Project description
Telomeric transcripts in osteosarcoma cells with an alternative lengthening of telomeres
The replication capacity of cancer cells is linked to their ability to renew the ends of their chromosomes, called telomeres. Some cancers utilise an alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway to maintain theirs. ALT cells exhibit increased levels of TERRA, a long non-coding RNA transcribed from telomeres. Preliminary studies suggest that TERRA is present in human ALT osteosarcoma cells, where inflammation is associated with poor prognosis and metastasis. The EU-funded CytoTERRA project will test the hypothesis that the accumulation of cytoplasmic TERRA (cyTERRA) is induced by telomeric DNA damage and is capable of initiating an inflammation response. Understanding cyTERRA function in ALT osteosarcoma will allow it to be used as an inflammation marker and introduce its pathway as a therapeutic target.
Objective
The unlimited replication potential of cancer cells is enabled by their ability to renew their ends of chromosomes, telomeres. A minority of cancers utilizes a recombination pathway, named alternative lenghtening of telomeres (ALT), to maintain their telomeres. ALT cells exhibit increased DNA damage at telomeres and increased levels of TERRA, a lncRNA transcribed from telomeres. TERRA plays important roles in telomere biology, but it also has extranuclear functions. Short TERRA species were found in extracellular vesicles of lymphoblastoid and cancer cells, and they were found to stimulate inflammation. Notably, inflammation can have both anti-tumorigenic and pro-tumorigenic effects. Particularly, in osteosarcoma, a bone cancer with high ALT incidence, affecting predominantly children and adolescents, inflammation is connected to poor prognosis and metastasis development.
Our preliminary results suggest that TERRA is present in the cytoplasm of human ALT osteosarcoma cells. We propose that the accumulation of cytoplasmic TERRA (cyTERRA) is induced by telomeric DNA damage, and that cyTERRA, similarly to extracellular TERRA, is capable of initiating an inflammation response. Since the cytoplasmic DNA sensor pathway is defective in these cells, we propose that TERRA plays a role of a DNA damage messenger that triggers the pro-tumorigenic inflammation.
We will test our hypothesis by studying the characteristics of cyTERRA, elucidating the factors influencing its localization and studying the effect of cyTERRA depletion on inflammation signalling in these cells.
The understanding of the function of cyTERRA in ALT osteosarcoma may introduce it as a marker for inflammation, and expose its export pathway as a therapeutic target. Since the variability of therapeutic outcome in osteosarcoma patients is not completely understood, the understanding of cancer inflammation triggers may be valuable for personalized therapeutic approach in these 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.
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 genetics DNA
- natural sciences biological sciences cell biology
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics chromosomes
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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.
38122 Trento
Italy
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.