ADAPTMET: A new era in cancer metastasis research

The prevalence of cancer continues to rise, affecting more than 3.5 million people in Europe, with metastasis being responsible for the vast majority of deaths associated with the disease. Led by IRB Barcelona, ADAPTMET is a new European initiative aimed at advancing our understanding of metastasis by training sixteen researchers specialised in this field. As a continuation of the successful Evomet project, ADAPTMET seeks to push the boundaries of research.

With a total budget of €4.4 M and under the guidance of Dr. Roger Gomis, an expert in cancer metastasis at IRB Barcelona, this initiative brings together 14 top European research institutions to train the next generation of leaders in metastasis research.

A challenge in cancer research

Cancer metastasis—the spread of cancer cells from the primary tumour to other organs and tissues—is responsible for more than 90% of deaths related to this disease, making it one of the most pressing challenges in oncology. Despite advancements in cancer treatments, metastasis remains poorly understood and difficult to treat. ADAPTMET aims to address this unmet medical need by focusing on the mechanisms that enable cancer cells to adapt and spread, with the ultimate goal of transforming therapeutic approaches and improving patient care.

Dr. Gomis stressed the importance of the project: “By exploring the fundamental mechanisms that determine how cancer cells adapt to new environments, our goal is to identify new pharmacological targets and treatment strategies that can effectively combat metastasis. This project builds on the success of Evomet and takes a step further by incorporating the latest scientific advancements and cutting-edge methodologies.”

The ADAPTMET project addresses metastasis from four key scientific angles, each fundamental to understanding this complex disease:

1. Cell fate: The project's approach addresses how cancer cells coordinate various cellular functions to facilitate metastasis. Understanding how cells control their fate in response to changing environments could reveal new therapeutic strategies.
2. Environment: Metastasis involves complex interactions between cancer cells and their environment, including the immune system and surrounding tissue. The goal is to decipher how these interactions influence cancer progression.
3. Latency: Many metastatic cells can remain inactive for long periods before reactivating. Adaptmet focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind this latency and subsequent reactivation, which is crucial for improving early detection and treatment.
4. Expansion: This part of the project examines how metastasis expands and becomes resistant to therapies, highlighting pathways for new therapeutic interventions.

Training and empowering future leaders

One of the cornerstones of ADAPTMET is its commitment to training the next generation of cancer researchers. The project offers a unique doctoral programme designed to equip 16 young scientists with the technical expertise and transferable skills necessary for a successful career in academia or industry. Through a combination of training events, the researchers will have access to direct mentoring, hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology, and a comprehensive programme that includes communication, project management, and professional development.

Dr. Benedetta Conte, a former PhD student in the Evomet project, highlights the impact that these programmes can have on a researcher´s career: “When I completed my PhD, I was appointed as a permanent researcher at the University of Eastern Piedmont (Italy), which includes an accelerated promotion to associate professor within two years. This achievement came about thanks to the recognition and professional connections I made through my experience with Evomet. The extensive training in communication and job interviews left me feeling confident and well-prepared to apply for these positions. I highly recommend this doctoral programme to any early-career researcher looking to pursue a career in cancer research.”

The case of Dr. Conte is a testament to the transformative potential of these training initiatives, and ADAPTMET aims to build on this foundation by providing even more advanced tools and methodologies to empower its participants.

The total budget for the project amounts to €4.4 M, of which €3.5 M is provided by the European Commission, €307,786 by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and €607,132 by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).

The 16 young researchers will be supervised by:

• Roger Gomis: IRB Barcelona
• Mohamed Bentires-Alj: University of Basel
• Cédric Blanpain: Université Libre de Bruxelles, Cancer State Therapeutics
• Sebastian Carotta: Boehringer Ingelheim
• Mariona Graupera: Fundació Institut de Recerca Contra la Leucèmia Josep Carreras (IJC)
• Johanna Joyce: University of Lausanne
• Federico De Masi: ZS Associates
• Anna Christina Obenauf: Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP)
• Aleix Prat and Fara Brasó: FCRB-IDIBAPS 
• Kristian Pietras: University of Lund
• Victoria Sanz-Moreno and Andrew Tutt: Institute of Cancer Research: The Royal Cancer Hospital LBG
• Sakari Vanharanta: University of Helsinki
• Karin E. de Visser: Stichting Het Nederlands Kanker Instituut - Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek Ziekenhuis (NKI)
   

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme under grant agreement 101169223. 

 The ADAPTMET call for PhD candidates will open on 5 November, 2024.