Project description
Epigenetic regulators in colorectal cancer
The ten–eleven translocation (TET) family of proteins are implicated in DNA demethylation, helping maintain epigenomic stability. Loss of TET1 serves as an oncogenic driver in colorectal cancer (CRC), while low TET2 expression is associated with reduced overall survival. The scope of the EU-funded TETCOLON project is to investigate how TET2 causes transcriptome reprogramming, ultimately promoting epigenomic instability and tumour growth. Through a multi-disciplinary approach, scientists will associate TET2 defects with CRC clinical parameters to evaluate TET2 as a predictive biomarker of response to treatment. The project's results are expected to provide mechanistic insight into TET2-mediated tumour suppression and contribute towards innovative therapies.
Objective
Colorectal cancer (CRC) results from the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic changes in colonic epithelial cells. Epigenome studies revealed that virtually all CRCs contain aberrantly methylated genes and perturbed methylation patterns. Ten-Eleven Translocation (TET) protein family dioxygenases oxidize 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) and further to other oxidized 5mCs, supporting active DNA demethylation and helping maintain epigenomic stability. Loss of TET1 is an oncogenic driver in some CRCs. My preliminary analysis indicates that human CRCs have low TET2 mRNA levels compared to normal colorectal tissue, and suggests that low TET2 expression predicts increased mutational load and reduced overall survival. However, whether TET2 deficiency contributes to CRC pathogenesis, or represents a bystander event, remains to be established.
In this proposal, I will elucidate the role of TET2 in CRC pathogenesis by testing whether TET2 knockdown induces methylome and transcriptome reprogramming, ultimately promoting (epi)genomic instability and tumor growth. I will also investigate correlations between TET2 defects and molecular/clinico-pathological parameters, and probe TET2 expression as predictive biomarker of response to CRC therapies. With these aims, I will use a multi-disciplinary approach, combining cell biology, cancer epigenetics, bioinformatics, human and mouse studies with cutting-edge techniques such as 3D cell culture and RNA-seq.
This study should establish a clear causal link between TET2 loss and CRC pathogenesis, providing new insight into the mechanism of TET2-mediated tumor suppression and leading to the development of innovative therapies that exploit vulnerabilities of TET2-deficient CRC cells. Overall, this project has both basic and translational significance, and the potential to advance our understanding of CRC carcinogenesis and therapeutic response.
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences cell biology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology colorectal cancer
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics epigenetics
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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-2019
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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.
27100 Pavia
Italy
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.