Inglés (Estados Unidos)

ibbtec@unican.es

Berta Casar Martínez (IP)

IBBTEC. c/ Albert Einstein, 22; 39011 Santander (Spain)
berta.casar@unican.es
+34 942 206 824
Transformation and Metastasis
Principal Investigator
Cancer
Department of Cell & Molecular Signalling

Berta Casar graduated in Biology from the University of León (2001). After a few months of internship at the Hospital Reina Sofía (León, Spain), she joined Piero Crespo's group at CSIC/University of Cantabria (Santander, Spain), where she obtained her PhD studying the regulation of ERK signaling by Mxi2 in cancer in 2006.

Between 2009 and 2012, Berta carried out her postdoctoral studies in Dr. Quigley's group (The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA), focusing on the study of tumor progression and invasion.

At the end of 2012 she returned to Santander where she leads the Transformation and Metastasis Group. Dr. Casar's research focuses on the search for new therapeutic targets during tumorigenesis and metastasis.

She is the author of more than 30 publications including papers in Cancer Cell, Nature Communications, Molecular Cell, EMBO J, Oncogene and Journal of Cell Biology. Throughout his career he has obtained competitive funding including prestigious grants from the Fundación Ramón Areces, JAE-DOC, and Fundación Francisco Cobos. She has supervised a doctoral thesis, two TFM and three TFG; and has been awarded several national and international prizes. He regularly acts as evaluator for national and international scientific institutions, and as editor and reviewer for several scientific journals. He has been invited to give more than 20 lectures and seminars at congresses, universities and other scientific institutions.

Transformation and Metastasis

IBBTEC's Transformation and Metastasis group investigates signaling pathways involved in alterations during cancer and metastasis.

The ultimate goal of these studies is to identify modulators that may represent new therapeutic targets to curb metastasis and that can be directly translated into effective prevention or treatment strategies.

The group has a multidisciplinary approach and uses chick and mouse embryo models, organoids and 3D cultures, clinical samples and molecular and cellular biology techniques, patient-derived xenografts, to translate basic research into translational oncology and clinically relevant outcomes.

Funding

Relevancia funcional de PTPk en la rutaRas-ERK: Implicaciones terapeúticas en melanoma. MICIN(CSIC). 01/01/2017- 31/12/2019. SAF 2015-73364-JIN
Repurposing MAPK inhibitors for the treatment of COVID-19. Proyecto Intramural Especial PIE -CSIC ref 202020E113 15/04/2020-31/12/2023
Bases moleculares de resistencia a quimioterapia en neuroblastoma: identificación de nuevos biomarcadores y dianas terapéuticas. PIE-CSIC. 23/01/2020-present MAPK inhibitors for the treatment of COVID-19. Proyecto Gobierno de Cantabria COVID-19 ORDEN UIC/22/2020. 1/11/2020
Mecanismos moleculares que determinan la resistencia a quimioterapia en neuroblastoma. Berta Casar. Proyecto Intramural Especial PIE CSIC 201412 5 9. 1/06/2021- 31/05/2022
Definir el mecanismo de activacion de CDCP1 para bloquear metastasis de cancer de mama triple negative. Proyectos de I+D+i. Retos de la Sociedad, del Plan Estatal de Investigación y de Innovación 2017-2020. Referencia PID2020-112760rb-i00. 1/09/2021- 31/8/2024
Development of a therapeutic response marker for metastatic melanoma 1/12/2021- 30/11/2023 FERO XXI BFERO2103
Investigación preclínica de nuevas terapias dirigidas en Linfoma Cutáneo de Células T. PRECLILINF Proyectos de I+D+i. Retos de la Sociedad, del Plan Estatal de Investigación y de Innovación 2024-2027.

ERK1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase dimerization is essential for the regulation of cell motility.

de la Fuente-Vivas D, Cappitelli V, García-Gómez R, Valero-Díaz S, Amato C, Rodriguéz J, Duro-Sánchez S, von Kriegsheim A, Grusch M, Lozano J, Arribas J, Casar B, Crespo P.

Mol Oncol. 2025 Feb;19(2):452-473.

The mevalonate pathway contributes to breast primary tumorigenesis and lung metastasis

Conde J, Fernández-Pisonero I, Lorenzo-Martín LF, García-Gómez R, Casar B, Crespo P, Bustelo XR.

Mol Oncol. 2025 Jan;19(1):56-80.

Combination of JAKi and HDACi Exerts Antiangiogenic Potential in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

Karagianni F, Piperi C, Valero-Diaz S, Amato C, Vaque JP, Casar B, Papadavid E.

Cancers (Basel). 2024 Sep 17;16(18):3176.

DNA damage signalling histone H2AX is required for tumour growth

Contreras L, García-Gaipo L, Casar B, Gandarillas A.

Cell Death Discov. 2024 Feb 24;10(1):99.

