Description du projet
Mitochondries et tumorigenèse
Les cellules cancéreuses présentent des mutations des enzymes métaboliques codées par l’ADN nucléaire et mitochondrial. Ces mutations sont responsables d’altérations de processus métaboliques clés, satisfont aux besoins énergétiques accrus des cellules cancéreuses et favorisent leur survie dans le microenvironnement tumoral. Financé par le programme Actions Marie Skłodowska-Curie, le projet TRANSMIT se propose d’étudier l’adaptation métabolique et épigénétique des cellules cancéreuses et principalement des mitochondries. Les chercheurs étudieront différents types de tumeurs afin d’identifier d’éventuels nouveaux biomarqueurs et appréhender les mécanismes moléculaires impliqués dans la reprogrammation des cellules cancéreuses. TRANSMIT formera des chercheurs en début de carrière à faire le lien entre la recherche fondamentale et les stratégies thérapeutiques et à communiquer ces avancées aux patients et à leurs familles.
Objectif
The consolidation of the knowledge that cancer is not only a genetic, but also a metabolic disease, has led scientists to investigate the intricate metabolic plasticity that transformed cells must undergo to survive the adverse tumor microenvironment conditions, and the contribution of oncogenes and tumor suppressors in shaping metabolism. In this scenario, genetic, biochemical and clinical evidences place mitochondria as key actors in cancer metabolic restructuring, not only because these organelles have a crucial role in the energy and biosynthetic intermediates production but also because occurrence of mutations in metabolic enzymes encoded by both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA has been associated to different types of cancer. TRANSMIT aims to dissect the metabolic remodeling in human cancers, placing the focus on the role of mitochondria and bridging basic research to the improvement/development of therapeutic strategies. Further, TRANSMIT fosters the communication of this emerging field to the patients and their families. To these aims, TRANSMIT will create a network of seven different countries, among which world-leading basic science and clinical centers of excellence, several industrial partners with up-to-date omics technologies, as well as non-profit foundations and associations who care for cancer patients. By creating the critical mass of scientific excellence, TRANSMIT will allow to transfer the current knowledge into the wide field of cancer research, translating scientific and technical advances into the education and training of eleven Early Stage Researchers. TRANSMIT will implement training-through-research dedicated to unravel the metabolic features of cancer, as well as to provide a full portfolio of complementary skills through the creation of a network of basic, translational and industrial laboratories, devoted to a multidisciplinary/multisectorial education of young scientists.
Champ scientifique
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
MSCA-ITN-ETN - European Training NetworksCoordinateur
40126 Bologna
Italie