10.10.2024

CutCancer at 52nd European environmental mutagenesis and genomics society (EEMGS) and 15th International Comet Assay Workshop congress in Rovinj, Croatia, September 2024.

During 2024 EEMGS and ICAW congress in Rovinj, Croatia, researchers from National Institute of Biology presented CutCancer project in the form of poster.

  • ŠTERN, Alja, BREZNIK, Barbara, NOVAK, Metka, DOAK Shareen Heather, VAN MALDEGEM, Febe, NILSSON Mats, ŽEGURA, Bojana, EEMGS Annual Meeting and ICAW meeting, 23.-27 Sep. 2024, Rovinj. CutCancer : a twinning approach to strategically advance research on carcinogenesis and cancer. Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju. [Print ed.]. 2024, vol. 75, suppl. 1, p. 197. ISSN 0004-1254.

The number of cancer cases in Europe is increasing each year, from the current 3.5 million to an estimated 4.3 million in 2035, regardless of age, gender or social status, placing an enormous burden on health systems, patients, families and society at large. The European Commission has prioritised cancer as one of the world’s major challenges, by launching Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan to improve outcomes by 2030. Central to this plan is the need to tackle the entire cancer disease pathway, emphasising the urgency to develop more efficient therapeutic approaches. Genomic instability and the tumour microenvironment are identified as critical factors in cancer development and progression. However, despite their importance, molecular understanding remains limited. Addressing this gap is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies, treatment approaches and combating treatment resistance in cancer therapy. The CutCancer project aims to accelerate cancer research through interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative technologies, particularly in the fields of preclinical 3D carcinogenesis and cancer research. It focuses on understanding genomic instability and tumour microenvironment to understand cancer initiation, progression, and resistance to treatment. Through advanced in vitro 3D model systems and cutting-edge technologies including high-throughput screening approaches for risk assessment of chemicals and nanomaterials and single-cell and spatial biology techniques, the project aims to unravel the complexities of cancer biology. The partnership with the leading research institutions Swansea University Medical School from the UK, Stockholm University from Sweden, and Amsterdam University Medical Center from the Netherlands brings together expertise in genetic toxicology, spatial transcriptomics, and imaging mass cytometry. By integrating data and knowledge generated within CutCancer, we aim to enhance our understanding of cancer complexity. The ultimate goal is to contribute to cancer prevention, accurate prognosis, and overcoming therapy resistance, benefiting both individuals and society as a whole.