Description du projet
Approche innovante de l’immunothérapie du cancer par la réorientation des anticorps endogènes contre les cellules tumorales
L’immunothérapie ciblée constitue une alternative idéale aux traitements classiques du cancer. Le nombre d’applications disponibles est toutefois très limité et de nombreux problèmes liés à l’ensemble de l’approche doivent encore être résolus. Le projet LEGO, financé par le CER, entend créer un nouveau paradigme de traitement par le biais d’un programme interdisciplinaire visant à développer des structures biomoléculaires intelligentes d’une complexité sans précédent et dotées de propriétés immunologiques contre le cancer. Son objectif est d’introduire une approche LEGO moléculaire très innovante pour concevoir des molécules synthétiques capables de rediriger les anticorps endogènes dans la circulation sanguine pour attaquer les tumeurs sans immunisation préalable. L’élimination efficace du cancer par les effecteurs immunitaires sera réalisée par des molécules sélectionnées in vitro qui combinent des modules innovants de liaison aux anticorps et aux tumeurs.
Objectif
Despite significant progress in cancer therapy, current treatments are still controversial due to intolerable side effects. Targeted immunotherapy has recently emerged as an ideal alternative to improve treatment modalities for cancers patients. However, very limited approaches are available today and major issues remain to be addressed. The ERC grant offers a unique opportunity to propose a new paradigm for treating cancer. Through a ground-breaking interdisciplinary program, at the crossroad of supramolecular chemistry, synthetic chemistry, molecular engineering, biophysics, biochemistry, immunochemistry and glycoscience, it is my ambition to design, synthesize and study smart biomolecular structures with unprecedented combinations, complexity and immunological properties against cancers. To achieve this purpose, I will develop a “molecular LEGO” approach to construct synthetic molecules capable of redirecting endogenous antibodies present in the human bloodstream against tumors without preliminary immunization. Efficient tumoral killing by immune effectors will be provided by molecules combining innovative antibody and tumor binding modules that will be selected in vitro beforehand. To be successful, I will address fundamental questions that are still unresolved in chemical and biological sciences. The expected breakthroughs will represent a landmark achievement in these fields and will open promising horizons in cancer immunotherapy. Beyond this, it can be expected that our findings will pave the way to future development of synthetic molecules embedded with recognition, labeling, and/or therapeutic functions. They will thus find wider medicinal, diagnostic and even theranostic applications for which the development of more effective and selective biomolecular systems is of the utmost importance.
Champ scientifique
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunologyimmunisation
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteins
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculescarbohydrates
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncology
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunologyimmunotherapy
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
ERC-COG - Consolidator GrantInstitution d’accueil
38058 Grenoble
France