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Consortium on Cancer Stem Cells receives Grant for Centre for Research-based Innovation

Stem cell based targeted tumor therapy

A consortium of groups from Rikshospitalet-Radiumhospitalet HealthCentre and the University of Oslo, together with industry partners, were selectedof one of 14 grants alloted for Norwegian centres for research-based innovation, of which only two were within medicine.

The consortium will focus on the concept of a small population of stem-like cells being critical in tumour developement, and being able to regenerate the whole full-blown tumours on therapy faailure or metastasis. Isolation of such cells, and identification of their unique properties, may pawe the way for new diagnostics and therapies.

SENIT

Stem cell based targeted tumor therapy

Rikshospitalet-Radiumhospitalet HF (host)

and

University of Oslo

With the industry partners

Invitrogen/Dynal

Affitech

Alpharma and Amplius

GemVax/Pharmexa

Photocure



Summary
The overall aim of the present project is to shift the focus in cancer research and cancer treatment from the tumor as a whole to an entity called the “tumor stem cell”. Bearing in mind that with few exceptions most of our knowledge about cancer and its treatment today is based on the characteristics of the bulk of tumors rather than that small fraction of cells with stem cell character, a shift of focus may have significant consequences. It is the firm conviction of the members of this consortium that this will change the way we understand and treat cancer in the near future, and that it is within our reach to contribute to such a change by bringing together basic scientists from several disciplines, clinicians and partners in Norwegian biotech industry. The proposed research activities will have three main goals:

1) To characterize with innovative approaches tumor stem cells and provide methods for identifying,
visualizing, isolating and targeting tumor stem cells.

2) To create a concerted action between key players of the Norwegian biotechnology industry and academic researchers to use the gained knowledge for advancing tumor stem cell based diagnosis and therapy. For these goals, an integrated center will be established that allows a high mobility of researchers between the academic laboratories and the industry research facility, and between the Norwegian center and international partner laboratories.

3) Finally, by being hosted by Rikshospitalet-Radiumhospitalet, the time from laboratory discovery to actual medical diagnosis and early clinical trials will be dramatically reduced, giving the industrial partners and the
hospital a much needed competitive edge.
 
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