Project description
Beyond the scalpel: precision-guided tumour atrophy
Pancreatic and prostate cancers are major causes of death, yet standard surgical treatments remain highly aggressive and carry substantial disease burden. The EIC-funded PROPANTHERA project aims to replace these invasive procedures with a first-in-class, minimally invasive alternative. By introducing novel ultra-miniaturised catheters to perform targeted radiofrequency ablation of exocrine ducts, the project will induce localised retrograde atrophy to functionally eliminate tumours while preserving the organ. The project’s goal is to pave the way toward precision-guided atrophy, reducing complications, costs and recovery times. This approach may transform oncology and establish a new generation of organ-preserving interventions, especially for high-risk patients and those unfit for surgery.
Objective
Pancreatic cancer (PaC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death in the Western world and its incidence is increasing. Prostate cancer (PrC) is the 2nd most frequent cancer in men and the 5th leading cause of death globally. These tumors arise in exocrine glands with secretory ducts. Standard treatments like the Whipple procedure or radical prostatectomy are aggressive and carry significant morbidity. PROPANTHERA proposes a first-in-class, minimally invasive alternative: targeted radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of exocrine ducts to induce localized retrograde atrophy leading to functional elimination of preneoplastic lesions and tumors.
This breakthrough is enabled through the design of novel ultra-miniaturized catheters developed by world leaders in bioengineering and surgical oncology, enhanced by key expertise in state-of-the-art genome editing and genomic biology tools. The project builds on strong prior evidence in mice and uses tools ready for translation. Preclinical validation will use genetically engineered swine models mimicking human KRAS/TP53-driven and BRCA2-associated pancreatic cancer. For the first time, we will ablate lobular structures in the pancreas and the prostate in vivo, offering a precision medicine, organ-preserving approach.
PROPANTHERA pioneers a paradigm shift: replacing resection with precision-guided atrophy. This approach will reduce complications, costs, and recovery time. Its impact will be highest in high-risk patients and those unfit for surgery. PROPANTHERA will not only redefine the treatment of PaC and PrC but it will also inaugurate a new class of organ-preserving interventions for a wider range of malignancies. The new medical devices, with a clear path to CE marking, and the strong biology to guide further refinement align with EU missions to reduce cancer burden and foster innovation to impact on survival.
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 prostate cancer
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology genetic engineering gene therapy
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine surgery
- medical and health sciences health sciences personalized medicine
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology pancreatic 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)
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.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
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Topic(s)
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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
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.
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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-EIC-2025-PATHFINDEROPEN
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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.
28029 Madrid
Spain
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.