Descripción del proyecto
El genoma y el entorno en el cáncer de hígado relacionado con el alcohol
El consumo crónico de alcohol desencadena la hepatopatía alcohólica, la causa más común de cirrosis hepática, carcinoma hepatocelular y muertes relacionadas con el hígado en Europa. Los pacientes con carcinoma hepatocelular avanzado relacionado con el consumo de alcohol tienen un mal pronóstico, lo que subraya la importancia de la prevención y la detección precoz. El equipo del proyecto GENIAL, financiado con fondos europeos, tiene como objetivo identificar determinantes genéticos y ambientales en la aparición del carcinoma hepatocelular avanzado relacionado con el consumo de alcohol. Los investigadores estudiarán el mecanismo por el que determinados factores genéticos y ambientales pueden favorecer la carcinogénesis hepática y cómo aumentan el riesgo de las personas. El consorcio espera generar un enfoque predictivo que pueda facilitar la detección de enfermedades en una fase temprana mediante la combinación de datos clínicos, genómicos y de imagen digital mediante inteligencia artificial.
Objetivo
Alcohol-related hepatocellular carcinoma (ALD-HCC) is, in Europe, the leading cause of liver cancer (2nd most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide, affecting both men and women). ALD-HCC has a median 5-year survival rate of 15%. Yet, the prognosis is driven by the tumour stage, with curative options providing a 5-year survival exceeding 70% for early-stage HCC (<20% of cases). Therefore, interventions aiming to improve prevention and early detection are key. ALD-HCC results from the interplay between environmental determinants and genetic variations. A comprehensive characterisation of environmental factors (e.g. diet, lifestyle) linked to ALD-HCC is still lacking. We recently performed the 1st genome-wide association study of ALD-HCC and identified predisposing genetic variations. However, their role on alcohol-related liver carcinogenesis needs clarification and the genetic architecture of ALD-HCC remains mostly unknown. GENIAL brings together partners with unique expertise in clinical hepatology, single-cell and spatial multi-omics, artificial intelligence (AI) and communication and dissemination capacities. Our aim is to 1) portray genetic and environmental determinants promoting ALD-HCC; 2) evaluate how they interact at cellular level in human samples and preclinical models to get novel insights into liver carcinogenesis, and identify chemopreventive targets; and 3) assess how these determinants modulate the ALD-HCC risk in prospective cohorts of patients included in HCC surveillance programs. Environmental factors will be comprehensively characterised in an ongoing clinical trial designed to evaluate alternative methods for early-stage HCC detection. Finally, AI models, reaching the minimal viable product stage by the end of GENIAL, will be used to integrate genetic and non-genetic information (including digital imaging) to develop novel cost-effective strategies towards prevention and early-stage detection of ALD-HCC in at-risk individuals.
This action is part of the Cancer Mission cluster of projects on ‘‘Understanding’.
Ámbito científico
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
- HORIZON.2.1 - Health Main Programme
Convocatoria de propuestas
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HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinador
1050 Bruxelles / Brussel
Bélgica