Objective
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death in western countries. TGFb are a family of signaling molecules delivering crucial tumor-suppressive signals to different cell types. Lack of TGFb induced cytostasis is a hallmark of cancer, and mutations of key transducers of TGFb in Colorectal cancer (CRC), albeit found only in a subset of tumors, indicates a leading role for these signals in limiting tumor progression. In our lab we identified Ectodermin, a molecule that antagonizes TGFb responses by controlling Smad4 ubiquitination. Interestingly, Ectodermin is expressed in the normal and neoplastic human colon, and it plays a causative role in limiting the anti-mitogenic effects of Smad4 in tumor cells. Our preliminary data point at a fundamental role of Ectodermin in vivo as Smad4/TGF-b inhibitor, both during embryonic development and for adult tissue homeostasis. We propose here to exploit the genetic inactivation of Ectodermin in models of CRC progression to test if raising cellular responsiveness to tumor-suppressive signals (i.e. by disabling a key endogenous inhibitor) can oppose tumor formation/progression. Moreover, as part of the previous Marie Curie Fellowship to the applicant, we recently characterized the function of a novel Smad4 deubiquitinating enzyme (SADE), required for TGFb signaling, opposing Ectodermin functions in multiple cellular and development systems. We propose here to test the potential role of SADE as tumor-suppressor in CRC and to develop genetic tools to study the function of SADE in mammalian tissue homeostasis. This approach has the potential to generate novel genetic models of CRC, and to open the way for new avenues of therapeutic intervention targeting these novel enzymatic ‘druggable’ targets.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences developmental biology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology colorectal cancer
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology homeostasis
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP7-PEOPLE-ERG-2008
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
35122 PADOVA
Italy
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.