Objective
Pancreatic cancer has a dismal prognosis. Surgical resection of early tumours or preneoplastic lesions represents the
only curative approach. It is currently difficult to identify early stages of the tumour and preneoplastic lesions.
Once in an advanced stage there are no diagnostic means for a risk stratification of patients concerning prognosis
or responsiveness to therapy. Here we propose an integrated project joining leading groups in European pancreatic
cancer research, SMEs and industry to develop novel molecular diagnostic approaches for the prevention, early
diagnosis and risk stratification of pancreatic cancer. These approaches will be developed based on large scale
transcriptome, genome and proteome analyses that have been performed by members of the consortium in the
recent years in two subsequent EU-funded concerted actions. Within these concerted actions, the relevant protocols
and processes have been optimised and adjusted between the partners and common standards, as well as a network of
clinicians, clinical research and basic research groups have been established. From this basis, novel molecular
techniques will be developed for the detection of cancer cells or preneoplastic cells in minimal amounts of
clinical tissue (fine needle biopsies) or fluid (pancreatic/duodenal juice or serum) samples. Novel tools will
include transcript and epigenetic analyses, chip technology, single or multiple marker protein studies, DNA/RNA
PCR analyses, serum proteomics and molecular imaging. The project will use clinical samples such as serum,
urine, fine needle aspirates and surgically resected materials of pancreatic cancer patients collected in large
multinational European trials such as ESPAC or EUROPAC. During the last phase prospective clinical trials
of novel diagnostic tools developed in the integrated project will be designed and started.
Fields of science
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
FP6-2004-LIFESCIHEALTH-5
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Funding Scheme
IP - Integrated ProjectCoordinator
MARBURG
Germany
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Participants (20)
LIVERPOOL
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LONDON
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10 19 49 HEIDELBERG
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VERONA
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BOCHUM
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BERLIN
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DUNDEE
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KIEL
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MANCHESTER
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MUENSTER
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MÜNCHEN
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TARTU
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STOCKHOLM
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BERLIN
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ULM
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CORK
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BARCELONA
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MADRID
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MÜNCHEN
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HEIDELBERG
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