Research projects

The concept of "proteome" as a group of proteins expressed by a cell at a given time enables its division into subcategories that include specific types of proteins. Transportome is, therefore, the transport protein pattern that is the expression of a certain cell; that is, the group of proteins responsible for transporting all types of molecules to and from the interior and the exterior of the cells. The importance of this protein is obvious: no nutrient, no waste, and no vitamin can enter or leave a cell, except by way of its corresponding transporter cell. However, these transporters have yet another feature which makes them even more valuable, if possible, from a pharmacological point of view: it is also impossible for a drug to enter a cell unless it has a transporter to carry it. Given that many of the drugs used in cancer chemotherapy have been synthesised from the structure of nucleosides, our research group began several years ago to study their transporters, their patterns of expression in different cell types and their ability to transport drugs. The purpose of the project financed by the Ramón Areces Foundation is to enable us to transform the information accumulated over the years into a simple system that we can use to predict the response level of a tumour to a particular drug prior to commencement of treatment and, in this way, help to improve its effectiveness.