Objective
The development of new viral vectors will focus on more efficient transduction and expression and on cell-type specific expression. Recombinant vectors containing mutant forms of herpes simplex thymidine kinase that are less toxic will be constructed and tested in vitro in combination with ganciclovir and novel antiherpetic nucleoside analogues. Vectors expressing the E. coli DeoD gene will be engineered and tested in combination with 6-methyl-purine-2'-deoxynucleoside. After studying the therapeutic index and bystander effect of these novel suicide gene/prodrug combinations in vitro, application in selected animal models will take place.
Different routes of non-traumatic and more efficient viral vector delivery will be developed including systemic administration, convection enhanced intratumoral delivery and retrovirus producing cells embedded in biopolymers. These methods will be tested partly in vitro but mostly in a variety of animal models.
In vivo imaging of the efficiency of suicide gene transfer is based on selective accumulation of some nucleoside analogues (including 5-iodo-2'-fluoro-2'-deoxy-arabinofuranosyluracil [FIAU]), after phosphorylation by herpes simplex thymidine kinase. Radiolabeled (14C, 125I, 18F) nucleoside analogues (FIAU) will first be tested in vitro using autoradiography and subsequently in vivo using autoradiography and SPECT/PET imaging.
The bystander effect will be studied in vitro (above) and in vivo in brain tumour and multiple myeloma, Iymphoma and seminoma models. Modulation of the bystander effect will be attempted in vitro and in the multiple myeloma model by upregulation of connexins, molecules involved in gapjunction formation. The anti-tumor immune response elicited by suicide gene/prodrug treatment will be analyzed and modulated by cytokine (GM-CSF and IFNy) gene transfer.
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 medical biotechnology genetic engineering gene therapy
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine radiology nuclear medicine
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology immunotherapy
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
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.
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.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Data not available
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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.
Coordinator
2280 GG 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.