Project description
Immune evasion insight improves cancer therapy
The immune system plays a vital role in cancer prevention through a process called immunoediting, where immune cells detect and remove emerging cancer cells. However, cancer cells sometimes escape immunosurveillance and lead to the formation of tumours. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the EVOBREAST project aims to study how immune pressure influences healthy cells and early-stage breast cancer cells. Using advanced genomic tools, researchers will investigate immune cell activity and tumour evolution in breast tissue, unravelling how breast cancer escapes immune control. Project findings will pave the way towards improved prevention strategies and therapies.
Objective
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide. Despite intense research that has led to improved clinical outcomes, a significant number of patients treated with standard therapies suffer from high toxicity and remain unresponsive. In parallel, Immune-Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) have transformed cancer treatment by unleashing patients' immune system to combat cancer cells through immunoediting, a natural evolutionary process of removal of antigenic tumor clones. However, application of ICIs for breast cancer remains a challenge as we currently have limited knowledge of the immunoediting strategies and the mechanisms of immune evasion occurring in healthy and malignant tissues.
We hypothesize that immunoediting shapes genetic heterogeneity and immunogenicity in healthy mammary cells, driving malignant transformation and response to clinical interventions. To test our hypothesis, we will investigate the mechanisms and influence of immune selection in mammary cells by exploiting novel genomic technologies, providing critical insight into the interplay between the immune system and breast cancer initiation. Our research project will focus on (1) exploring immune selection in healthy and premalignant breast tissues, (2) characterising immune cell populations and their spatial distribution, and (3) determining which interactions prevail during tumour progression. To achieve these goals, we will employ a combination of advanced molecular and high-throughput technologies, including laser microdissection, whole exome sequencing, RNA sequencing, and spatial transcriptomics.
Our research has the potential to significantly advance our understanding of breast cancer occurrence and spread, ultimately leading to the development of novel prevention strategies, early detection methods, and personalised treatment approaches that harness the power of the immune system to fight more effectively breast tumorigenesis.
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 clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
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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)
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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
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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-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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SW7 3RP London
United Kingdom
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