Project description
Minimising cardiotoxicity from radiotherapy for breast cancer
Breast cancer (BC) is usually treated with radiotherapy. However, the irradiation of healthy tissue along with cancerous tissue inevitably occurs, often resulting in cardiac toxicity, a condition that increases cardiac morbidity and mortality among BC patients. Efforts to minimise the side effects are underway via the EU-funded PRO-ORATICA project. The researcher will apply innovative image processing and analysis techniques to detect radio-sensitive cardiac regions and develop multivariable subregion-driven predictive models of cardiac toxicities. Use of artificial intelligence in decision-making tools will aid in developing integrative, personalised and feasible strategies for reducing cardiac complications arising from radiotherapy.
Objective
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. Radiotherapy (RT) is an essential component of the treatment for the majority of BC patients. Although the therapeutic benefit of RT is well-proven, it may be offset by secondary effects, such as cardiac toxicity, arising from the inevitable irradiation of healthy tissue. Increased cardiac morbidity and mortality rates are well documented after breast cancer RT, but the exact underlying mechanisms behind cardiac toxicity is still unclear. Such information is crucial to develop accurate predictive models of cardiotoxicity and to devise new strategies for personalized RT treatments, either by optimizing the existing protocols or by considering emerging RT techniques, such as proton beam therapy.
The goal of PRO-ORATICA project, carried out by the researcher Eugenia Mylona, is to devise decision-making tools aimed at proposing integrative and feasible strategies for reducing radiation-induced cardiac complications after breast cancer RT. Novel image processing and analysis techniques will be applied to identify radio-sensitive cardiac regions, while artificial intelligence will be used to develop multivariable subregion-driven predictive models of cardiac toxicities. Strategies will be proposed for transferring the developed models to the clinics, offering optimized personalized treatments with reduced cardiac complications. This research project can be practice-changing as it may define new improved standards for the treatment of breast cancer, potentially enhancing patients’ quality-of-life.
The fellowship will take place at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) under the supervision of Dr Javier Pascau, Associate Professor at the Bioengineering and Aerospace Engineering Department. As part of this project, the researcher will carry out a secondment in the Clínica Universidad de Navarra (CUN) in Madrid, under the co-supervision of Dr Felipe Calvo, head of the Radiation Oncology Department.
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 computer and information sciences artificial intelligence
- engineering and technology medical engineering
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology breast cancer
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
-
H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
See all projects funded under this programme
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)
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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-2020
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
28903 Getafe (Madrid)
Spain
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.