Scaffold coupling: ERK activation by trans-phosphorylation across different scaffold protein species

Martín-Vega A, Ruiz-Peinado L, García-Gómez R, Herrero A, de la Fuente-Vivas D, Parvathaneni S, Caloto R, Morante M, von Kriegsheim A, Bustelo XR, Sacks DB, Casar B, Crespo P.

Sci Adv. 2023 Feb 15;9(7):eadd7969.

PLCγ1/PKCθ Downstream Signaling Controls Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Development and Progression

García-Díaz N, Casar B, Alonso-Alonso R, Quevedo L, Rodríguez M, Ruso-Julve F, Esteve-Codina A, Gut M, Gru AA, González-Vela MC, Gut I, Rodriguez-Peralto JL, Varela I, Ortiz-Romero PL, Piris MA, Vaqué JP

J Invest Dermatol. 2022 May;142(5):1391-1400.e15.

Combination of Resminostat with Ruxolitinib Exerts Antitumor Effects in the Chick Embryo Chorioallantoic Membrane Model for Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma

Karagianni F, Piperi C, Casar B, de la Fuente-Vivas D, García-Gómez R, Lampadaki K, Pappa V, Papadavid E.

Cancers (Basel). 2022 Feb 20;14(4):1070.

RAC1 Activation as a Potential Therapeutic Option in Metastatic Cutaneous Melanoma.

Colón-Bolea P, García-Gómez R, Casar B

Biomolecules. 2021 Oct 20;11(11):1554.

Extending the Applicability of In Ovo and Ex Ovo Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane Assays to Study Cytostatic Activity in Neuroblastoma Cells.

Merlos Rodrigo MA, Casar B, Michalkova H, Jimenez Jimenez AM, Heger Z, Adam V.

Front Oncol. 2021 Sep 1;11:707366.

ARID2 deficiency promotes tumor progression and is associated with higher sensitivity to chemotherapy in lung cancer

Moreno, T., Monterde, B., González-Silva, L. et al.

Oncogene (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41388-021-01748-y

RAC1 induces nuclear alterations through the LINC complex to enhance melanoma invasiveness.

Colón-Bolea P, García-Gómez R, Shackleton S, Crespo P, Bustelo XR, Casar B.

Mol Biol Cell. 2020 Dec 1;31(25):2768-2778.

RAS Subcellular Localization Inversely Regulates Thyroid Tumor Growth and Dissemination

Yaiza García-Ibáñez, Garcilaso Riesco-Eizaguirre, Pilar Santisteban, Berta Casar and Piero Crespo

Cancers (Basel). 2020 Sep 10;12(9):E2588. doi: 10.3390/cancers12092588.

RAS at the Golgi antagonizes malignant transformation through PTPRκ-mediated inhibition of ERK activation.

Casar B, Badrock AP, Jiménez I, Arozarena I, Colón-Bolea P, Lorenzo-Martín LF, Barinaga-Rementería I, Barriuso J, Cappitelli V, Donoghue DJ, Bustelo XR, Hurlstone A, Crespo P.

Nat Commun. 2018 Sep 5;9(1):3595. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-05941-8.

ERK Signals: Scaffolding Scaffolds?

Casar B, Crespo P. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2016 May 31; 4:49.

[PubMed]

Analysis of Ras/ERK Compartmentalization by Subcellular Fractionation.

Agudo-Ibañez L, Crespo P, Casar B.

Methods Mol Biol. 2017;1487:151-162.

The chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane as an in vivo model to study metastasis.

Crespo P., and Casar B. Bio-protocol Vol 6, Iss 20, Oct 20, 2016 DOI:10.21769/

http://bio-protocol.org/e1962.

Defined spatiotemporal features of RAS-ERK signals dictate cell fate in MCF-7 mammary epithelial cells.

Herrero A, Casar B, Colón-Bolea P, Agudo-Ibáñez L, Crespo P. Mol Biol Cell. 2016 Apr 20.

[PubMed]

Small Molecule Inhibition of ERK Dimerization Prevents Tumorigenesis by RAS-ERK Pathway Oncogenes.

Herrero A, Pinto A, Colón-Bolea P, Casar B, Jones M, Agudo-Ibáñez L, Vidal R, Tenbaum SP, Nuciforo P, Valdizán EM, Horvath Z, Orfi L, Pineda-Lucena A, Bony E, Keri G, Rivas G, Pazos A, Gozalbes R, Palmer HG, Hurlstone A, Crespo P.

Cancer Cell. 2015 Aug 10 [PubMed]

Mxi2 sustains ERK1/2 phosphorylation levels in the nucleus by preventing ERK1/2 binding to phosphatases.

Casar B., Rodríguez J., Gibor G., Seger R., and Crespo P. Biochem. J., 441, 571-578. (2012).

[pubmed]

ERK1/2 MAP kinases promote cell cycle entry by rapid, kinase-independent disruption of Retinoblastoma–LaminA complexes.

