About
The endocrine system is a network of glands that secrete hormones, which influence almost every cell, organ and function of our body; therefore, its dysregulation can lead to severe symptoms. Endocrine disorders can be caused by a tumour in a gland. Interestingly, the endocrine tumour entity covers the full range of phenotypes from indolent and benign to the worst human cancer forms.
Their research seeks to better understand the molecular landscape of endocrine tumours with especial focus on thyroid cancer and pituitary tumors. They aim to characterize mechanisms of progression and response/resistance to treatments to advance biomarker and drug target discovery. The final goal is to help treatment decision making and improve patient outcomes.
Keywords: Thyroid cancer, pituitary tumours, personalised medicine, epigenetics, biomarkers, metastases, therapy, kallikreins.
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Group Leader
Research lines
The group’s research can be grouped in four research lines that combine genome-wide methodologies and locus-specific techniques to analyze samples from patients and to address mechanistic and functional questions with in vitro models.
Molecular pathogenesis of aggressive thyroid cancer
The majority of patients with thyroid cancer have an excellent prognosis; however, a subset of carcinomas progress but no effective biomarkers are available. Moreover, therapeutic options are limited for patients not responding to the conventional treatment. The group is investigating the molecular basis of aggressive thyroid cancer, with especial focus on epigenetics, to better understand the underlying mechanisms of progression and dedifferentiation, and to identify prognostic and predictive markers as well as potential therapeutic targets.
Kallikreins, new players in thyroid cancer: regulation, function and clinical use
In recent years, kallikreins (KLKs) have emerged as important cancer biomarkers, with KLK3 encoding Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) as the most recognized biomarker. KLKs encode a family of fifteen closely related secreted serine proteases that cluster together on chromosome 19q13.4. The group found a deregulation of the entire KLK family in thyroid cancer. However, their involvement in this disease is unknown. The team is currently assessing the clinical utility of KLKs and studying their regulation and functional implications in thyroid cancer.
Molecular pathogenesis of pituitary adenomas
The research group investigates the pathogenesis of pituitary tumours in collaboration with Dr Manel Puig Domingo, leader of the Endocrine, Thyroid and Obesity group, by combining clinical, pathological, and molecular information to better understand their biological and clinical behaviour, and to identify prognostic markers, predictors of response and new therapeutic strategies that allow the shift towards personalised medicine. The team is closely involved with the Spanish Society of Endocrinology registry REMAH (Registro Español Molecular de Adenomas Hipofisarios), which has made possible to collect more than 700 adenomas.
Development of molecular assays for clinical settings
The final objective of the group’s translational projects is the implementation of our findings in clinical settings. Its researchers are developing molecular tools based on their results compatible with any pathology laboratory.
Active projects
Grup de Recerca SGR-Cat 2021 reconegut per la Generalitat de Catalunya: Grup de recerca en endocrinologia clínica i experimental (ENDOGRUP)
PI: Manel Puig Domingo
Funding agency: Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR)
Agency code: 2021 SGR 00539
Start date: 2023
End date: 2024
ACROMICS: next-generation precision medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of Acromegaly
PI: Manel Puig Domingo
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Agency code: PMP22/00021
Start date: 01/01/2023
End date: 31/12/2025
Validación del valor diagnóstico de un índice de metilación global del ADN en nódules tiroideos con citología indeterminada Bethesda IV
PI: Mireia Jordà
Funding agency: Fundación de la Sociedad Española de Endocrinología y Nutrición (FSEEN)
Start date: 01/01/2023
End date: 31/12/2023
Impact of the epigenetic deregulation in the progression and treatment of thyroid cancer (EpiThyro)
PI: Mireia Jordà
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Agency code: PI21/00195
Start date: 01/01/2022
End date: 31/12/2024
Papel predictivo y pronóstico del metabolismo de los ácidos grasos mediante el análisis integral de parámetros lipídicos, radiómicos y endocrinos en el cáncer de próstata avanzado
PI: Juan Carlos Pardo
Funding agency: Sociedad Española de Oncología Médica (SEOM)
Agency code: PI21/00195
Start date: 01/01/2022
End date: 31/12/2023
Valor pronóstico y terapéutico de las Kalikreínas: una nueva herramienta en el cáncer de tiroides
PI: Mireia Jordà
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Agency code: PI18/00654
Start date: 01/01/2019
End date: 31/06/2023
Scientific publications
Montero-Conde C, Leandro-García LJ, Martínez-Montes ÁM, Martínez P, Moya FJ, Letón R, Gil E, Martínez-Puente N, Guadalix S, Currás-Freixes M, García-Tobar L, Zafon C, Jordà M, Riesco-Eizaguirre G, González-García P, Monteagudo M, Torres-Pérez R, Mancikova V, Ruiz-Llorente S, Pérez-Martínez M, Pita G, Galofré JC, Gonzalez-Neira A, Cascón A, Rodríguez-Antona C, Megías D, Blasco MA, Caleiras E, Rodríguez-Perales S, Robledo M. Comprehensive molecular analysis of immortalization hallmarks in thyroid cancer reveals new prognostic markers. Clin Transl Med. 2022 Aug;12(8):e1001. DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1001. PMID: 35979662; PMCID: PMC9386325.
