I am an expert on cancer biology with more than 10 years of experience. My track record demonstrates expertise in cancer biology, biomarkers for diagnosis and therapy and genetically engineered cancer models of disease. I have a degree in Genetics and Biotechnology (2009), a master in Biotechnology for Health Sciences (2011) and an international PhD in Health Sciences approved with the highest mention in 2016. My PhD work was internationally developed at the best Institutions of Europe and South America, Life and Health Science Research Institute (Portugal), King¿s College (UK), Molecular Oncology Research Center (Brazil), and in collaboration with Bangor Univ, UK; being recognized 5 time by prestigious international funding agencies (EACR, FEBS, FAPESP). This international education allowed me to engage in numerous international workshops, trainings and collaborations. My work was selected for the principal cover in Human Mol Gen (IF:7.7) and highlighted at Nature Rev Urol (IF:11). I have contributed for the discovery of a novel cancer vaccine target (e.g. Clin Cancer Res 2015, IF:10.1; Gastric Cancer 2016, IF:7.1), currently under Phase II clinical trial (NCI-15-C-0118). Since 2016, I am a PostDoc researcher, with a strong international collaborative network and track record of accomplished and productive research. I have published 25 peer-reviewed papers (24 in Q1, average IF = 6.4), 11 as first author, h-index of 10 and >290 citations. I have identified specific glycan mechanisms of driving gastric cancer aggressiveness (Ebiomed 2019, IF:6.8) and I have glycoengineered unique cancer cell models to investigate glycans associated with cancer prognosis (Theranostic 2019, IF:8.6; Cells 2020, IF:4.4; Cancers 2021, IF:6.2). I am also co-founder of 2 new cancer glycan-based tools (GlycoTarget, GlycoDiagnostic), recognized with 40K euros by the 2 major national translational programs (RESOLVE, HiSeedTech). My research has been nationally and internationally recognized , which is reflected in the several selected or invited talks (8 oral and 40 poster presentations), scientific and translational programs, and awards (in a total of 13). I have been dedicated to training a specialized team of researchers, aiming to create a unique Research line at i3S. I am PI of a FCT project (50.000 euros) aiming to develop new 3D cancer models based on their glycome for patient stratification and treatment. I am also a research member of other 5 ongoing projects (total >7M euros). I am a member of MSc thesis examination boards and I was chair and organized an International scientific meeting (2019). Recently, I have joined the editorial board of Life (IF:3) and I am also referee in diverse scientific journals, including Cancer Communication. Currently, my research is focused on the cancer glycome associated with drug resistance and in the development of novel platforms for personalized medicine.
Selected Publications
Syndecan-4 is a maestro of gastric cancer cell invasion and communication that underscores poor survival. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America120(20):, 2023. [Journal: Article] [CI: 15] [IF: 9.4]
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2214853120 SCOPUS: 85158135443
Martins Á.M., Lopes T.M., Diniz F., Pires J., Osório H., Pinto F., Freitas D., Reis C.A.
Differential Protein and Glycan Packaging into Extracellular Vesicles in Response to 3D Gastric Cancer Cellular Organization. Advanced Science10(24):, 2023. [Journal: Article] [CI: 4] [IF: 15,1 (*)]
DOI: 10.1002/advs.202300588 SCOPUS: 85162202761
Pinto F., Santos-Ferreira L., Pinto M.T., Gomes C., Reis C.A.
The extracellular small leucine-rich proteoglycan biglycan is a key player in gastric cancer aggressiveness. Cancers13(6):1-22, 2021. [Journal: Article] [CI: 24] [IF: 6,6]
DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061330 SCOPUS: 85102599151
Gomes C., Almeida A., Barreira A., Calheiros J., Pinto F., Abrantes R., Costa A., Polonia A., Campos D., Osório H., Sousa H., Pinto-De-Sousa J., Kolarich D., Reis C.A.
Carcinoembryonic antigen carrying SLeX as a new biomarker of more aggressive gastric carcinomas. Theranostics9(24):7431-7446, 2020. [Journal: Article] [CI: 41] [IF: 11,6]
DOI: 10.7150/thno.33858 SCOPUS: 85074719039
Pinto F., Costa Â.M., Santos G.C., Matsushita M.M., Costa S., Silva V.A.O., Miranda-Gonçalves V., Lopes C.M., Clara C.A., Becker A.P., Neder L., Hajj G.N.M., da Cunha I.W., Jones C., Andrade R.P., Reis R.M.
