Project description
An anti-cancer agent with dual diagnostic and therapeutic features
Over the years, cancer treatments have emerged that specifically target cancer cells without causing side effects to healthy cells. Combining such drugs with imaging modalities for precise resection of the primary tumour would be beneficial for patients. The EU-funded TAcTIC project is developing such a targeting agent against the epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (EpCAM), which is implicated in cell–cell adhesion in epithelia and is overexpressed in many cancer types. The agent encompasses a dye that could be traced using near-infrared fluorescence imaging offering real-time monitoring of drug administration. Moreover, it could assist in the identification of tumour boundaries.
Objective
The treatment for cancer patients is shifting from population-based treatment to the more precise personalized medicine. Tumor-specific molecular diagnostics and treatment are an example of this phenomena to assist clinical decision making and to improve treatment strategies for patients. This change in management will lead to societal benefits such as treatments that fits the patient’s needs and therefore, increased health benefits and increased quality-of-life. The targeted agent we have developed has both an imaging version to improve the detection and resection of cancer and an cytotoxic variant to eliminate potential remaining tumor cells. At this point, there is no agent available that can contribute to both the diagnostic phase and the subsequent treatment in a tumor-specific manner. Near infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging is a technique that has gained a lot of attention over the last decade because of its role in intra-operative guidance to improve resection, and in, for example, endoscopy to improve detection. Combining a NIR-dye to a specific tumor-targeting ligand, like an antibody or a peptide, dramatically enhances the specificity, providing a solid real-time identification and demarcation technique. In TAcTIC, we propose the clinical introduction of a targeted fluorescent imaging agent against EpCAM, which can also be used for response monitoring during endoscopy, and the initiation of a New Company (in the Netherlands) via a joint venture between LUMC and ElevenBio (Boston, United States) for the future commercialization of this agent. The expected outcomes of this proof-of-concept project are the successful introduction of a novel targeted fluorescent agent for in multiple cancer types, a joint venture between LUMC and ElevenBio for the commercialization of this agent, and societal benefits for the patient in the form of increased health benefits and quality of life due to a treatment strategy that fits the individual patient’s needs.
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.
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.
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine surgery
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- medical and health sciences health sciences personalized medicine
You need to log in or register to use this function
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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.
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.
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.
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.
ERC-POC - Proof of Concept Grant
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2018-PoC
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
2333 ZA Leiden
Netherlands
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.