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. Now, the ADAPTMET project will bring together 14 top European research institutions to train the next generation of leaders in metastasis research. Dr. Mariona Graupera, Group Leader of the Endothelial pathobiology and microenvironment group at the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, will be one of the project’s supervisors.

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. Roger Gomis, coordinator of the initiative from IRB Barcelona, has 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.”

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.

The 16 young researchers will be supervised by:

• Roger Gomis: IRB Barcelona

• Mariona Graupera: Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC)

• Mohamed Bentires-Alj: University of Basel

• Cédric Blanpain: Université Libre de Bruxelles, Cancer State Therapeutics

• Sebastian Carotta: Boehringer Ingelheim

• Johanna Joyce: University of Lausanne

• Federico De Masi: ZS Associates

• Anna Christina Obenauf: Forschungs Institut fur Molekulare Pathologie Gesellschaft MBH (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.