This project aims to systematically study and deeply characterize the regenerative and tumorigenic responses of planarian stem cells to chemical and genetic insults, both at the cellular and molecular levels. Using the asexual strain of the planarian «Schmidtea mediterranea» as a model, the study will combine classical methods with advanced approaches such as high-throughput sequencing to better understand how stem cells contribute to regeneration and, under certain conditions, to tumor formation.

Many animals can regenerate tissues or entire body parts, and this ability often coincides with a strong natural resistance to tumors. Freshwater planarians are an extreme example: they can reconstruct a whole organism from a small fragment thanks to neoblasts, lifelong pluripotent stem cells that generate all new tissues during homeostasis and regeneration. Despite continuous cell proliferation, spontaneous tumors are very rare in these organisms.

Nonetheless, classic studies showed that carcinogens or silencing of cancer-related genes can induce tumors in planarians. Yet, the relationship between regeneration and cancer and the mechanisms controlling neoblast proliferation remain poorly understood.

REGEN-TUM proposes combining histology with modern omics methods (RNA-seq, Split-seq) to analyze tumor induction, characterize tumors across scales, and identify stem-cell-level responses. Understanding how reproduction, aging and regenerative capacity influence tumor susceptibility will help reveal fundamental links between cancer biology and regenerative biology.

Dra. Dolores Molina (IQS-URL) and Dr Francesc Cebrià (UB) are Co-Principal Investigators of the REGEN-TUM project, funded by ‘Proyectos de generación de conocimiento 2024’. Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. 2025-2028. 137.500€. PID2024-159121NB-I00.