Project description
Autoimmune diseases, chemotherapy and breast cancer links
About 1 in 5 new cancer cases is a second cancer, primarily second breast cancers (SBCs), which have worse outcomes than primary cases. In the EU, over 12 million female cancer survivors exist, with 15 % likely to develop an SBC. Research on the link between autoimmune diseases, chemotherapy, and SBC risk is limited. The ERC-funded Immuno-SBC project will explore the link between autoimmune disease and SBC in cancer survivors. The project will connect large cancer survivor cohorts with medical data to examine autoimmune disease post-cancer, leverage germline genotyping to define various autoimmune states, and analyse the relationships among these states, SBC risk, and chemotherapy interactions. This project will significantly impact cancer survivorship research.
Objective
"Approximately 1 in 5 newly diagnosed cancers is a second or subsequent cancer related to treatment for a first cancer. Second breast cancers (SBCs) are the most commonly diagnosed. Those who develop SBCs have reduced treatment options and worse outcomes than comparable individuals with first primary breast cancers. There are over 12 million female cancer survivors in the EU, of whom at least 15% will develop an SBC. A better understanding of the etiology and risk factors for SBC is therefore essential. There is an intriguing and poorly understood negative association between systemic autoimmune diseases and breast cancer, repeatedly documented in distinct populations. My preliminary data further suggests that systemic autoimmune disease interacts with chemotherapy receipt to modify the risk of SBCs. However, no research groups have interrogated the interaction among autoimmunity, cancer treatment, and SBC risk. I propose to address this gap by bringing together population-based studies, multi-omic tools, and innovative statistical modelling. I have proposed three complementary Scientific Aims to understand the epidemiological and biological relevance of autoimmune disease in SBC. In Aim 1, I will use a novel approach to link large cohorts of cancer survivors with medical data to capture the course of autoimmune disease after cancer and its relationship with SBC risk. In Aim 2, I will use germline genotyping data to define ""autoimmune states"" reflecting the true range of sub-clinical autoimmune phenotypes. In Aim 3, I will test the association between autoimmune state and SBC risk, and the interaction with chemotherapy. This project thus introduces a novel paradigm for understanding of the etiology of treatment-associated cancers. Given the fundamental importance of immune state in cancer outcomes, and the number of people at risk of SBC, this project will have a profound impact on cancer survivorship research."
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 basic medicine immunology autoimmune diseases
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology breast cancer
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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)
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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)
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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.
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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-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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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) ERC-2025-STG
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1066 CX AMSTERDAM
Netherlands
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