Cannabinoid Signalling in Tumour Cells
Scientic Supervisor / Contact Person
Name and Surname
Marco Cordani
ORCID (link)
Other ID (link)
Localization & Research Area
Faculty / Institute
Faculty of Biological Science
Department
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Research Area
Life Sciences (LIF)
MSCA & ERC experience
Research group / research team hosted any MSCA fellow?
Yes
Research group / research team have any ERC beneficiaries?
No
Research Team & Research Topic
Research Team / Research Group Name (if any)
Cannabinoid Signalling in Tumour Cells
Website of the Research team / Research Group / Department
Brief description of the Research Team / Research Group / Department
Since 2001, the group of “Cannabinoid signaling in tumor cells” has been led by Prof. Guillermo Velasco. The group is located at the Faculty of Biology of the Complutense University of Madrid and aim at developing a number of researches focused on the study of the molecular mechanisms underlying the antitumoural action of cannabinoids. This line has given rise to other lines of research, all related to translational oncology. The work of team dissects the molecular pathways by which cannabinoids inhibit tumour growth, paving the way for new targeted therapies. Additionally, the group is exploring how modulating processes such as autophagy and the function of Tribbles proteins can enhance the efficacy of anti-tumour treatments.
The work of group has led some relevant contributions in the past years in the field of cannabinoids signaling and combined therapies
- López-Valero I, et al., Theranostics. 2020 Apr 6;10(11):5120-5136. doi: 10.7150/thno.41450.
- Hernández-Tiedra S et al., Autophagy. 2016 Nov;12(11):2213-2229. doi: 10.1080/15548627.2016.1213927.
- Orea-Soufi A, Cancers (Basel). 2021 Oct 22;13(21):5307. doi: 10.3390/cancers13215307.
Additionally, the group has been involved in an extensive network of collaborations that has provided high impact factor discovery in the field of autophagy and cancer:
- Maiani et al., Nature. 2021 Apr;592(7856):799-803. doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03422-5.
- Torrano V et al., Nat Cell Biol. 2016 Jun;18(6):645-656. doi: 10.1038/ncb3357.
- Cianfanelli V et al., Nat Cell Biol. 2015 Jan;17(1):20-30. doi: 10.1038/ncb3072.
The supervisor of MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships is Marco Cordani, a new PI recently incorporated in the group with the Ramon y Cajal contract. His aim is to lead a new research line aimed at understanding the role of autophagy in cancer, and developing novel cancer therapies based on nanomedicines and cannabinoids.
The PI has been involved in the past years in a number of studies aimed at developing and evaluating nanomedicines and medicinal chemistry approaches for cancer treatment:
- Saei AK, et al., Comput Biol Med. 2025 Apr;188:109757. doi: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2025.109757.
- Freire, N. F. et al., J Drug Deliv Sci Technol, 97, 105833. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2024.105833
- Ghobadi et al., Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2024 Aug:201:114349. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2024.114349
- Cordani et al. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Jan 7;10(1):66. doi: 10.3390/antiox10010066
- García-Garrido et al., Pharmaceutics. 2021 Dec 3;13(12):2067. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13122067.
The work of group has led some relevant contributions in the past years in the field of cannabinoids signaling and combined therapies
- López-Valero I, et al., Theranostics. 2020 Apr 6;10(11):5120-5136. doi: 10.7150/thno.41450.
- Hernández-Tiedra S et al., Autophagy. 2016 Nov;12(11):2213-2229. doi: 10.1080/15548627.2016.1213927.
- Orea-Soufi A, Cancers (Basel). 2021 Oct 22;13(21):5307. doi: 10.3390/cancers13215307.
Additionally, the group has been involved in an extensive network of collaborations that has provided high impact factor discovery in the field of autophagy and cancer:
- Maiani et al., Nature. 2021 Apr;592(7856):799-803. doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03422-5.
- Torrano V et al., Nat Cell Biol. 2016 Jun;18(6):645-656. doi: 10.1038/ncb3357.
- Cianfanelli V et al., Nat Cell Biol. 2015 Jan;17(1):20-30. doi: 10.1038/ncb3072.
The supervisor of MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships is Marco Cordani, a new PI recently incorporated in the group with the Ramon y Cajal contract. His aim is to lead a new research line aimed at understanding the role of autophagy in cancer, and developing novel cancer therapies based on nanomedicines and cannabinoids.
The PI has been involved in the past years in a number of studies aimed at developing and evaluating nanomedicines and medicinal chemistry approaches for cancer treatment:
- Saei AK, et al., Comput Biol Med. 2025 Apr;188:109757. doi: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2025.109757.
- Freire, N. F. et al., J Drug Deliv Sci Technol, 97, 105833. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2024.105833
- Ghobadi et al., Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2024 Aug:201:114349. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2024.114349
- Cordani et al. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Jan 7;10(1):66. doi: 10.3390/antiox10010066
- García-Garrido et al., Pharmaceutics. 2021 Dec 3;13(12):2067. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13122067.
Research lines / projects proposed
We offer to candidate incorporating in one of the following research lines:
1. Molecular mechanisms of cannabinoid-induced autophagy: This line focuses on using genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screening to uncover the molecular pathways and key genetic regulators that mediate the pro-death autophagic response triggered by cannabinoids in PDAC cells. We aim to identify genes that affect autophagy and reveal novel targets to fine-tune cannabinoid action and overcome chemoresistance.
2. Optimization of cannabinoid-based combination therapies: Here, the goal is to develop combination treatment strategies where cannabinoids are paired with standard chemotherapeutics (like gemcitabine) and mTOR inhibitors. This research line includes testing nanoparticle-based delivery systems to improve drug stability, targeting, and sustained release, ultimately enhancing the therapeutic efficacy against resistant PDAC tumors.
3. Targeting autophagy regulators for translational oncology: Building on the findings from the above lines, this research will investigate the role of key molecular regulators in the interplay between autophagy and chemoresistance. Understanding how these regulators modulate the cellular response to cannabinoid-induced stress will guide the design of more precise and personalized therapeutic strategies.
1. Molecular mechanisms of cannabinoid-induced autophagy: This line focuses on using genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screening to uncover the molecular pathways and key genetic regulators that mediate the pro-death autophagic response triggered by cannabinoids in PDAC cells. We aim to identify genes that affect autophagy and reveal novel targets to fine-tune cannabinoid action and overcome chemoresistance.
2. Optimization of cannabinoid-based combination therapies: Here, the goal is to develop combination treatment strategies where cannabinoids are paired with standard chemotherapeutics (like gemcitabine) and mTOR inhibitors. This research line includes testing nanoparticle-based delivery systems to improve drug stability, targeting, and sustained release, ultimately enhancing the therapeutic efficacy against resistant PDAC tumors.
3. Targeting autophagy regulators for translational oncology: Building on the findings from the above lines, this research will investigate the role of key molecular regulators in the interplay between autophagy and chemoresistance. Understanding how these regulators modulate the cellular response to cannabinoid-induced stress will guide the design of more precise and personalized therapeutic strategies.
Key words
Application requirements
Professional Experience & Documents
An updated Curriculum vitae and a letter of interest are required
informal emails directly to: mcordani@ucm.es
informal emails directly to: mcordani@ucm.es
One Page Proposal
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