CV Science

Evelyne Ségal-Bendirdjian MD, PhD Molecular Pharmacology

Course and current status

University Degrees:

    1) Medical

1979: Certificat Préparatoire aux Etudes de Biologie Humaine.

1983: UV Cancerology (Villejuif).

1984: M.D. (Necker Enfants Malades, Paris 5).

    2) Scientific

1978: Admissibility to D exam E.N.S.

1986: PhD in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Paris VI.

1987: Diploma of statistical studies applied to Medicine  (CESAM -Paris VI).

1995: HDR diploma (allowing students'training, Paris VI).

Faculty, Research and Hospital Trainings and appointments:

1979-1984: Hospital training : Hôpital Necker (Paris 5); Institut Gustave Roussy (Villejuif).

1989-1992: Post-doctorat: Dr Heidmann (Villejuif): caracterisation of transposable elements (LINES) in mammalian cells.

1992-1997: Chargé de Recherche CNRS: Pharmacologie Moléculaire dans le  Laboratoire de Biochimie-Enzymologie (Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif )(Dr. Jacquemin-Sablon).

1998-2010: Team Leader in INSERM U685 directed by M. Lanotte “Telomerase: physiological and pharmacological regulation of its expression and activity; diagnostic and therapeutical implications”.

2010- present Head of INSERM UMR-S 1007. Cellular Homeostasis and Cancer

Main scientific publications and patents:

-  55 original papers in international peer reviewed journals: main publications (number) in journals (abbr. names): PNAS (1), EMBO J (1), Blood (1) Cancer Research (2), Oncogene (4), Cell Death and Diff. (3), J. Biol. Chem. (2), Leukemia (4), Mol Cancer Ther (2), Mol Pharm (1), J Med Chem (1), NAR (1). 2 patents.

Awards:

1984: Laureate of Necker-Enfants Malades Faculty.

1990:  Antoine Lacassagne Prize.

Scientific summary

Our group has a background (1) in telomere/telomerase biology and regulation, (2) in biological responses (apoptosis, differentiation, senescence) from the most basic fundamental studies to drug development for new therapies.

Up to now the aim of anti-cancer therapies was to remove the tumor and/or destroy the tumoral cells using radiotoxic and/or chemotoxic strategies. Unfortunately, these therapies still lack tumoral cell specificity and are often limited by the emergence of resistances acquired during treatments. New concepts for cancer therapy are emerging, based on the observation that cancer cell plasticity can be modulated, and thereby reprogrammed to maintain a more differentiated and less aggressive status of tumoral cell population.

The major aim of our project is based on the concept of tumor cell plasticity and on our previous findings demonstrating that the tumor cell behavior can be modulated independently of the oncogenetic mutations specific to each cancer cell.

The project is therefore structured from a basic research approach focused on telomere/telomerase genetic and epigenetic regulation, to a pharmacological approach focused on the identification and characterization of new pharmacological tools enabling the manipulation of the plasticity of tumor cells through the targeting of telomere/telomerase for therapeutic purposes.