Project description
Leveraging the tumour microenvironment to increase immunotherapy’s toxicity
Immunotherapy has great potential in treating some kinds of cancers and immunoglobulin G (IgG) plays an important role. The ERC-funded IMPACT project aims to use a common tumour side effect to increase the proinflammatory and cytotoxic efficacy of engineered IgG against tumours. There is strong evidence that tumours, and particularly malignant ones, can cause local haemorrhaging. In addition, haeme, a component of haemoglobin in red blood cells, can trigger oligomerisation of engineered IgG molecules, increasing their ability to activate the complement system and induce killing of cancer cells. IMPACT will investigate whether locally released haeme and haemoproteins at tumour sites can be leveraged to locally potentiate immunotherapy’s toxic effects on tumours.
Objective
The principal goal of this proof-of-concept study is to explore the feasibility of a cofactor-induced oligomerisation of IgG to potentiate the therapeutic efficacy of anti-cancer antibodies targeting the tumour site. Our idea is based on two phenomena: Firstly, in our previous studies on the interaction of heme with therapeutic antibodies we found that the interaction of Trastuzumab with heme results in the formation of well-organized oligomers through Fab-Fab interactions of two IgG molecules. These species were considerably more potent in activating the complement system and inducing killing of cancer cells. Importantly, we were able to transfer the potential for oligomeriszation mediated by heme on two unrelated monoclonal antibodies used in clinical practice, thus providing strong evidence of the feasibility of the engineering effort and the utility of its application for broad range of IgG molecules. Secondly, there is strong evidence in the literature about the ability of tumours (especially malignant) to provoke haemorrhages. Based on these two phenomena, we formulated our working hypothesis that the locally released heme and hemoproteins at tumour sites can be harnessed as trigger of oligomerization of engineered IgG molecules, thus increasing their pro-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities due to aggregation of the Fc portion in close proximity. This will result in higher antibody avidity, more efficient cross-linking of Fc-gamma receptors, better recruitment of complement proteins (C1q) and, hence, a stronger activation of the immune effector cells and the classical pathway of complement system on the surface of cancer cells. Successful accomplishment of this project will have considerable societal impact due to clinical and social significance of cancer.
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 biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
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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.1.1 - 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.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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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-2024-POC
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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.
75654 PARIS
France
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.