Project description
Hijacking neutrophils to target circulating tumour cells
Metastasis is driven by circulating tumour cells that escape the primary tumour and travel through the bloodstream. Targeting these rare, migrating cells before they establish new tumours remains a key challenge in oncology. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the TargetCTC project aims to develop specialised nanoparticles that hitchhike on neutrophils. These immune cells naturally interact with circulating tumour cells in the bloodstream. The generated nanoparticles will be designed to recognise and bind tumour cells and deliver chemotherapy directly to the target site, intercepting metastasis at its earliest stages.
Objective
"Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, primarily driven circulating tumor cells (CTCs) that migrate from the primary tumor site and colonize distant organs. Conventional therapies are often ineffective in efficiently targeting these CTCs, leading to cancer progression and recurrence. The TargetCTC proposes the development of anti-EpCAM nanobody-functionalized dendritic polyglycerol sulfate (dPGS)-based nanoarchitectures designed to specifically target CTCs using a novel ""hitchhiking"" strategy. These nanoarchitectures will attach to neutrophils - key players in the immune response that naturally interact with CTCs in the biological system.
By hitchhiking on neutrophils, the designed advanced nanoarchitectures can circulate with immune cells in the bloodstream, enhancing their ability to detect and bind CTCs through the recognition of multiple sulfate groups and anti-EpCAM nanobodies. This approach not only improves targeting ability but also exploits the natural migration pattern of neutrophils, ensuring that
nanoarchitectures are delivered directly to the target sites. To maximize therapeutic efficacy, nanoarchitectures will be made stimuli-responsive and loaded with doxorubicin. The dual functionality i.e. multiple sulfated groups and anti-EpCAM nanobodies, will allow nanoarchitectures to not only capture CTCs but also to deliver the drug to primary/metastatic tumors, leading to their targeted destruction.
This innovative strategy to capture and neutralize CTCs while arresting primary/metastatic tumors could provide a groundbreaking approach in cancer treatment. This project aligns with the EU's endeavor in advancing cancer research and hold the potential of improving patient outcomes by inhibiting the spread of cancer at its earliest stages."
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 basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
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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-2025-PF
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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.
WC1E 6BT London
United Kingdom
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.