Cancer molecular biology, with special emphasis on the role of the p53 tumor suppressor, regulation of cell proliferation and cell death, regulation and function of microRNAs, and the role of chromatin modifications in cancer.

Specific research topics:

Regulation of p53 activity in normal & cancer cells.

Role of p53 in the cross-talk between cancer cells and their microenvironment.

Tumor suppressor networks, with emphasis on the cross-talk between the p53 and Lats2 tumor suppressors.

Regulation of nuclear import in cancer.

microRNAs and cancer, with emphasis on p53 as a regulator and a target of miRNAs.

Chromatin modifications and cancer, with emphasis on histone H2B ubiquitination as a new regulator of cancer-related processes and of stem cell biology.

Inflammation and cancer, with emphasis on the cross-talk between p53 and NF-kB

Involvement of p53 in the regulation of metabolic processes, including mitochondrial function, autophagy and oxidative stress-response.