Project description
Precision oncology for hepatocellular carcinoma
Liver cancer remains a major global health concern. There is limited understanding of the populations at risk of developing the disease, as well as treatment resistance and a lack of personalised therapeutic options. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the STRIM-HCC project aims to uncover the mechanisms driving the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the resistance to current immune-based therapies by integrating single-cell, genomic and transcriptomic tumour data using advanced bioinformatics. Special emphasis will be given on cancer-associated fibroblasts that influence therapy response. By connecting these insights to patient treatment outcomes, the project seeks to identify biomarkers of response to immune-checkpoint inhibitors and potential novel therapeutic targets, ultimately aiming to improve patient stratification and develop more effective treatments.
Objective
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), remains a critical global health challenge, with limited treatment efficacy, particularly in advanced stages. The rising incidence of HCC is intricately linked to metabolic dysfunctions, such as metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and its severe form, metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), highlighting an urgent need for enhanced precision oncology approaches. Despite recent advances, the lack of effective biomarkers and precision therapies for HCC underscores the complexity and heterogeneity of the disease.
This proposal aims to address these gaps by integrating cutting-edge bioinformatics tools and genomic data to uncover novel mechanisms of HCC progression and treatment resistance. We will focus on three primary objectives: (1) Characterizing the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) in HCC, emphasizing cell-type-specific regulatory programs and enhancer-promoter interactions that influence tumor progression and immune evasion. (2) Identifying specific cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) subtypes and their role in patient response to immune-based combination therapies, particularly atezolizumab and bevacizumab. (3) Leveraging whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to pinpoint targetable mutations in regulatory regions, which can guide personalized treatment strategies and improve patient outcomes.
By analyzing single-cell data and integrating it with whole-genome and RNA sequencing, this project aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of HCC's molecular underpinnings and its interaction with the TME. The expected outcomes include identifying new biomarkers for patient stratification, elucidating the role of CAFs in therapy response, and proposing actionable genomic targets for precision treatment. This research promises to revolutionize HCC management by providing innovative strategies for better-targeted therapies and improving clinical outcomes through enhanced precision oncology methodologies.
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 mutation
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology immunotherapy
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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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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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.
08036 Barcelona
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.