Objective
The most intriguing phenomenon in cancer research is the ability of tumour cells to spontaneously migrate away from the primary tumour and metastasize. Metastases are strongly related to poor prognosis and reduced patient survival. Therefore, studying motility properties of cancer cells may benefit the development of therapeutic methods, and can hopefully contribute to improved survival.
Cancer cell motility is achieved by motility structures such as lamellipodia, filopodia and blebs. Blebs are large, round deformations of the cell, mostly driven by hydrostatic pressure that involve changes in the actomyosin cortex. While the mechanical process of bleb formation and retraction is pretty much known, its dependence on internal and external signalling is still missing. In this research we focus on the relations between signalling, blebbing and cell migration, using both experimental data and system-level modelling.
The Met tyrosine kinase is an endogenous receptor that normally initiates directional motion, needed for various homeostatic tasks such as embryogenesis and wound healing. High levels of Met were shown to be related to malignancy and metastases. In the proposed research we will study Met amplifications and activating mutations, and their influence on cell shape, motility, tumourigenesis and metastasis, both in vitro and in vivo, using advanced imaging modalities.
The experimental results will be used to construct a mathematical model. which couples membrane signalling to actual membrane protruding forces such as hydrostatic pressure and cortical tension, and to the overall cell motion. This allows us to learn how directional motion is achieved by apparently random blebbing and how they are both connected to cellular signalling. This model can also be used to test and predict the effects of different genetic, epigenetic and environmental conditions on the cell’s shape and motility, and will hopefully advance new strategies in metastasis prevention.
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
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
- natural sciences physical sciences classical mechanics fluid mechanics fluid statics
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences mathematics applied mathematics mathematical model
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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-2010-RG
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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
69978 Tel Aviv
Israel
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.