics: Alterations of Methylation of the DNA and Chromatin" directed by Dr Manel Esteller initiated its activities on January 1st 2001 in the Molecular Pathology Programme of the Spanish National Cancer Center (CNIO). The lab is devoted to the study, from different approaches, of the epigenetic alterations affecting human tumors, including those referring to translational aspects (determination of methylation patterns and aberrant chromatin in human cancer and its genotipic context, as well as its possible use in molecular screening and reversion by chemical agents) as well as those referring to basic aspects (molecular bases of methylation and anomalous chromatin in human cancer).

Dr Esteller obtained his Ph.D. degree in molecular genetics of breast and gynecological cancer in the Hospital Vall d'Hebron of Barcelona, being Visiting Researcher in the School of Biological and Medical Sciences of the University of Saint Andrews (UK) during 1995. Its work consisted in the study of families with germ line mutations in BRCA1, p53 and ATM. In January 1997, Dr Esteller began its postdoctoral period in the Cancer Center of the Johns Hopkins University and Medical Institutions in Baltimore (USA), in the laboratory of doctors Steve Baylin and James G. Herman, pioneers in the field of aberrant methylation in cancer. From October 1999 until his incorporation in CNIO, DR Esteller was Research Associate in this laboratory. During this period, DR Esteller has published his work in 46 original articles and 5 revisions in the most prestigious scientific and medical journals (New England Journal of Medicine, Nature, Journal of The National Cancer Institute, Cancer Research, Oncogene, Genes, Chromosomes and Cancer, Clinical to cancer Research, American Journal of Pathology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Molecular Human Genetics, etc.). Its work has received, among others, the Young Investigator Award of cancer research of the American Association for Cancer Research (1999 and 2001) and the European Association for Cancer Research (2000). Meanwhile, DR Esteller has tutored numerous investigators as well as postdoctoral fellows and Ph.D. students.

At present time, the group has two Staff Scientists, Doctors Esteban Ballestar and Michel Herranz, who have large research and educational experience. DR Ballestar has developed his work in the Universitat de València and the National Institute of Health in Bethesda (USA). On the other hand, DR Herranz obtained his Ph.D. in the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid and continued his research work in the University of Columbia, New York, until his incorporation to the CNIO.

The group of Cancer Epigenetics has 5 postdoctoral fellows: DR Mario Fernandez Fraga, DR Jesús Espada, DR Rubén Agrelo, DR Santiago Ropero and DR Manuel Boix. The the diverse background of the postdoctoral fellows facilitate the development of multidisciplinary projects that cover different areas such as Molecular Pathology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Cellular Biology. This provides an environment suited for obtaining projects and the formation of graduate students.

The group of Cancer Epigenetics has five predoctoral fellows, Ana Villar Garea, Lidia López Serra, Rocio González, Filipe Jacinto and Paz Quesada. During the three years existence of the group, they have finished their doctorate courses and have obtained the DEA (Advanced Studies Diploma). Also they have participated and attended international meetings and have published part of its doctoral thesis work in scientific journals of prestige. The excellent results of the graduate students of the Cancer Epegenetics group guarantee its formation capacity.