BrainMap

Irina Huica

- INSTITUTUL DE VIRUSOLOGIE "STEFAN S.NICOLAU"

Other affiliations

Researcher - UNIVERSITATEA NATIONALA DE ARTE DIN BUCURESTI (Romania)

Researcher

Expertise & keywords

Molecular markers as predictors of treatment outcome and global prognosis in the management of differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA-2011 call, Type 2
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2011-3.2-1337 2012 - 2016

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE ENDOCRINOLOGIE "C.I.PARHON" BUCURESTI

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE ENDOCRINOLOGIE "C.I.PARHON" BUCURESTI (RO); INSTITUTUL DE VIRUSOLOGIE "STEFAN S.NICOLAU" (RO); INSTITUTUL DE BIOLOGIE SI PATOLOGIE CELULARA ,,NICOLAE SIMIONESCU'' (RO); AGILROM SCIENTIFIC SRL (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL DE VIRUSOLOGIE "STEFAN S.NICOLAU" (RO)

Project website: http://www.parhon.ro

Abstract:

Thyroid cancer, the most frequent endocrine malignancy, is a treatable disease if properly diagnosed. However, some cases develop aggressive disease by severe mutations or dedifferentiation, while others are diagnosed incidentally while being operated for a multinodular goiter, with microcarcinomas surrounded by non-neoplastic thyroid tissue. Risk factors, environment, family history and oncogenetic events favor or trigger this transformation. The present study will evaluate the prevalence of thyroid cancer in a prospective observational approach, involving the National Institute of Endocrinology as well as other three partners: Institute of Virology Stefan S. Nicolau, Institute of Cell Biology and Pathology Nicolae Simionescu and Agilrom Scientific SRL.

Major objective of the project: Improvement of the diagnostic and follow-up protocols for thyroid differentiated carcinoma with new markers for a better treatment outcome, prognosis and quality of life

The patients will be evaluated according to current guidelines of care. In an attempt to improve the diagnostic and treatment protocols after a detailed genomic/epigenetic approach of the cases the most significant markers will be selected. A total of 300 new cases of differentiated thyroid cancer, as well as multinodular goiter controls will be followed in a 3 years cohort, being evaluated by clinical, biochemical, pathology and advanced imaging (ultrasound and I131 gamma camera) technology, as well as routine and immunohistochemistry pathology. Genetic (genomic and tumor DNA), epigenetic and proteic markers will be evaluated on biological samples (blood and tumor tissue), and compared between the groups with different tumor pathology and expected/encountered evolution. A final practical target will be the design of a microarray chip for genetic diagnosis of thyroid cancer susceptibility. Another result will be the nucleus of thyroid cancer registry in Romania and the improvement of current diagnosis and treatment

Role of S100A4 and MAP4K4 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA-2011 call, Type 2
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2011-3.2-1490 2012 - 2016

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL CLINIC FUNDENI

Project partners: INSTITUTUL CLINIC FUNDENI (RO); RNTECH S.R.L. (RO); INSTITUTUL DE BIOLOGIE SI PATOLOGIE CELULARA ,,NICOLAE SIMIONESCU'' (RO); INSTITUTUL DE VIRUSOLOGIE "STEFAN S.NICOLAU" (RO); INSTITUTUL ONCOLOGIC PROF.DR.ALEXANDRU TRESTIOREANU BUCURESTI (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL DE VIRUSOLOGIE "STEFAN S.NICOLAU" (RO)

Project website: http://www.icfundeni.ro/S100MAP/

Abstract:

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death both in man and women. Annually, its incidence closely matches its mortality, highlighting the limited efficacy of existing treatment options. Most pancreatic cancers are pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas and the 5-year survival rate for patients with localized disease after surgical resection is 20% and for those with metastatic disease, the survival rate is a dismal 2%. In the last years, investigators of the pathogenesis of this disease have turned their attention to the tumor microenvironment as a critical determinant of pancreatic tumor progression and clinical outcome. To address the question of the involvement of stromal cells in the pancreatic cancer progression, this project will have a specific interest on the interplay between stellate and pancreatic cancer cells analyzing the putative tumor markers in both cellular components.

Given the expertise of the consortium and the resources of the coordinating institute – consisting of a rich tumor biobank, an established Center for Cellular Therapies and a genomic platform – the present project will pursue two of the signaling pathways of the pancreatic cancer with the long-term goal to develop new remedies for this highly lethal disease. We will examine the role of the S100 calcium binding protein A4 (S1004) and the mitogen-activated protein 4 kinase 4 (MAP4K4) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression. In doing so, we will consolidate the expertise and maintain the critical mass of scientists in areas of excellence and recruit strong external collaborators with significant expertise in these pathways and translational cancer research. Thus, the project is to set up a partnership in a priority research field – cancer genomics – to identify new molecular mechanisms involved in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression, which may result in rapid design and implementation of new therapeutic approaches targeting these pathways.

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List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects