The group “Glycobiology in Cancer” focus on the role that glycosylation plays in human cancer aiming at the understanding of the molecular mechanisms controlling alterations of glycosylation that are important in the process of carcinogenesis and cancer progression.
The research lines that the group is developing include:

1. Characterization of the molecular mechanisms underlying the glycan-mediated adhesion and infection of Helicobacter pylori and the understanding of the importance of the host-pathogen crosstalk for the chronic infection of the gastric mucosa.
2. Evaluation of the role of glycans in cancer and pre-cancerous diseases addressing the molecular mechanisms controlling glycosylation of key proteins involved in cancer development and progression.
3. Development of glycan-based strategies to improve diagnosis and treatment of cancer using innovative technologies for identification of biomarkers with application in early cancer diagnosis and patient stratification.

The group applies a multidisciplinary approach combining molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, genomics, proteomics and animal models for understanding and addressing key issues played by glycosylation in cancer.