The T-box transcription factor brachyury behaves as a tumor suppressor in gliomas. Journal of Pathology251(1):87-99, 2020. [Journal: Article] [CI: 11] [IF: 8]
DOI: 10.1002/path.5419 SCOPUS: 85082963520
Pinto F., Pértega-Gomes N., Pereira M.S., Vizcaíno J.R., Monteiro P., Henrique R.M., Baltazar F., Andrade R.P., Reis R.M.
T-box transcription factor brachyury is associated with prostate cancer progression and aggressiveness. Clinical Cancer Research20(18):4949-4961, 2014. [Journal: Article] [CI: 67] [IF: 8,7]
DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-14-0421 SCOPUS: 84907916641
Freitas D., Campos D., Gomes J., Pinto F., Macedo J.A., Matos R., Mereiter S., Pinto M.T., Polónia A., Gartner F., Magalhães A., Reis C.A.
O-glycans truncation modulates gastric cancer cell signaling and transcription leading to a more aggressive phenotype. EBioMedicine40:349-362, 2019. [Journal: Article] [CI: 72] [IF: 5,7]
DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.01.017 SCOPUS: 85060115866
Pinto F., Costa Â.M., Andrade R.P., Reis R.M.
Brachyury Is Associated with Glioma Differentiation and Response to Temozolomide. Neurotherapeutics17(4):2015-2027, 2020. [Journal: Article] [CI: 8] [IF: 7,6]
DOI: 10.1007/s13311-020-00911-9 SCOPUS: 85089376132
Pinto F., Campanella N.C., Abrahão-Machado L.F., Scapulatempo-Neto C., de Oliveira A.T., Brito M.J., Andrade R.P., Guimarães D.P., Reis R.M.
The embryonic Brachyury transcription factor is a novel biomarker of GIST aggressiveness and poor survival. Gastric Cancer19(2):651-659, 2016. [Journal: Article] [CI: 14] [IF: 5,5]
DOI: 10.1007/s10120-015-0505-0 SCOPUS: 84929678112
Pinto F., Gomes N.P., Vizcaíno J.R., Andrade R.P., Cárcano F.M., Reis R.M.
Brachyury as a potential modulator of androgen receptor activity and a key player in therapy resistance in prostate cancer. Oncotarget7(20):28891-28902, 2016. [Journal: Article] [CI: 18] [IF: 5,2]
DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8499 SCOPUS: 84969749407
Moniz S., Martinho O., Pinto F., Sousa B., Loureiro C., Oliveira M.J., Moita L.F., Honavar M., Pinheiro C., Pires M., Lopes J.M., Jones C., Costello J.F., Paredes J., Reis R.M., Jordan P.
Loss of WNK2 expression by promoter gene methylation occurs in adult gliomas and triggers Rac1-mediated tumour cell invasiveness. Human Molecular Genetics22(1):84-95, 2013. [Journal: Article] [CI: 44] [IF: 6,7]
DOI: 10.1093/hmg/dds405 SCOPUS: 84871200220
Pinto F., Cárcano F.M., da Silva E.C.A., Vidal D.O., Scapulatempo-Neto C., Lopes L.F., Reis R.M.
Brachyury oncogene is a prognostic factor in high-risk testicular germ cell tumors. Andrology6(4):597-604, 2018. [Journal: Article] [CI: 11] [IF: 3,1]
DOI: 10.1111/andr.12495 SCOPUS: 85046772556
Pereira M.S., Celeiro S.P., Costa Â.M., Pinto F., Popov S., de Almeida G.C., Amorim J., Pires M.M., Pinheiro C., Lopes J.M., Honavar M., Costa P., Pimentel J., Jones C., Reis R.M., Viana-Pereira M.
