Description du projet
Nouvelle technologie de précision pour le diagnostic précoce et l’éradication du carcinome de la vessie
Le projet EDIT, financé par l’UE, propose une technologie transformatrice, combinant l’élastographie ultrasonore à haute résolution et l’imagerie photoacoustique pour la détection précoce et la prise en charge du cancer de la vessie. Cette approche utilise des nanotiges d’or comme antenne photo-acoustique pour cibler la matrice extracellulaire de la vessie, dont les propriétés en font un biomarqueur unique du carcinome. Outre la création d’une plateforme de visualisation, les nanotiges d’or peuvent être utilisées pour mettre en place une thérapie photo-thermique ciblée du cancer. La conception du projet EDIT permettra la détection de zones prénéoplasiques et l’éradication hautement sélective des cellules. En définitive, il offrira une validation préclinique pour la détection précoce du cancer de la vessie et une nanomédecine thérapeutique contre le carcinome in situ de la vessie.
Objectif
Unmet clinical needs in the management of bladder cancer (BCa) are the prevention of tumor onset, relapse and progression, and therapy of the aggressive carcinoma in situ (Cis), requiring weekly treatments and endless follow-up, with a consequent poor quality of life and the highest cost per patient among all cancers. Therefore, public health programs crave for early BCa detection protocols, to improve performance in the management of this devastating disease. Here we propose an advanced transformative technology termed EDIT combining a novel high-resolution ultrasound elastography and photoacoustic imaging on the bladder instilled with targeted plasmonic gold sensors.
EDIT approach exploits the structural and mechanical properties of the bladder extracellular matrix (ECM) as a unique biomarker of the early onset/progression/relapse of carcinoma, through engineered novel gold nanorods (GNRs) used as intravesical photoacoustic antennas targeted at the ECM, generating an ad hoc visualization platform. GNRs will be further utilized as heat-releasing effectors at nanoscale for targeted cancer photo-thermal therapy. EDIT is designed to detect pre-neoplastic area and eradication of local areas at few cells resolution with high sensitivity and specificity.
We bring together a multi and transdisciplinary consortium capable to develop non-invasive and non-ionizing novel technology and preclinical validation for early prognosis of BCa and therapeutic nanomedicine against bladder Cis. Outcomes of EDIT will revolutionize the management of BCa with the introduction of sensing and effector nanotechnologies combined with non-invasive organ imaging with high resolution/definition by 3D ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging.
Structural and mechanical modification of the ECM is a common denominator for invasive breast, colorectal, prostate and bladder cancers. EDIT platforms will also pave the ways for the earlier management of other bladder-related pathologies and solid tumors.
Champ scientifique
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinateur
20132 Milano
Italie