The major aim of our project is to develop innovative anti-tumor therapeutics based on the concept of tumor cell plasticity. Recent findings from our team demonstrate that the tumor cell behavior can be modulated independently of the oncogenetic specific mutations acquired during the carcinogenesis and the tumor progression. The research project has been carried out using three major approaches developed jointly: 1) a basic research approach focused on telomerase gene expression regulation; 2) the integration of the biological response to neurotensin/neurotensin receptor; 3) a pharmacological approach focused on the identification and characterization of new pharmacological tools enabling the manipulation of the tumor cell plasticity for therapeutic purpose through targeting telomeres/telomerase and/or neurotensin/neurotensin receptor.

Recent Publications

Articles

• hTERT DNA Methylation Analysis Identifies a Biomarker for Retinoic Acid-Induced hTERT Repression in Breast Cancer Cell Lines.
  Nguyen E, Richerolle A, Sánchez-Bellver J, Varennes J, Ségal-Bendirdjian E : Biomedicines, 2022
• Exploring hTERT promoter methylation in cutaneous T-cell lymphomas.
  Chebly A, Ropio J, Peloponese JM, Poglio S, Prochazkova-Carlotti M, Cherrier F, Ferrer J, Idrissi Y, Segal-Bendirdjian E, Chouery E, Farra C, Pham-Ledard A, Beylot-Barry M, Merlio JP, Tomb R, Chevret E : Mol Oncol, 2021
• Molecular docking simulation reveals ACE2 polymorphisms that may increase the affinity of ACE2 with the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein.
  Calcagnile M, Forgez P, Iannelli A, Bucci C, Alifano M, Alifano P : Biochimie, 2021
• The key role of Warburg effect in SARS-CoV-2 replication and associated inflammatory response.
  Icard P, Lincet H, Wu Z, Coquerel A, Forgez P, Alifano M, Fournel L : Biochimie, 2021
• Natural killer cells in the human lung tumor microenvironment display immune inhibitory functions.
  Russick J, Joubert PE, Gillard-Bocquet M, Torset C, Meylan M, Petitprez F, Dragon-Durey MA, Marmier S, Varthaman A, Josseaume N, Germain C, Goc J, Dieu-Nosjean MC, Validire P, Fournel L, Zitvogel L, Bindea G, Lupo A, Damotte D, Alifano M, Cremer I : J Immunother Cancer, 2020
• The epigenetic regulator RINF (CXXC5) maintains SMAD7 expression in human immature erythroid cells and sustains red blood cells expansion.
  Astori A, Matherat G, Munoz I, Gautier EF, Surdez D, Zermati Y, Verdier F, Zaidi S, Feuillet V, Kadi A, Lauret E, Delattre O, Lefèvre C, Fontenay M, Ségal-Bendirdjian E, Dusanter-Fourt I, Bouscary D, Hermine O, Mayeux P, Pendino F : Haematologica, 2020
• [Are telomeres and telomerase still relevant targets in oncology?]
  Mergny JL, Guittat L, Ségal-Bendirdjian É : Bull Cancer, 2020
• The long non coding RNA H19 as a biomarker for breast cancer diagnosis in Lebanese women.
  Elias-Rizk T, El Hajj J, Segal-Bendirdjian E, Hilal G : Sci Rep, 2020
• , the Elusive Transcription Factor.
  Chebly A, Peloponese JM, Ségal-Bendirdjian E, Merlio JP, Tomb R, Chevret E : Front Genet, 2020
• Complex context-relationships between DNA methylation and accessibility, histone marks, and hTERT gene expression in acute promyelocytic leukemia cells: perspectives for all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in cancer therapy.
  Garsuault D, Bouyer C, Nguyen E, Kandhari R, Prochazkova-Carlotti M, Chevret E, Forgez P, Ségal-Bendirdjian E : Mol Oncol, 2020