In the recent STRATEGMED competition the EPTHERON Consortium (EPigenetic THerapies in ONcology) composed of Selvita, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAN, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology and Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Wrocław University of Technology has been awarded. Altered activity of enzymes regulating epigenetic modifications is a frequent feature of different tumors.
Mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenases, occurring in tumors lead to loss of normal enzyme activity and the production of oncometabolite, which deregulates gene expression and cancer cell functions. The Consortium will characterize oncogenic events and test the newly obtained molecules with anticancer activity in pre-clinical models of human solid and hematopoietic cancers, and identify susceptible patient populations based on comprehensive genomic and metabolomic approaches.