Project description
Gold nanoparticle for targeted breast cancer radiotherapy
Systemic radiotherapy employs radioactive agents distributed through the body to eliminate cancer cells, but its success in solid tumours has been limited. One major challenge is achieving a therapeutic radiation dose within tumours while avoiding healthy tissues. The ERC-funded GOLDEN-RT project focuses on triple-negative breast cancer, a malignancy characterised by few treatment options. The aim is to develop gold nanoparticles designed for intracellular delivery of radiation. The therapeutic platform combines insulin-based tumour entry with antibody targeting, thereby seeking precise delivery to both primary tumours and hidden metastases. Early results show strong tumour uptake and good safety, paving the way for effectiveness studies and commercialisation.
Objective
Systemic radiotherapy, achieved by coupling radionuclides to cancer-targeting agents, has shown remarkable therapeutic success. Yet this success has not translated to most solid tumors, largely as no suitable targeting ligands exist and due to a fundamental pharmacokinetic mismatch between antibodies (long half-life) and therapeutic radionuclides (short half-life). Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a particularly aggressive and devastating malignancy. Its rapid progression, and high mortality rate once metastatic, have created an urgent, unmet need for new systemic radiotherapy options in oncology.
In our ERC-CoG project, we are developing gold nanoparticles (GNPs) that harness insulin for delivery of antibodies across biological barriers. Building on our results, we have developed GOLDEN-RT, a GNP nanoplatform that aligns circulation time with radionuclide half-life, enabling precise, systemic delivery of radiation to both primary tumors and micrometastases. GOLDEN-RT combines metabolic targeting, exploiting the overexpressed insulin receptor for deep tumor penetration, together with antibody recognition for robust tumor selectivity. Our preliminary results are promising, demonstrating efficient radiolabeling with in vivo stability and safety, pharmacokinetic matching, high intra-tumoral accumulation as well as selective targeting of metastases, while sparing healthy surrounding cells.
Here, we aim to demonstrate proof-of-concept efficacy and safety of GOLDEN-RT conjugated with clinically relevant radionuclides in TNBC models in vivo. In parallel, we intend to achieve business readiness by consolidating the IP strategy, performing comprehensive market analysis, engaging key clinical and industry stakeholders, and defining a clear commercialization strategy. This project will establish a versatile systemic radiotherapy platform with potential to transform TNBC treatment and adapting to other aggressive solid tumors.
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.
- social sciences sociology demography mortality
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology breast cancer
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
- natural sciences chemical sciences nuclear chemistry radiation chemistry
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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) ERC-2025-POC
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
52900 Ramat Gan
Israel
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.