Project ERBB2
The IFO - IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, is the coordinator of the project "Noninvasive proteogenomics in breast cancer: a liquid biopsy assay for two-dimensional nanophotonic determination of gene amplification and overexpression of the protooncogene ERBB2".
The application and industrial value of the method is to offer a tool not yet available on the market today, which is easy-to-use, within the reach of any hospital that is equipped with an integrated clinical pathology laboratory, for two-dimensional evaluation of ERBB2 and potentially applicable to other tumor markers as well. This forward-looking tool, anticipates the likely evolution of precision oncology in the near future. It is now a fact that: oncology moves on the basis of clinical evidence (much less on the basis of biological evidence) toward an increasing use of therapies based on anti-ERBB2 monoclonal antibodies.
The application and industrial value of the method is to offer a tool not yet available on the market today, which is easy-to-use, within the reach of any hospital that is equipped with an integrated clinical pathology laboratory, for two-dimensional evaluation of ERBB2 and potentially applicable to other tumor markers as well. This forward-looking tool, anticipates the likely evolution of precision oncology in the near future. It is now a fact that: oncology moves on the basis of clinical evidence (much less on the basis of biological evidence) toward an increasing use of therapies based on anti-ERBB2 monoclonal antibodies.
Our multidisciplinary research group brings together physicians (Regina Elena) and bio-engineers (Sapienza). Our challenge is practically to demonstrate that using ERBB2-2D 'in the field' can improve the standard of care for our patients by identifying mechanisms of resistance to treatment, and the right time to change therapy, all in a non-invasive manner. The nanophotonic methodology employed (light as a detector of the presence of ERBB2) will save us the effort and money, but more importantly lends itself to a full integration into an increasingly 'connected' digital and integrated National Health Care System, compared to internationally accepted standards (FISH and IHC) on tissue.
The total cost of the grant-eligible project, on the expenditure of which Lazio Innova has granted a maximum grant funding of 100 percent, is €149,999.85. The funding resources are from the Public Notice "Research Groups 2020 POR FESR LAZIO 2014-2020" Determination G08487 of 19/07/2020 (BURL N.93 of 23/07/2020 - amended by Determination No. G10624/2020 - BURL No. 116 of 22/09/2020), Prot. Application No. A0375-2020- 36630; CUP: H85F21000250009, approved by Determination No. G04014 of 13/04/2021 published in BURL No. 38 of 15/04/2021, CUP: H85F21000250009.
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) aims to consolidate economic and social cohesion in the European Union by correcting any disparities that may exist between regions.