The fight against cancer begins at the tip of the chromosomes

María A. Blasco

  • PROJECT LEADER

    María A. Blasco

  • HOST ORGANIZATION, COUNTRY

    Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas Carlos III (CNIO), Spain

  • DESCRIPTION

    The ends of the chromosomes – telomeres – shorten with the passage of time. These alterations play a crucial role in the emergence of age-related diseases, such as cancer.

    Certain proteins, such as shelterins, act as a wrapper that covers and protects these final DNA sequences in the chromosomes. In cancer, these proteins mutate and do not function well.

    The project seeks to identify the regulation of these proteins in order to achieve new therapeutic targets by inhibiting their function and managing to curb tumors. In this sense, progress will make it possible to control a new level of cancer regulation.

  • PROJECT TITLE

    Targeting telomeres in cancer

  • BUDGET

    €489,100