The role of semaphorins and plexins in cancer progression and angiogenesis

Projektinformationen

SEMAPHORINSANDCANCER

ID Finanzhilfevereinbarung: 11581

Startdatum 1 Januar 2005

Enddatum 31 Dezember 2006

Finanziert unter

• Human resources and Mobility in the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration "Structuring the European Research Area" under the Sixth Framework Programme 2002-2006

Gesamtkosten € 0,00

EU-Beitrag € 152 421,00

Koordiniert durch

INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH AND TREATMENT - FONDAZIONE PIEMONTESE PER LA RICERCA SUL CANCRO
Italy

Ziel

Members of the scatter factor receptor family (Met and Ron) are key regulators in tumour invasion and metastasis. It has been shown that receptor over-expression, as well as specific mutations can lead to the constitutive activation of these oncogenes, which correlates with cancer progression. Two novel protein families phylo-genetically related to scatter factor receptors have been identified, plexins and semaphorin. Semaphorins control cell migration by binding to plexins, which compose one group of semaphor in receptors and are implicated in the regulation of cancer progression. Semaphorins can also bind to the tyrosine kinase receptor Met and neuropilin.

Intriguingly, neuropilins also function as co-receptors for Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors (VEGFs), which are important regulators of angiogenesis. This project is aimed to understand the functional role and mechanisms whereby semaphorin signalling can regulate cancer progression. The function of several semaphorins and semaphorin receptors will be investigated in vivo, by means of lentiviral-mediated gene transfer, in a model of cancer progression from local invasiveness to metastasis. We will screen a number of semaphorins, plexins and neuropilins expressed in various cancers that are either metastatic to the lungs, or have no tendency to metastasise.

The transfected cell lines will be used to establish tumour xenografts.). Further mechanistic control of specific semaphorins/plexins will be studied by testing the tumourigenic and metastatic potential of cancer cell lines engineered for their regulated expression, or translational knock-down (RNAi), or by expressing their wildtype and mutated receptors. We expect that this functional screening will provide a broad view of the oncogenic or onco-suppressor potential of different semaphorin genes, and will establish a proof of concept for studying further the encoded molecules as markers of tumour progression or potential cancer inhibitors.

Wissenschaftliches Gebiet

• medical and health sciences › medical biotechnology › genetic engineering › gene therapy
• natural sciences › biological sciences › biochemistry › biomolecules › proteins
• natural sciences › biological sciences › genetics › mutation
• medical and health sciences › clinical medicine › oncology

Schlüsselbegriffe

• Angiogenesis
• Invasion
• Metastasis
• Migration
• Plexin
• Semaphorin

Programm/Programme

• FP6-MOBILITY - Human resources and Mobility in the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration "Structuring the European Research Area" under the Sixth Framework Programme 2002-2006

Thema/Themen

• MOBILITY-2.1 - Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowships (EIF)

Aufforderung zur Vorschlagseinreichung

FP6-2002-MOBILITY-5
Andere Projekte für diesen Aufruf anzeigen

Finanzierungsplan

EIF - Marie Curie actions-Intra-European Fellowships

Koordinator

INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH AND TREATMENT - FONDAZIONE PIEMONTESE PER LA RICERCA SUL CANCRO

• EU-Beitrag: Keine Daten
• Adresse: Strada Prov. 142 ; CANDIOLO (TORINO), ; Italien
• Gesamtkosten: Keine Daten