Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS
Content archived on 2024-05-27

The development of hypoxia-activated probes for imaging and therapy

Objective

Solid tumours contain hypoxic cells, which exist at a low oxygen tensions and are resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Although problematic for therapy, any quality that distinguishes tumour cells from healthy ones presents an opportunity for targeting therapies. We have begun developing prodrugs that selectively release inhibitors of cancer-related enzymes under hypoxia. In this project, we will develop hypoxia-activated inhibitors of the checkpoint kinase, Chk1, which is an important chemotherapeutic target. Allowing targeting of this compound to tumour cells. In addition, to enable imaging of hypoxic tumours we will develop novel hypoxia-activated fluorescent probes. The 2-nitroimidazole-based pimonidazole is a standard hypoxia-imaging agent. Pimonidazole binds cellular thiols under hypoxic conditions but the spatial resolution of imaging is poor. To improve the imaging resolution, we will develop a fluorogenic hypoxia-activated protecting group that will become fluorescent upon release of the active compound. This will provide a read-out of when and where the active compound is delivered, and fill also find application in the general imaging of hypoxia. We then aim to apply this technology to developing hypoxia-activated inhibitors of the cAMP response element binding protein binding protein (CREBBP) bromodomain. CREBBP is a histone acetyl transferase involved in regulating transcription; it has ~400 interacting protein partners making it a key node in the mammalian protein-protein interactome. One partner is hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), which is a transcription factor that responds to changes in cellular oxygen levels. Given the large number of CREBBP interacting partners it is preferable to target the CREBBP bromodomain inhibitor using a hypoxia-activated group. In this way it will be possible to ascertain the role of the CREBBP bromodomain in hypoxic tumours.

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.

You need to log in or register to use this function

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.

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IIF
See other projects for this call

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.

MC-IIF - International Incoming Fellowships (IIF)

Coordinator

THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
EU contribution
€ 231 283,20
Address
WELLINGTON SQUARE UNIVERSITY OFFICES
OX1 2JD Oxford
United Kingdom

See on map

Region
South East (England) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Oxfordshire
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

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.

No data
My booklet 0 0