Project description
Role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the development of prostate and colon cancers
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) belong to the family of transmembrane ligand-gated ion channels. Tobacco smoking is linked to several types of cancer and tobacco-derived nitrosamines activate nAChRs, contributing to oncogenesis. Recent preliminary data show the clear difference in expression of nAChR subunits between cancerous and non-cancerous cells, obtained from prostate and colon cancer samples. The EU-funded nAChRs-CRC-PCa-IF-RI project will investigate the pathophysiological role of nAChRs in prostate and colorectal cancer. The project objectives are to identify nAChRs involved in prostate and colon cancer, characterise nAChRs’ role in migration, proliferation and invasion, and explore the effects of dupα7, an nAChR subunit, in anti-angiogenesis. The team will also study the influence of chemotherapy on nAChRs’ expression.
Objective
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are transmembrane ligand gated ion channels composed of five subunits and encoded by 16 genes. Depending on the subunit composition nAChRs have different properties and functions. It is widely accepted that smoking tobacco is correlated with several types of cancers and that nicotine and tobacco-derived nitrosamines are known to activate nAChRs contributing to oncogenic processes. To date the question of whether nAChRs contribute to the cellular malfunctions involved in prostate and colon cancer still remains unanswered. Our preliminary results show for the first-time different expression levels of nAChRs subunits in prostate and colon cancer cell lines. Most strikingly is the clear difference of expression of nAChRs subunits between cancerous vs. non-cancerous cells, depending on the aggressiveness and cell type. The question arises whether these differences have a physiological impact. In the present project I will investigate the pathophysiological role of nAChRs in prostate and colorectal cancer. My aim is to (1) Identify and characterize nAChRs involved in prostate and colon cancer; (2) study the role of nAChRs in migration, proliferation and invasion in prostate and colon cancer; (3) the influence of a duplicated isoform of the α7 nAChR subunit, dupα7, and its anti-angiogenic properties in CRC and PCa; and (4) the role of chemotherapeutic drugs, which could augment nAChRs expression in cancer and contribute to chemoresistance. The present project will be performed at the laboratory of Dr. Peinelt University of Bern, an established research group with a focus on the pathophysiology of ion channels in prostate and colorectal cancer and in collaboration with the Urology Department of the University Hospital Inselspital Bern. The Marie Curie IF will help me to further develop leadership skills, scientific maturity and independence and will be crucial for my aim to obtain an independent academic position in the future.
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.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology pathophysiology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine urology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology colorectal cancer
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy
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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.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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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.
3012 Bern
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.