Project description DEENESFRITPL New roles of nischarin receptor agonists in the treatment of pancreatic cancer Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal types of cancer with a five-year survival rate of less than 5 %. The goal of the EU-funded REPANCAN project is to decrease the high cost and long development time of new drugs using the drug repurposing concept for a class of nischarin receptor agonists. Previously, the nischarin receptor demonstrated tumour suppressor activity in breast cancer, and its agonists might target the PDAC-associated cell invasiveness, survival, metabolism and tumour microenvironment. The project will combine bioinformatics, molecular and cellular research approaches aiming to establish a ground for repurposing low-cost drugs with proven safety to treat one of the most lethal and understudied types of cancer. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective The main objective of the REPANCAN is to integrate Jelena Grahovac, PhD at the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, as a leader of a project that will address an urgent unmet need for new treatment strategy for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). PDAC is one of the most lethal types of cancer in the world, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 5% and an increasing incidence rate. Research on PDAC is limited and progress in patient survival has not been made in the last 40 years. To circumvent the high costs and long development times for new oncological drugs, the REPANCAN project will use the drug repurposing concept and establish a novel use for a class of nischarin (NISCH) receptor agonists. NISCH receptor itself has been shown to be a tumor suppressor in breast cancer and its agonists hold promise for targeting several aspects of the PDAC pathology: cell invasiveness, survival, metabolism, and the microenvironment. To address the acute demand for novel PDAC therapy, the REPANCAN project will integrate the bioinformatic, molecular and cellular research with the retrospective patient study though 3 research objectives: 1) Examination of levels of NISCH in patient tumor samples and in vitro model systems, 2) Establishment of mechanisms by which clinically approved NISCH agonists can limit PDAC growth and 3) Retrospective analysis of effects of NISCH agonist treatment on PDAC progression in patients. To strengthen the competence of Dr Grahovac and use cutting edge technologies in REPANCAN, a secondment at Dr Peter Carmeliet’s laboratory at VIB-KU Leuven is planned. REPANCAN will establish a novel prognostic marker, novel drug target and a ground for repurposing of low-cost drugs proven to be safe in one of the most lethal and understudied types of cancer. Fields of science medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologyprostate cancermedical and health sciencesclinical medicineradiologymedical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologybreast cancermedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepathologymedical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologypancreatic cancer Keywords pancreatic cancer drug repurposing nischarin metabolism microenvironment ex vivo organ culture Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2019 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2019 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator INSTITUT ZA ONKOLOGIJU I RADIOLOGIJU SRBIJE Net EU contribution € 140 021,76 Address 14 PASTEROVA ST. 11000 Belgrade Serbia See on map Region Србија - север Београдски регион Београдска област Activity type Other Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 140 021,76
