Manel Esteller, born in Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain (1968), graduated with Honours in Medicine from the Universitat de Barcelona (1992) and earned his PhD in molecular genetics (1996). He was an Invited Researcher at the School of Biological and Medical Sciences at the University of St. Andrews (Scotland, UK). He was a researcher at the Johns Hopkins University and School of Medicine (Baltimore, USA) where he established promoter hypermethylation of tumour suppressor genes as a hallmark of all human tumours (1997 to 2001). He led the CNIO Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory (2001-2008) and directed the Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program (PEBC) in Barcelona (2008-2019). As Director he guided the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC) (2019-2024). Currently, he leads the Cancer Epigenetics Group at the IJC, is Chairman of Genetics in the School of Medicine of the University of Barcelona, and is an ICREA Research Professor.
Research interests
-Definition of the Epigenome and Epitranscriptome of Cancer Cells: Profile of DNA methylation and histone modifications in tumor suppressor genes and repetitive sequences in cancer. Global and gene-specific definition of aberrant epigenetic changes and functional consequences in transcription regulation, DNA repair and chromosome instability. -Study of the Epigenetics and Epitranscriptomics Machinery and Mechanisms: Role and function of DNA and RNA methyltransferases, specificity of methyl-CpG binding domain proteins (the nuclear factors that recognize DNA methylation), analysis of biological properties of histone deacetylases and methyltransferases (enzymes that modify histones). -Study of Mutations in the Epigenetic Machinery: The mechanisms underlying the disruption of the epigenetic landscape in transformed cells are unknown. -Study of the Epigenetic and Genetic Disruption of Non-Coding RNAs in Human Cancer. -Characterization of the Epitranscriptome in Human Diseases.
Selected publications
- Campillo-Marcos I, Casado-Pelaez M, Davalos V, Ferrer G, […], Esteller M 2024, 'Single-cell Multiomics Analysis of Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Clinical Response to Hypomethylating Therapy', Cancer research communications, 4 - 2 - 365 - 377.
- Noguera-Castells A, Campillo-Marcos I, Davalos V, García-Prieto CA, Valcárcel D, Molero A, Palomo L, Gattermann N, Wulfert M, Chaparro-González L, Solé F, […], Finelli C, Follo MY, Esteller M, 2024, 'DNA methylation profiling of myelodysplastic syndromes and clinical response to azacitidine: A multicentre retrospective study', British journal of haematology, 204, 5, 1838-1843.
- Gamez-Garcia A, Bueno-Costa A, Alari-Pahissa E, Thackray JK, Espinosa-Alcantud M, Ray C, Berenguer C, Kumari P, Bech JJ, Braun T, Ianni A, Tischfield JA, Sardina JL, Serrano L, Esteller M, […], Vaquero A. , 'A SIRT7-dependent acetylation switch regulates early B cell differentiation and lineage commitment through Pax5', Nature immunology, 25, 2308-19, 2024.
- Perron U, Grassi E, Chatzipli A, Viviani M, Karakoc E, Trastulla L, Brochier LM, Isella C, Zanella ER, Klett H, Molineris I, Schueler J, Esteller M, […], Iorio F 2024, ‘Integrative ensemble modelling of cetuximab sensitivity in colorectal cancer patient-derived xenografts’, Nature Communications, 15 - 1 - 9139.
- Martinez-Verbo L, Veselinova Y, Llinàs-Arias P, García-Prieto CA, Noguera-Castells A, Pato ML, Bueno-Costa A, Campillo-Marcos I, Villanueva L, […], Ferrer G & Esteller M 2024, ‘PVR (CD155) Epigenetic Status Mediates Immunotherapy Response in Multiple Myeloma’, Leukemia, 38, 2722-6.
- Esteller M, Dawson MA, Kadoch C, Rassool FV, Jones PA, Baylin SB, 2024, ’The Epigenetic Hallmarks of Cancer’ , Cancer Discovery, 14 - 10 - 1783 - 1809.
Selected research activities
Award Ennova Health in Big Data and Artificial Intelligence; Burdinola Research Award for New Molecular Targets in Medicine; Research Award of the National Royal Academy of Pharmacy; Prize of The Royal Academy of Medicine