Project description
Locking tumour cells at the primary site
Cancer cells have the unique ability to break away from the initial tumour and spread to distant sites of the body causing metastases. Recent evidence indicates that circulating tumour cells (CTCs) are responsible for metastasis, and they have been thoroughly characterised. However, the principles that underlie the formation of CTCs remain unknown. The EU-funded TUMOR-LOCK project aims to investigate the signals that cause CTCs to leave the primary tumour and enter the bloodstream. Results will shed light on one of the hallmarks of cancer and open new avenues towards the prevention of cancer metastasis.
Objective
One woman in eight is destined to develop breast cancer. All women that lose their battle against breast cancer vividly realize that its most deadly feature is not the primary lesion, but its ability to spread to distant sites and become an incurable, metastatic disease. In this proposal, we aim to address what is arguably the most ambitious challenge in the cancer field: metastasis prevention.
Metastatic spread of cancer occurs through the generation and hematogenous dissemination of circulating tumor cells (CTCs). We recently discovered that CTCs are heterogeneous, and that CTC clusters – multicellular aggregates of cancer cells and immune cells in circulation – represent the most powerful mediators of disease spread (Szczerba et al., Nature, 2019; Gkountela et al., Cell, 2019). Post-intravasation biological and clinical features of CTCs are extensively interrogated, yet, surprisingly, the mechanisms that dictate their generation from a solid tumor lesion are unknown. Only a minimal fraction of cancer cells is capable to intravasate in functional blood vessels, while the vast majority of tumor cells will always remain in situ. Understanding the fundamental biological principles that govern CTC generation is of paramount importance, as it could lead to the development of new therapeutic agents that lock tumor cells in their primary site, thereby preventing metastasis.
Our preliminary data strongly suggest that CTC generation is not occurring in a stochastic fashion, but it is dictated by very precise and previously-unappreciated signals. Based on these very exciting findings, the two predominant goals of this proposal are: first, to gain insights into those fundamental cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous mechanisms that govern CTC intravasation in vivo. Second, to identify actionable targets and direct treatment opportunities to lock tumor cells in situ and blunt CTC generation, with the long-term ambition to prevent the metastatic spread of breast cancer.
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.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
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.
ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant
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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.
(opens in new window) ERC-2020-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
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.