Prediction of bladder cancer disease course using risk scores that combine molecular and clinical risk factors

Objective

Bladder cancer is a recurrent and very prevalent cancer and it generates the highest cost per patient in Europe. New genomic methods have allowed identifying new markers with potential clinical application. However, due to the use of single-marker assays and poor study design, none of these markers has made it to the clinic. FGFR3 and PIK3CA mutations, expression profiles, and microsatellite alterations in tumor tissue and urine, as well as polymorphisms in immune response genes, are very promising biomarkers that predict a tumor being present in the bladder and its likelihood of progression to invade the muscle. Here, we propose to combine the best markers of bladder cancer outcome in a prospective multicenter validation study in Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark as genetic predictors. Pre-validation of markers has been or will be made utilizing the world’s largest bladder cancer biobank (60,000 samples from 2500 patients). To achieve enough power to rapidly generate conclusive results, 2000 patients will consecutively be enrolled, and subjected to analysis, as well as follow-up for 2-4 years. The approach is a pre-defined, standard operating procedure based, prospective study with fixed end-points and testing relatively few independent variables on tumor tissue, urine and blood. To obtain a seamless introduction into the clinic we will use a mathematical approach in which the best markers are weighted based on disease models and nomogram construction, leading to a risk score applied to each patient at each visit. The team has a very strong track record in bladder cancer research, micro-array application, nomogram construction, and bio-banking. The validated biomarkers will lead to specific recommendations for changes in patient management based on the risk scores. We estimate saving of more than 40 mill Euros annually based on a reduced frequency of cystoscopies, as well as an increased survival and a better quality of life for the patients.

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.

• medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology bladder cancer
• medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
• natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation

Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

• Bladder cancer
• nomograms
• non-muscle invasive disease
• outcome prediction
• risk scores

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

• FP7-HEALTH - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Health

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.

• HEALTH-2007-2.4.1-1 - Translating the knowledge on non-coding RNAs linked to the aetiology of cancer into novel diagnosis and therapy strategies
• HEALTH-2007-2.4.1-2 - Translating clinical ’omics’-technology (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics) into innovative cancer biomarkers aiding in early diagnosis, prognosis and treatment selection of cancer patients

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

FP7-HEALTH-2007-A
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.

CP-FP - Small or medium-scale focused research project

Coordinator

Participants (7)