Project description
Targeting pre-existing subpopulations of drug-resistant ovarian cancer cells
Ovarian cancer is the fifth most deadly cancer type in Europe. Standard chemotherapy is effective in eliminating tumour masses, but most patients diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer die after new lesions emerge from small subpopulations of surviving drug-resistant cells. The EU-funded RESIST3D project is developing new directions in precision cancer medicine by targeting small pre-existing subpopulations of drug-resistant cells instead of the bulk of the tumour. The research utilises 3D patient-derived ovarian cancer organoids to search for new strategies to eradicate drug-resistant cancer cells. The models for drug response profiling will assist in the identification of treatment that eradicates pre-existing drug-resistant cells to be applied in combination with standard chemotherapy.
Objective
Ovarian cancer is the fifth most deadly cancer type among women in Europe. Despite the fact that standard chemotherapy is usually effective in eliminating bulk tumour mass, thereby inducing remission, most patients diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer die from the disease, as relapsed lesions emerge from small subpopulations of surviving drug-resistant cells.
Precision medicine aims to improve cancer care through tailoring individualized therapies based on genomic or functional profiling of human cancers. However, as these approaches are usually performed on bulk tumour cells, the small pre-existing drug-resistant cell subpopulations remain untargeted.
In the RESIST3D project, I will utilize ovarian cancer organoids – a patient-derived, three-dimensional cell cultures – to search for new strategies to eradicate drug-resistant cancer cells. I will use two organoid models developed for the same patient – one model derived from tumour material taken before chemotherapeutic treatment and one from a post-treatment sample, typically enriched in drug-resistant cells. I will further enrich the organoids in quiescent, drug-resistant cells by maintaining them in physiologic-like culture medium. I will then apply the models for drug-response profiling in order to identify agents that eradicate pre-existing drug-resistant cells, which could be combined with standard chemotherapy. Finally, I will assess whether the selected combinations prevent relapses in patient-derived xenograft mouse models.
RESIST3D sets a new direction in precision cancer medicine, as it focuses on targeting small pre-existing subpopulations of drug-resistant cells rather than bulk tumour mass. Through combining organoid model, paired samples for each patient and physiologic culture conditions, I expect to identify new ways to target drug-resistant ovarian cancer cells. Moreover, RESIST3D will provide me with new research expertise and a scientific network that will enhance my research career.
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 basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy drug resistance
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- medical and health sciences health sciences personalized medicine
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
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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.
1165 KOBENHAVN
Denmark
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.