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

• 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
• 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
• Preclinical Evaluation of Ga-DOTA-NT-20.3: A Promising PET Imaging Probe To Discriminate Human Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma from Pancreatitis.
  Prignon A, Provost C, Alshoukr F, Wendum D, Couvelard A, Barbet J, Forgez P, Talbot JN, Gruaz-Guyon A : Mol Pharm, 2019
• Cisplatin increases PD-L1 expression and optimizes immune check-point blockade in non-small cell lung cancer.
  Fournel L, Wu Z, Stadler N, Damotte D, Lococo F, Boulle G, Ségal-Bendirdjian E, Bobbio A, Icard P, Trédaniel J, Alifano M, Forgez P : Cancer Lett, 2019
• Non-canonical Roles of Telomerase: Unraveling the Imbroglio.
  Ségal-Bendirdjian E, Geli V : Front Cell Dev Biol, 2019
• Synchronous Oligometastatic Lung Cancer Deserves a Dedicated Management.
  Loi M, Mazzella A, Mansuet-Lupo A, Bobbio A, Canny E, Magdeleinat P, Régnard JF, Damotte D, Trédaniel J, Alifano M : Ann Thorac Surg, 2019
• Modulation of lung cancer cell plasticity and heterogeneity with the restoration of cisplatin sensitivity by neurotensin antibody.
  Wu Z, Fournel L, Stadler N, Liu J, Boullier A, Hoyeau N, Fléjou JF, Duchatelle V, Djebrani-Oussedik N, Agopiantz M, Ségal-Bendirdjian E, Gompel A, Alifano M, Melander O, Trédaniel J, Forgez P : Cancer Lett, 2019
• Patients experiencing early acute respiratory failure have high postoperative mortality after pneumonectomy.
  Blanc K, Dechartres A, Zaimi R, Lefebvre A, Janet-Vendroux A, Fournel L, Dermine H, Lorut C, Becanne X, Hamelin-Canny E, Bobbio A, Roche N, Regnard JF, Alifano M, Rabbat A : J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 2018
• Telomerase regulation by the long non-coding RNA H19 in human acute promyelocytic leukemia cells.
  El Hajj J, Nguyen E, Liu Q, Bouyer C, Adriaenssens E, Hilal G, Ségal-Bendirdjian E : Mol Cancer, 2018
• Exploring the mechanism of inhibition of human telomerase by cysteine-reactive compounds.
  Kellermann G, Dingli F, Masson V, Dauzonne D, Ségal-Bendirdjian E, Teulade-Fichou MP, Loew D, Bombard S : FEBS Lett, 2017
• Thoracic Endometriosis Syndrome Other Than Pneumothorax: Clinical and Pathological Findings.
  Bobbio A, Canny E, Mansuet Lupo A, Lococo F, Legras A, Magdeleinat P, Regnard JF, Gompel A, Damotte D, Alifano M : Ann Thorac Surg, 2017
• Neurotensin regulation induces overexpression and activation of EGFR in HCC and restores response to erlotinib and sorafenib.
  Wu Z, Galmiche A, Liu J, Stadler N, Wendum D, Segal-Bendirdjian E, Paradis V, Forgez P : Cancer Lett, 2017
• Neurotensin Receptor 1 Antagonist SR48692 Improves Response to Carboplatin by Enhancing Apoptosis and Inhibiting Drug Efflux in Ovarian Cancer.
  Liu J, Agopiantz M, Poupon J, Wu Z, Just PA, Borghese B, Ségal-Bendirdjian E, Gauchotte G, Gompel A, Forgez P : Clin Cancer Res, 2017
• Expression of neurotensin receptor 1 in endometrial adenocarcinoma is correlated with histological grade and clinical outcome.
  Agopiantz M, Forgez P, Casse JM, Lacomme S, Charra-Brunaud C, Clerc-Urmès I, Morel O, Bonnet C, Guéant JL, Vignaud JM, Gompel A, Gauchotte G : Virchows Arch, 2017

Patent

• Micron-size plasmonic color sorter
  A Salomon, A Weissman, E Segal : Patent # : PCT/IL2017/050756, (US 2018008029A1), 2016