Gil J, Marques-Pamies M, Sampedro M, Webb SM, Serra G, Salinas I, Blanco A, Valassi E, Carrato C, Picó A, García-Martínez A, Martel-Duguech L, Sardon T, Simó-Servat A, Biagetti B, Villabona C, Cámara R, Fajardo-Montañana C, Álvarez-Escolá C, Lamas C, Alvarez CV, Bernabéu I, Marazuela M, Jordà M, Puig-Domingo M. Data mining analyses for precision medicine in acromegaly: a proof of concept. Sci Rep. 2022 May 28;12(1):8979. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12955-2. PMID: 35643771; PMCID: PMC9148300.
Pardo JC, Sanhueza T, Ruiz de Porras V, Etxaniz O, Rodriguez H, Martinez-Cardús A, Grande E, Castellano D, Climent MA, Lobato T, Estudillo L, Jordà M, Carrato C, Font A. Prognostic Impact of CD36 Immunohistochemical Expression in Patients with Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Treated with Cystectomy and Adjuvant Chemotherapy. J Clin Med. 2022 Jan 19;11(3):497. DOI: 10.3390/jcm11030497. PMID: 35159947; PMCID: PMC8836680.
Gil J, Marques-Pamies M, Valassi E, García-Martínez A, Serra G, Hostalot C, Fajardo-Montañana C, Carrato C, Bernabeu I, Marazuela M, Rodríguez-Lloveras H, Cámara R, Salinas I, Lamas C, Biagetti B, Simó-Servat A, Webb SM, Picó A, Jordà M, Puig-Domingo M. Implications of Heterogeneity of Epithelial-Mesenchymal States in Acromegaly Therapeutic Pharmacologic Response. Biomedicines. 2022 Feb 16;10(2):460. DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10020460. PMID: 35203668; PMCID: PMC8962441.
Pardo JC, Ruiz de Porras V, Gil J, Font A, Puig-Domingo M, Jordà M. Lipid Metabolism and Epigenetics Crosstalk in Prostate Cancer. Nutrients. 2022 Feb 18;14(4):851. DOI: 10.3390/nu14040851. PMID: 35215499; PMCID: PMC8874497.
News
High school students visit the Can Ruti Campus in a new edition of the Science Week in Badalona
Around 200 students from secondary schools in Badalona have visited different centres on the Can Ruti Campus this morning, taking part in one of the main events of the 28th edition of Science Week in Badalona. The Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) has organised the event together with the Germans Trias Hospital.
The IGTP presents CARE Translational Program in Cancer Research
CARE, the Translational Program in Cancer Research is the first transversal program promoted by the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), and it aims to become a bridge for researchers in the field of cancer who want to bring basic and clinical research together, so that the knowledge and the tools generated in the laboratory can benefit the patient.
Contact
Mireia Jordà
(+34) 93 033 05 19