Proteoglycan-4 as coadjuvant treatment to overcome resistance to sorafenib and Regorafenib in patients with Hepatocellular carcinoma

Proof Of Concept (POC) - PNRR M6/C2 2023

 

Abstract

Sorafenib and regorafenib are the drugs most commonly used in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), providing a disease control rate of approximately 40% of cases. Nevertheless, 30% of patients develop resistance to treatment.

Recently, we have demonstrated that an extracellular matrix component, named Proteoglycan-4 (PRG4), physiologically present in the body, works as a novel tumor-suppressive agent by strengthening sorafenib and regorafenib effects in "in vitro" models of HCC. Based on this finding, we have deposited a patent for the development of PRG4 as an adjuvant agent to overcome resistance to Sorafenib and Regorafenib. This project aims to develop the scientific prototype as follows: 1) to investigate the effectiveness of PRG4 in combination with Sorafenib and Regorafenib in in vivo models; 2) to investigate the effectiveness of PRG4 on immune cells infiltrating HCC; 3) to individuate the shorter aminoacidic sequence mimicking the PRG4 adjuvant effectiveness.

 

Partenariato

  • Ente Ospedaliero specializzato in gastroenterologia Saverio De Bellis
  • IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital
  • Biogem scarl
  • Università degli Studi di Udine

 

Importo del progetto

Importo totale del progetto        Euro 1.183.000,00
Importo del progetto Uniud        Euro 246.000,00
Finanziamento Uniud                Euro 0,00

 

Durata

  • Dal 31.08.2024
  • Al 30.08.2026

Link

https://www.pnrr.salute.gov.it/portale/pnrrsalute/dettaglioBandiPNRRSalute.jsp?lingua=italiano&id=377