Rodríguez J., Calvo F., González J.M., Casar B., Andrés V. and Crespo P. J. Cell Biol. 191, 967-979. (2010). (Editorial en el mismo número; Editorial en Science Sig. 3, ec371 2010; Seleccionado por The Faculty of 1000).

[pubmed]

Saire Edith Córdova Hernández

David Gámiz Cruz

Carla Martínez Estévez

Celia Pérez Irizábal

Sara Valero Díaz

IBBTEC

Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria.
PCTCAN - Cl. Albert Einstein, 22
39011 Santander

Berta Casar Martínez (IP)

Transformation and Metastasis

Funding

ERK1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase dimerization is essential for the regulation of cell motility.

The mevalonate pathway contributes to breast primary tumorigenesis and lung metastasis

Combination of JAKi and HDACi Exerts Antiangiogenic Potential in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

DNA damage signalling histone H2AX is required for tumour growth

Scaffold coupling: ERK activation by trans-phosphorylation across different scaffold protein species

PLCγ1/PKCθ Downstream Signaling Controls Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Development and Progression

Combination of Resminostat with Ruxolitinib Exerts Antitumor Effects in the Chick Embryo Chorioallantoic Membrane Model for Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma

RAC1 Activation as a Potential Therapeutic Option in Metastatic Cutaneous Melanoma.

Extending the Applicability of In Ovo and Ex Ovo Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane Assays to Study Cytostatic Activity in Neuroblastoma Cells.

ARID2 deficiency promotes tumor progression and is associated with higher sensitivity to chemotherapy in lung cancer

RAC1 induces nuclear alterations through the LINC complex to enhance melanoma invasiveness.

RAS Subcellular Localization Inversely Regulates Thyroid Tumor Growth and Dissemination

RAS at the Golgi antagonizes malignant transformation through PTPRκ-mediated inhibition of ERK activation.

ERK Signals: Scaffolding Scaffolds?

Analysis of Ras/ERK Compartmentalization by Subcellular Fractionation.

The chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane as an in vivo model to study metastasis.

Defined spatiotemporal features of RAS-ERK signals dictate cell fate in MCF-7 mammary epithelial cells.

Small Molecule Inhibition of ERK Dimerization Prevents Tumorigenesis by RAS-ERK Pathway Oncogenes.

Mxi2 sustains ERK1/2 phosphorylation levels in the nucleus by preventing ERK1/2 binding to phosphatases.

ERK1/2 MAP kinases promote cell cycle entry by rapid, kinase-independent disruption of Retinoblastoma–LaminA complexes.

Saire Edith Córdova Hernández

David Gámiz Cruz

Carla Martínez Estévez

Celia Pérez Irizábal

Sara Valero Díaz

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Berta Casar Martínez (IP)

​​​Transformation and ​Metastasis

Funding

ERK1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase dimerization is essential for the regulation of cell motility.

The mevalonate pathway contributes to breast primary tumorigenesis and lung metastasis

Combination of JAKi and HDACi Exerts Antiangiogenic Potential in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

DNA damage signalling histone H2AX is required for tumour growth

Scaffold coupling: ERK activation by trans-phosphorylation across different scaffold protein species

PLCγ1/PKCθ Downstream Signaling Controls Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Development and Progression

Combination of Resminostat with Ruxolitinib Exerts Antitumor Effects in the Chick Embryo Chorioallantoic Membrane Model for Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma

RAC1 Activation as a Potential Therapeutic Option in Metastatic Cutaneous Melanoma.

Extending the Applicability of In Ovo and Ex Ovo Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane Assays to Study Cytostatic Activity in Neuroblastoma Cells.

ARID2 deficiency promotes tumor progression and is associated with higher sensitivity to chemotherapy in lung cancer

RAC1 induces nuclear alterations through the LINC complex to enhance melanoma invasiveness.

RAS Subcellular Localization Inversely Regulates Thyroid Tumor Growth and Dissemination

RAS at the Golgi antagonizes malignant transformation through PTPRκ-mediated inhibition of ERK activation.

ERK Signals: Scaffolding Scaffolds?

Analysis of Ras/ERK Compartmentalization by Subcellular Fractionation.

The chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane as an in vivo model to study metastasis.

Defined spatiotemporal features of RAS-ERK signals dictate cell fate in MCF-7 mammary epithelial cells.

Small Molecule Inhibition of ERK Dimerization Prevents Tumorigenesis by RAS-ERK Pathway Oncogenes.

Mxi2 sustains ERK1/2 phosphorylation levels in the nucleus by preventing ERK1/2 binding to phosphatases.

ERK1/2 MAP kinases promote cell cycle entry by rapid, kinase-independent disruption of Retinoblastoma–LaminA complexes.

Saire Edith Córdova Hernández

David Gámiz Cruz

Carla Martínez Estévez

Celia Pérez Irizábal

Sara Valero Díaz

Sobre nosotros

Eventos

Contacto

Login

About us

Events

Contact

Login

IBBTEC

Transformation and Metastasis