Hugues de Thé

Hugues de Thé holds the Chair of Cellular and Molecular Oncology at Collège de France, where he leads research on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying cancer treatment responses. His work bridges fundamental biology with clinical applications, focusing on how anticancer therapies work at the molecular level.

• Chair of Cellular and Molecular Oncology at Collège de France
• Researcher at Interdisciplinary Center for Research in Biology (CIRB)
• Principal investigator in leukemia and cancer therapeutics research

Professor de Thé's research interests span several interconnected domains in cancer biology. His primary focus is on understanding the molecular mechanisms of anticancer treatments, particularly in a rare form of leukemia characterized by a simple genetic anomaly. He has pioneered research on how retinoic acid and arsenic oxide target and degrade the protein responsible for this leukemia. His work has expanded to investigate PML nuclear bodies, nuclear subdomains associated with stress response and cellular senescence that play crucial roles in therapeutic responses. More recently, his laboratory has explored how other anticancer agents like Actinomycin D and Doxorubicin function, discovering their unexpected modulation by PML proteins. His research integrates cell biology, molecular biology, and translational approaches to understand cancer treatment mechanisms.

Professor de Thé has organized and participated in numerous significant conferences and symposia, including the François Jacob Day series and the THEMA Saint-Louis Institute symposium on leukemia. His teaching program consistently focuses on advancing understanding of cancer biology, with recent and upcoming courses examining oxidative stress and anti-tumor therapeutics, transcriptional regulation in cancer, and therapeutic response mechanisms. His academic contributions reflect a sustained commitment to advancing both the theoretical foundations and practical applications of cancer research.

Throughout his career, Professor de Thé has maintained an active research program while contributing significantly to academic discourse through his teaching and conference organization. His work on PML nuclear bodies and SUMO conjugation has provided essential insights into post-translational modification pathways relevant to cancer treatment. His laboratory continues to investigate the cellular response to various anticancer agents, seeking to optimize therapeutic approaches through detailed molecular understanding.