Objective During initial stages a cell accumulating tumor-promoting mutations is usually surrounded by normal cells. Current cancer models do not incorporate this transition from a single cell to a field of cells, although it is probably critical, since the behavior of an individual tumor cell within the cell community has to be dictated by the hard-wired genetic program that controls its aberrant cell biology and modulated by the plastic interactions with neighboring normal cells. Study of model organisms, such as yeast, C. elegans, or Drosophila, has historically pioneered crucial contributions to processes with important implications in neoplasia. Recent work in Drosophila has proposed a role for cell-competition and super-competition in early stages of cancer formation. Cell competition is a type of cell-cell interaction in which more competitive cells replace less competitive cells (Morata and Ripoll, 1975; Moreno et al. 2002). During the last year, my laboratory has performed the first microarrays to find genes involved in cell competition, as well as developed an in vitro system for cell competition. The genes identified in the microarrays are not downstream dMyc but are rather induced at the boundaries where cell competition takes place and seem to be upstream apoptosis induction. The new genes will be studied in vivo in Drosophila and in vitro with RNAi. We will also perform other microarray settings to subdivide the genes in different categories. Thanks to the complete genome sequences of both Drosophila and humans, those genes could be used to find human homologues that could serve as novel markers and targets for the detection and/or treatment of cancer at earlier stages. The possible use of cell competition as a tool for cell replacement will also be pursued. We expect to patent at least two or three of the novel uncharacterized genes with human homologs. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencescell biologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsmutationmedical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomes Keywords Cell competition Drosophila cancer supercompetitors Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-SG-LS1 - ERC Starting Grant - Molecular and Structural Biology and Biochemistry Call for proposal ERC-2007-StG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Host institution UNIVERSITAET BERN EU contribution € 517 400,00 Address HOCHSCHULSTRASSE 6 3012 Bern Switzerland See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Espace Mittelland Bern / Berne Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Eduardo Moreno (Dr.) Administrative Contact Maddalena Tognola (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITAET BERN Switzerland EU contribution € 517 400,00 Address HOCHSCHULSTRASSE 6 3012 Bern See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Espace Mittelland Bern / Berne Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Eduardo Moreno (Dr.) Administrative Contact Maddalena Tognola (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data FUNDACION SECTOR PUBLICO ESTATAL CENTRO NACIONAL INVESTIGACIONES ONCOLOGICAS CARLOS III Participation ended Spain EU contribution € 452 700,00 Address C MELCHOR FERNANDEZ ALMAGRO 3 28029 Madrid See on map Region Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Laura Bertolini (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data