TRANSPAN

Project Summary:

Pancreatic cancer (PC) has a high mortality rate and is expected to become a significant public health challenge in Europe. COST Action CA21116 aims to advance research on PC prevention, with a focus on identifying genetic risk factors, improving risk stratification, discovering biomarkers for early detection and patient monitoring, and exploring biological mechanisms and functional pharmacogenomics for personalized medicine. These objectives will be achieved by expanding an interdisciplinary network of experts.

The Action is structured into four working groups:

• Disease risk profiling: this WG will use germline genetic variants, epigenetics, transcriptomics and environmental factors to model disease risk and apply risk stratification scores to better select individuals eligible to be screened for PC or its precursors.
• Non-invasive biomarkers: this WG will apply state-of-the-art liquid biopsies for the detection and characterization of circulating tumor cells and DNA, tumor-derived exosomes, tumor-educated platelets, epigenetic markers, and will test their diagnostic value for PC precursors and early-stage PC.
• Tumor profiling: genomic, epigenomic and transcriptional profiling of PC and its precursors in a multiregional analysis fashion will be used to identify novel biomarkers with prognosis and predictive value for PC patient stratification.
• Functional genomics and therapy: This WG will functionally validate candidate genetic variants from germline or tumor studies by using cutting-edge approaches such as CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. It will also generate novel approaches such as organoids / zebrafish avatars to implement (chemo) therapeutic strategies based on the patient in an effort to implement personalized medicine for PC.

PCE is a partner in COST Action CA21116, actively contributing by integrating the patient’s perspective into the project. Through its engagement in the Disease risk profiling working group, PCE supports research efforts by sharing patient experiences and facilitating the dissemination of project results within the pancreatic cancer community.

Project Coordinator: German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg

Action Chair: Dr. Federico Canzian, DKFZ