Project description
A novel molecular target for cancer
Heparan sulfate (HS) is a carbohydrate of varied structure that attaches to proteins found on the cell surface and in the extracellular matrix. Emerging evidence indicates that this process is deregulated in cancer and affects cancer cell interactions with the tumour microenvironment and the immune system, promoting cancer progression and metastasis. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the HEPINIB project proposes to use as a drug target the enzyme heparanase that cleaves HS and contributes to the remodelling of the extracellular matrix. The working hypothesis is that the therapeutic targeting of heparanase will work on many levels, impeding metastasis, angiogenesis and inflammation.
Objective
Cancer is a leading cause of mortality within the aging European population. Therapeutic targeting is hampered by the complexity of the disease, which includes not only molecular changes within the tumor cell itself, but also within its microenvironment. Tumor angiogenesis, tumor-stroma interactions, interactions with immune cells, with the extracellular matrix and cancer stem cell niches
allow for malignant cell survival and promote metastasis, the leading cause for cancer-associated mortality. Proteins substituted with the heparin-related carbohydrate heparan sulfate (HS) are dysregulated in malignant diseases, and are known to modulate all of the aforementioned processes of tumor progression. Several functions of HS-PGs in tumor progression are modulated by the enzyme
heparanase (HPSE), which is barely expressed in adults, but upregulated during tumor progression, inflammation and angiogenesis, thus constituting an excellent drug target. Indeed, HPSE, the sole HS degrading endoglycosidase, regulates multiple biological activities that enhance tumor growth, metastasis, angiogenesis and inflammation. HPSE accomplishes this by degrading HS and thereby regulating the bioavailability of heparin-binding proteins, priming the tumor microenvironment and mediating tumor-host crosstalk. We predict that therapeutic targeting of HPSE to be superior to conventional approaches, as it does not only have the potential to synchronously targeting tumor progression and metastasis at multiple levels (metastasis, angiogenesis, inflammation & immunity), but it is also be expected to have a favourable side effects profile. HEPINIB will combine leading experts of HPSE-related cancer research with non-academic partners providing a panel of innovative technologies with the aims of providing a deeper understanding of HPSE function in tumor progression, of developing novel HPSE inhibitors and delivery systems, and of trans-sectoral and interdisciplinary training of young scientists.
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.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
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.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies stem cells
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules carbohydrates
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-SE - HORIZON TMA MSCA Staff Exchanges
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2021-SE-01
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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.
48149 Muenster
Germany
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.