Project description
Immune-activating hydrogels for aggressive colorectal cancer
The tumour microenvironment (TME) plays a critical role in cancer progression by promoting immune suppression and limiting the effectiveness of therapy. In colorectal cancer (CRC), the TME is rich in stromal fibroblasts that exhibit high sialylation. The latter is a type of post-translational modification of cell surface proteins and lipids that influences cell interaction and in the case of CRC helps cancer cells evade immune attack. The EU-funded PHERON project proposes to develop a strategy that reverses sialylation by delivering a sialyltransferase inhibitor at the tumour site. The inhibitor will be placed inside a liposome-encapsulated hydrogel and become activated by light. The idea is to activate immune cells and boost immune responses in patients with CRC.
Objective
Colorectal cancer (CRC) was estimated to be the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Europe. CRC can be classified into subtypes based on distinct molecular and clinical features, termed consensus molecular subtypes (CMS 1-4). The proportion of CMS4 was 38.5% in CRC stage IV patients, only 6% of whom had a 5-year survival rate. CMS4 CRC is highly malignant and characterized by a richness of stromal fibroblasts and, consequently, an increased expression of mesenchymal genes. The sialylation of CRC stromal cells, as well as tumor cells and fibroblasts, has been verified as a key factor in forming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), which is also the main challenge for immunotherapy responses. Establishing multicellular CMS4 CRC spheroids helps unravel the mechanism of CRC TME and test the drug efficacy.
3Fax-Peracetyl Neu5Ac (SI) is a sialyltransferase inhibitor capable of reversing sialylation in the TME. It can disrupt the immunosuppression of TME through desialylation and thus activate T cells and natural killer cells (NK cells). A growing body of evidence has proven that sialylation-included glyco-immune checkpoints are more widespread in tumor tissue and have a greater potential for application than PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 inhibitors currently in use. Notwithstanding, nephrotoxicity remains an unsolved problem in its application.
PHERON aims to develop a photodynamic liposomes-encapsulated hydrogel to achieve the controlled release of SI at the colorectal tumor site, through a novel CRC multicellular spheroid model.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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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)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.4.1 - Widening participation and spreading excellence
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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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(opens in new window) HORIZON-WIDERA-2024-TALENTS-02
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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.
1099-085 Lisboa
Portugal
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