Objective
The limited ability of preclinical models to predict clinical responses remains a major barrier in oncology drug development. Current systems used for cancer drug evaluation, including conventional 2D cultures and advanced 3D models such as patient-derived organoids (PDOs), fail to control key tumour microenvironment (TME) parameters that influence drug penetration, adaptive resistance, and therapeutic response, potentially limiting predictive accuracy. Consequently, a gap persists between preclinical efficacy and clinical response, highlighting the need for ex vivo systems with improved predictive performance. Breast cancer provides a clinically relevant setting to address this challenge. Subtypes such as TNBC and HER2-positive disease show substantial variability in response to approved therapies, creating a need for improved methods to prioritise treatment options. APOLLO-BC tests whether controlling key tumour microenvironment parameters, specifically perfusion and mechanical stiffness, improves the predictive accuracy of therapy-response ranking compared with PDO systems. The project will generate the first controlled direct comparative validation of a perfused, stiffness-controlled tumour model against conventional PDO workflows using matched patient-derived samples. A microfluidic platform integrating bioprinted 3D tumour constructs and real-time environmental monitoring will be standardised, followed by generation of matched TNBC and HER2+ models and a benchmarking study across ≥40 patients, each tested with ≥6 approved therapeutic regimens. Reproducibility and predictive concordance with retrospective clinical outcomes will be quantitatively compared with PDO workflows.
By generating rigorous comparative evidence, APOLLO-BC will determine whether microenvironmental engineering improves predictive drug-response assessment in breast cancer models, establishing a validated framework for next-generation functional oncology platforms.
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.
This project has not yet been classified with EuroSciVoc.
Be the first one to suggest relevant scientific fields and help us improve our classification service
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-2026-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.
1099-085 Lisboa
Portugal
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.