Project description
Molecular insight into the spread of aggressive gastric cancer
Poorly cohesive gastric cancer (PCGC) is a type of stomach cancer characterised by cancer cells that lack strong connections to each other. As a result, PCGC tends to be more invasive, prone to metastasis and resistant to therapy. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the SPARC project proposes to study the tumour microenvironment which consists of various cell types such as fibroblasts and endothelial cells as well as extracellular matrix. Researchers will undertake advanced imaging and transcriptomics to identify molecular and cellular signatures linked to peritoneal metastasis. Project findings have the potential to reveal new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for PCGC.
Objective
The SPARC project tackles the urgent challenge of poorly cohesive gastric cancer (PCGC) with peritoneal carcinomatosis — an aggressive malignancy associated with a 5-year survival rate <30%. Despite advancements in GC treatment, effective therapies for PCGC with peritoneal spread remain inadequate, largely due to the tumor’s resistance to chemotherapy and the complex tumor microenvironment. This microenvironment is involved in hijacking cancer immune surveillance and supporting tumour outgrowth and invasion. However, the detailed molecular and spatial dynamics promoting PCGC dissemination are not yet fully understood.
The project aims to fill this gap and elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms driving this aggressive behavior by employing advanced spatial immunofluorescence (IF) imaging and spatial transcriptomics to map the tumor and immune microenvironment of PCGC with synchronous peritoneal metastases, leveraging a rare biobank of treatment-naïve PCGC samples. This will enable to better understand the complex cellular interactions that drive tumor growth, immune evasion, and metastasis, as well as identify and validate - at both protein and gene expression levels - novel biomarkers specifically associated with peritoneal metastasis, serving as potential therapeutic and prognostic targets for this challenging cancer subtype.
The project leverages an interdisciplinary collaboration between leading research institutions – Karolinska Institutet (Sweden, host institution), Yale University (USA, secondment institution), University Hospital of Verona (Italy, collaboration partner) – and is supported by renowned experts in immuno-oncology and GC that will provide multidisciplinary training to the researcher, enhancing their career prospects while addressing a significant unmet medical need.
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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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)
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-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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-2024-PF-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.
171 77 STOCKHOLM
Sweden
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.