Objective
The increase in skin cancer incidence in the past years has made the search for new therapeutic approaches to prevent or cure these malignancies a major research challenge. Importantly, the development of new therapies depends on a thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of these threatening disorders. The growth and differentiation factor activin A regulates a variety of processes, among them cutaneous homeostasis and repair. Most interestingly, recent results from the host laboratory revealed a pro-tumourigenic role of activin A in a mouse model of chemically-induced skin carcinogenesis, which is exerted via stromal cells, most likely the mast cells. The goal of the proposed project is to investigate the mechanisms underlying this pro-tumourigenic function of activin A. First, the contribution of mast cells to this effect will be determined. For this purpose mast cells will be depleted in activin A-overexpressing mice using a genetic approach, and the mice will be subjected to a chemical skin carcinogenesis protocol. In parallel, other stromal cell type(s), by which activin A might exert its pro-tumourigenic effect, will be identified. Moreover, the role of activin A in other tumour models will be determined by breeding the activin A-overexpressing mice to transgenic mice that develop papillomas without any physical or chemical treatment and to mice susceptible to malignant melanoma development. The study will be complemented by analysis of activin expression in human skin cancer biopsies. This analysis will allow us to define the roles and mechanisms of action of activin in the development of cutaneous tumours and may provide information on the potential use of activin antagonists or inhibitors of activin receptor signaling for the treatment of skin cancer. Knowledge gained from this study will thus not only be important for basic research, but will also be relevant for clinical practice.
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.
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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-IEF-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
8092 Zuerich
Switzerland
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.