Preclinical micro-endoscopy in tumors: targeting metastatic intravasation and resistance

Objective

Poor prognosis of cancer results from two central progression events, (i) the intravasation of cancer cells into blood vessels which leads to metastasis to distant organs and ultimately lethal tumor overload and (ii) cancer cell survival and adaptation to metabolic stress which causes resistance to anti-cancer therapy and limits life expectancy. Using a novel multiphoton microendoscope device recently developed by myself and collaborators, I here aim to overcome tissue penetration limits and identify important progression events deeply inside tumors. The hard- and software of the microendoscope will be optimized for automated position control and panoramic rotation to sample large tissue volumes and validated for stability and safety. We then will address the locations and mechanisms inside tumors that: (1) enable tumor-cell migration and penetration into blood vessels for distant metastasis and (2) mediate enhanced tumor-cell survival and resistance to experimental radiation- and chemotherapy. This basic inventory will serve to address (3) whether and how the niches for both intravasation and resistance overlap and connected with microenvironmental triggers, including defective blood vessels, signalling pathways of malnutrition and hypoxia, and tissue damage. The strategies include 3D microscopy of live fluorescent multi-color tumors and molecular reporters to record cancer cell migration, proliferation and death in the context with embedding tissue structures and metabolic signals. Once identified and characterized, (4) the niches and signals inducing intravasation and resistance (i.e. integrin adhesion receptors, cytoskeletal regulators, metabolic signalling) will be exploited as targets to enhance experimental radiation and chemotherapy. Preclinical microendoscopy will deliver new insight into cancer progression further contribute impulses to microendoscopy for disease monitoring in patients (“optical biopsy”).

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.

• natural sciences computer and information sciences software
• natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
• medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology

Programme(s)

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

• 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)

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.

• ERC-CG-2013-LS4 - ERC Consolidator Grant - Physiology, Pathophysiology and Endocrinology

Call for proposal

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

ERC-2013-CoG
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.

ERC-CG - ERC Consolidator Grants

Host institution

Beneficiaries (3)