UFC

Our unit has been working on the development of new therapeutic strategies to sensitise cancer cells and make treatments such as radio- and chemotherapy more effective for more than 30 years. In cancer cells, activation of antioxidant defenses is imperative to proliferate, invade adjacent structures, and resist oxidative stress caused by interaction with the vascular endothelium and immune cells. Advancing our knowledge of all the mechanisms involved in the response to oxidative stress in healthy tissues and cancer cells has allowed us to develop new effective therapeutic strategies in the treatment of cancer. In recent years, we have shown the mechanisms involved in the antitumor effects of several natural polyphenols (potent antioxidants) and their therapeutic potential in the treatment of cancer. We are also developing a new line of work based on the therapeutic application of non-ionising radiation. Oxidative stress plays a central role in the pathophysiology of very diverse biomedical problems such as neurodegenerative diseases (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, etc.), ionising radiation (IR)-induced damage, carcinogenesis and the response of malignant cells to therapy. Our group has demonstrated the antitumor efficacy of natural polyphenols such as quercetin or pterostilbene and we have developed combination therapies with which we have managed to slow the progression of the symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the damage induced by IR, significantly increasing the survival of the animals treated. The productivity of the Cellular Pathophysiology Unit is supported by the publication of 10 patents, plus multiple articles in high-impact journals, the supervision of many doctoral theses and research projects (national, international and with private companies). We are founding members of the company Scientia Bio Tech (CIF: B-98897176) whose activity is focused on the development of oncological applications of non-ionising radiation. In 2021, we were awarded the prize for the best research and transfer group in the 15th call for the University-Society Awards from the Social Council of the University of Valencia (2021), in recognition of a research project that has been transferred to the business world and that will have an impact on benefits for society.