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  5. Humanitas - "The role of lipid transporter MFSD2A in the resolution of Colorectal cancer-associated inflammation: implications for new therapeutic strategies" (DCM.AD007.196)
Research project

Humanitas - "The role of lipid transporter MFSD2A in the resolution of Colorectal cancer-associated inflammation: implications for new therapeutic strategies" (DCM.AD007.196)

Thematic area

Chemical sciences and materials technology

Project area

Chimica e materiali per la salute e le scienze della vita (DCM.AD007)

Structure responsible for the research project

Institute of science and technology for ceramics (ISSMC)

Project manager

ALESSIO ADAMIANO
Phone number: 0546/699724
Email: alessio.adamiano@istec.cnr.it

Abstract

Inflammation is a recognized hallmark of cancer that contributes to the development and progression of several malignancies, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Anti-inflammatory drugs currently used for the treatment of patients with CRC show many adverse side effects that prompted researchers to propose the specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), derived from omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, as promoters of resolution of cancer-associated inflammation. We recently demonstrated that in patients with Ulcerative Colitis undergoing remission, the Major Facilitator Superfamily Domain-containing 2A (MFSD2A) oversees SPM production by the gut vasculature, leading to the resolution of intestinal inflammation. We hypothesized that MFSD2A drives the production of SPMs also in patients with CRC. Our proposal aims to identify the MFSD2A-dependent pathways responsible for the resolution of tumor-associated intestinal inflammation, paving the way for a new avenue for the treatment of CRC.

Goals

1) To define the functional role of MFSD2A in orchestrating pro-resolving pathways in the intestinal endothelium of CRCpatients.
2) To generate a Mfsd2a-inducible mouse model to assess the functional role of this protein in different phases ofexperimental CRC development.
3) To evaluate the efficacy of nanomedicine therapy, and in particular of calcium phosphate based nanocarriers, for the conditional delivery of Mfsd2a in experimental models of non-metastatic CRC.

Start date of activity

01/08/2020

Keywords

drug delivery, nanoparticles, colorectal cancer

Last update: 04/12/2024