Novel approaches towards the diagnosis and therapy of tumours with microsatellite instability.

Objective

A large percentage of tumours from hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC) patients, as well as more than 15% of sporadic colon tumours, display micro satellite instability (MSI) , which has been linked to a defect in mismatch correction (MMR) . Tumour cells with high MSI (MSI-H) differ from other cancer cells: they are largely diploid and the oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes mutated in them are frequently different from those altered in sporadic disease without MSI. We shall compare the response of normal and MSI-H cells to a series of chemotherapeutic and radiomimetic agents, as well as to ionising and non-ionising radiation. The principal aim of this program is to exploit the identified differences in cancer therapy, by devising ways of selectively killing cells with MSI. The second goal of the study is to use our findings to develop new, facile, diagnostic strategies for the identification of at-risk individuals.

Programme(s)

• FP5-LIFE QUALITY - Specific Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Quality of life and management of living resources", 1998-2002

Topic(s)

• 1.1.1.-7. - Chronic and degenerative diseases, cancer, diabetes, cardivascular diseases and rare diseases

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

LEIDEN UNIVERSITY

Address

72,Wassenaarseweg 72
2333 AL Leiden
Netherlands

Participants (5)

CANCER RESEARCH INSTITUTE - SLOVAK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Slovakia

Address

59,Vlarska 7
833 91 Bratislava

ISTITUTO SUPERIORE DI SANITA

Italy

Address

Viale Regina Elena 299
00161 Roma

PROVINCIA ITALIANA DELLA CONGREGAZIONE DEI FIGLI DELL'IMMACOLATA CONCEZIONE - ISTITUTO DERMOPATICO DELL'IMMACOLATA

Italy

Address

Via Dei Monti Di Creta 104
00167 Roma

ROSKILDE UNIVERSITY

Denmark

Address

35,Universitetsvej 1
4000 Roskilde

UNIVERSITY OF ZURICH

Switzerland

Address

August Forel-strasse 7
8008 Zurich