Loss of SPINT2 expression frequently occurs in glioma, leading to increased growth and invasion via MMP2. Cellular Oncology43(1):107-121, 2020. [Journal: Article] [CI: 6] [IF: 6,7]
DOI: 10.1007/s13402-019-00475-7 SCOPUS: 85074891597
Martins F., Oliveira R., Cavadas B., Pinto F., Cardoso A.P., Castro F., Sousa B., Pinto M.L., Silva A.J., Adão D., Loureiro J.P., Pedro N., Reis R.M., Pereira L., Oliveira M.J., Costa A.M.
Hypoxia and macrophages act in concert towards a beneficial outcome in colon cancer. Cancers12(4):, 2020. [Journal: Article] [CI: 6] [IF: 6,6]
DOI: 10.3390/cancers12040818 SCOPUS: 85082958618
Linhares P., Viana-Pereira M., Ferreira M., Amorim J., Nabiço R., Pinto F., Costa S., Vaz R., Reis R.M.
Genetic variants of vascular endothelial growth factor predict risk and survival of gliomas. Tumor Biology40(3):, 2018. [Journal: Article] [CI: 14] [IF: 3,7 (*)]
DOI: 10.1177/1010428318766273 SCOPUS: 85044680028
Moreira I.B., Pinto F., Gomes C., Campos D., Reis C.A.
Impact of Truncated O-glycans in Gastric-Cancer-Associated CD44v9 Detection. Cells9(2):, 2020. [Journal: Article] [CI: 9] [IF: 6,6]
DOI: 10.3390/cells9020264 SCOPUS: 85102099009
Albuquerque A.P.B., Balmaña M., Mereiter S., Pinto F., Reis C.A., Beltrão E.I.C.
Hypoxia and serum deprivation induces glycan alterations in triple negative breast cancer cells. Biological Chemistry399(7):661-672, 2018. [Journal: Article] [CI: 14] [IF: 3]
DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2018-0121 SCOPUS: 85048857740
Jezkova J., Williams J.S., Pinto F., Sammut S.J., Williams G.T., Gollins S., McFarlane R.J., Reis R.M., Wakeman J.A.
Brachyury identifies a class of enteroendocrine cells in normal human intestinal crypts and colorectal cancer. Oncotarget7(10):11478-11486, 2016. [Journal: Article] [CI: 16] [IF: 5,2]
DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.7202 SCOPUS: 84962030236
Martinho O., Pinto F., Granja S., Miranda-Gonçalves V., Moreira M.A.R., Ribeiro L.F.J., di Loreto C., Rosner M.R., Longatto-Filho A., Reis R.M.
RKIP Inhibition in Cervical Cancer Is Associated with Higher Tumor Aggressive Behavior and Resistance to Cisplatin Therapy. PLoS ONE8(3):, 2013. [Journal: Article] [CI: 53] [IF: 3,5]
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059104 SCOPUS: 84875122880
Costa A.M., Pinto F., Martinho O., Oliveira M.J., Jordan P., Reis R.M.
Silencing of WNK2 is associated with upregulation of MMP2 and JNK in gliomas. Oncotarget6(3):1422-1434, 2015. [Journal: Article] [CI: 24] [IF: 5]
SCOPUS: 84922691567
Campos C., Fragoso S., Luís R., Pinto F., Brito C., Esteves S., Pataco M., Santos S., Machado P., Vicente J.B., Rosa J.C., Cavaco B.M., Moura C., Pojo M.
High-throughput sequencing identifies 3 novel susceptibility genes for hereditary melanoma. Genes11(4):, 2020. [Journal: Article] [CI: 12] [IF: 4,1]
DOI: 10.3390/genes11040403 SCOPUS: 85083219125
Pereira M.S., de Almeida G.C., Pinto F., Viana-Pereira M., Reis R.M.
SPINT2 Deregulation in Prostate Carcinoma. Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry64(1):32-41, 2016. [Journal: Article] [CI: 10] [IF: 2,5]
DOI: 10.1369/0022155415612874 SCOPUS: 84952901065
Abrahao-Machado L.F., Pinto F., Antunes B., Volc S., Boldrini E., Camargo O.P.d., Reis R.M.
Clinical impact of brachyury expression in Ewing sarcoma patients. Advances in Medical Sciences66(2):321-325, 2021. [Journal: Article] [IF: 2,9]
DOI: 10.1016/j.advms.2021.06.002 SCOPUS: 85109884095