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Macro-Nanomedicine to Treat Metastatic Cancer

Project description

Targeting cancer metastases with a nanomedicine-based approach

The ultimate goal of the EU-funded Meta-Targeting project is to develop a novel, complex, nanomedicine-based approach that will improve the efficacy and decrease the side effects of treatment of metastatic breast cancer. The project's objective is to introduce multifunctional polymeric micelles co-loaded with three different drugs and with an imaging agent. In addition to the anti-tumour drug doxorubicin, the co-loading with the angiotensin receptor inhibitor losartan will help to improve the delivery of micelles. The co-loading with the P-glycoprotein inhibitor tariquidar will improve anti-tumour efficacy without typical side effects such as neurotoxicity. The imaging- and biopsy-based biomarkers are necessary for patient stratification, which is important for the clinical translation of cancer nanomedicines.

Objective

Metastatic cancer is a complex and highly heterogenous disease, which is very difficult to treat. The aim of the Meta-Targeting project is to establish a holistic, rational and realistic nanomedicine-based approach to improve the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Concrete objectives are: (1) the development of polymeric micelles which can be efficiently and stably co-loaded with three different drugs and with an imaging agent; (2) the use of physical and pharmacological means to modulate the vasculature and microenvironment in tumors and metastases; (3) the identification of imaging- and biopsy-based biomarkers for patient selection; (4) the incorporation of drugs to overcome cellular and microenvironmental multidrug resistance; and (5) the implementation of multifunctional micelles to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. It is envisaged that micelles loaded with in-house developed doxorubicin prodrugs are able to induce immunogenic cell death in tumors and metastases without causing systemic immunodepression, that co-loading with the angiotensin receptor inhibitor losartan helps to prime tumors and metastases for improved delivery (of micelles, immunomodulatory antibodies and T cells), and that co-loading with the P-glycoprotein inhibitor tariquidar assists in inducing immunogenic cell death, while avoiding typical anti-Pgp side effects, such as neurotoxicity. Physical priming with ultrasound and microbubbles will promote the delivery of micelles, antibodies and T cells to and into primary tumors. Imaging- and biopsy-based biomarkers are needed to allow for patient stratification, which is critically important to improve the clinical translation of cancer nanomedicines. The outcomes of the different project lines in Meta-Targeting will - alone and especially together - be truly transformative: they will contribute to scientific and clinical progress in nanomedicine, in tumor-targeted drug delivery, in immunotherapy, and in the treatment of metastatic cancer.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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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)

Programme(s)

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.

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.

ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2019-COG

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Host institution

UNIVERSITAETSKLINIKUM AACHEN
Net EU contribution

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.

€ 1 979 375,00
Address
Pauwelsstrasse 30
52074 Aachen
Germany

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Region
Nordrhein-Westfalen Köln Städteregion Aachen
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

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.

€ 1 979 375,00

Beneficiaries (1)

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