Ricardo Pérez-Tomás is Professor of Biology in the Department of Cell Biology and Pathology at the University of Barcelona, Spain, and a Senior Group leader of the Cancer Cell Biology Research Group.

Ricardo is originally from Murcia in the Spanish South-eastern Region. He obtained his first degree from Murcia University and then did his PhD research with Prof. José Ballesta on comparative neuroendocrine system, first at the Cell Biology Dept. in Murcia and then in the Histochemistry Department (Royal Postgraduate Medical School) at the University of London under the supervision of Prof. J.M. Polak.

After a short post-doctoral research period, Ricardo won in 1989 a Professor position in the Department of Cell Biology and Pathology at the University of Barcelona as a Junior Group Leader. Here, he started his research into Cancer Cell Biology specially the involvement of EGF, TGF-α , TGF-β and the EGF-receptor (EGF-receptor) in different in vivo models: embrionary hepatic parenchyma, regenerating liver and experimental hepatocarcinogenesis. Also he was interested in identify the mechanisms by which TG-β precursor is involved in processes of normal and neoplastic proliferation in colon carcinoma.
In 1998, Ricardo are focusing in the characterization of novel anti-cancer drugs from bacterial origin, and then, in the study of their mechanism of action as well as in to assess the therapeutic potential of these molecules in the treatment of cancer.

Research experience:

•  Title: Study of the intracellular pH changes and its relationship with the induction of apoptosis by prodigiosin (H + /Cl - ) in human colorectal cancer. University of Barcelona . 2002-2004.

•  Title: Characterisation of Antitumoral 514 as a possible anticancer drug. University of Barcelona . 2002-2004

•  Title: The prodigiosin, a new immunosuppressor. Biochemical characterisation of the apoptosis induced by prodigiosin in cell lines and in T and B lymphocytes. University of Barcelona . 2001-2003.

•  Title: Implication of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF- a ) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) in the tumoural progression of human colon carcinoma. University of Barcelona . 1995-1998.

•  Title: Identification of the different molecular forms of pro-TGF- a in normal and neoplastic human colon.. 1995-1997.

•  Title: Involvement of EGF and other growth factors in hepatic cell proliferation and experimental hepatocarcinogenesis: diagnostic technology development. University of Barcelona . 1991-1993.

Patent :

•  Cyclic depsipeptide as a chemotherapeutic agent against cancer. WO 2004/031130 A1.

Selected Publications:

•  Pérez-Tomás R, Montaner B , Llagostera E, and Soto-Cerrato V. (2003) The prodigiosins, proapoptotic drugs with anticancer properties. Biochem. Pharmacol ., 66, 1447-52.

•  Campàs C, Dalmau M, Montaner B , Barragán M, Bellosillo B, Colomer D, Pons G, Pérez-Tomás R, and Gil J. (2003) Prodigiosin induces apoptosis of B and T cells from B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Leukemia 17, 746-50.

•  Montaner B, and Pérez-Tomás R. (2003) The prodigiosins: a new family of anticancer drugs. Curr. Cancer Drug Targets 3, 57-64.

•  Montaner B, and Pérez-Tomás R. (2002) Activation of protein kinase C for protection of cells against apoptosis induced by the immunosuppressor prodigiosin. Biochem. Pharmacol. 63, 463-9.

•  Crespo L, Sanclimens G, Montaner B , Pérez-Tomás R, Royo M, Pons M, Albericio F, and Giralt E. (2002) Peptide dendrimers based on polyproline helices. J. Am. Chem. Soc . 124, 8876-83.

•  Montaner B , Navarro S, Piqué M, Vilaseca M, Martinell M, Giralt E, Gil J, and Pérez-Tomás R. (2000) Prodigiosin from the supernatant of Serratia marcescens induces apoptosis in hematopoietic cancer cell lines. Brit. J. Pharmacol . 131, 585-93.

•  Montaner B , Asbert M, and Pérez-Tomás R. (1999) Immunolocalization of transforming growth factor- a and epidermal growth factor-receptor in the rat gastroduodenal area. Digest. Dis. Sci. 44, 1408-16.

•  Díaz-Ruiz C, Asbert M, and Pérez-Tomás R. (1999) Immunochemical localitation of a TGF- a related protein in the rat kidney. Nephron 81, 324-28.

•  Díaz-Ruiz C, Asbert M, and Pérez-Tomás R. (1996) Immunochemical study of a TGF- a - related protein in the chicken kidney. Kidney International 49, 1053-63.

•  Pérez-Tomás R, Culleré X, Asbert M, and Díaz-Ruiz C. (1994) Immunoelectron microscopic localization of transforming growth factor- a in rat colon . Gut 35, 1086-89.

•  Pérez-Tomás R, Culleré X, and Díaz-Ruiz C. (1993) Immunohistochemical localization of transforming growth factor- a in the developing rat colon. Gastroenterology 104, 789-95.

•  Diaz C, Pérez-Tomás R, Culleré X, and Domingo J. (1993) Immunohistochemical localization of a TGF- a and EGF-R in mesonephros and metanephros of chicken kidney. Cell Tissue Research 271, 3-8.

•  Mayol X, Pérez-Tomás R, Culleré X, Romero A, Estadella M. D, and Domingo J. (1991) Cell proliferation and tumour promotion by ethinyl estradiol in rat hepatocarcinogenesis. Carcinogenesis 12, 1133-36.

•  Pérez-Tomás R, Ballesta J, Madrid J.F, Pastor L.M, and Hernández F. (1990) Histochemical and ultrastructural study of the digestive tract of Testudo graeca (Chelonia). Journal of Morphology 204, 1-11.

•  Pérez-Tomás R, Ballesta J, Pastor L.M, and Hernández F. (1989) Ultrastructural study of the endocrine cells of the gut of Testudo graeca (Chelonia). Anat. Embryol. 180, 103-8.

•  Pérez-Tomás R, Ballesta J, Pastor L.M, Madrid J.F, and Polak J.M. (1989) Comparative immunohistochemical study of the gastroenteropancreatic endocrine system of three reptiles. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 76, 171-191.

•  Pastor L.M, Ballesta J, Castells M.T, Pérez-Tomás R, Marín J.A, and Madrid J.F. (1989) A microscopic study of the lung of Testudo graeca (Chelonia). J. Anat. 164, 19-39.

•  Madrid J.F, Ballesta J, Pastor L.M, Pérez-Tomás R, and Hernández F. (1989) Distribution of mucins in the mucosa of the digestive tract of reptiles. A histochemical study. Acta Histochem. 85, 117-29.

•  Pastor L.M, Ballesta J, Pérez-Tomás R, Madrid J.F and Marín J. A. (1988) A light and electron microscopic study of the epithelium of the extrapulmonary airways of Mauremys caspica and Lacerta lepida (Reptilia). J. Submicrosc. Cytol. Pathol. 20, 25-36.

•  Pastor L.M, Ballesta J, Hernández F, Pérez-Tomás R, Zuasti A, and Ferrer C. (1987) A microscopic study of the tracheal epithelium of Testudo graeca and Pseudemys scripta elegans . J. Anat. 153, 171-83.

•  Pastor L.M, Ballesta J, Pérez-Tomás R, Marín J.A, Hernandez F, and Madrid J.F. (1987) Immunocytochemical localization of serotonin in the reptilian lung. Cell Tissue Research 248, 713-15.