This grant builds on findings from an earlier ERC Advanced Grant project, where Bernards and his team developed a novel strategy to treat cancer cells. They discovered that senescent cancer cells—despite being inactive—can trigger inflammation that promotes tumor growth. Using advanced genetic techniques, the researchers identified an effective combination of drugs, including the antibiotic salinomycin, that can eliminate these cells. Additionally, the approach was found to activate the immune system, improving its ability to target any remaining cancer cells.
In this new study, Bernards and his colleagues will investigate whether this method can be applied more broadly. Chemotherapy not only induces senescent cells in tumors but also in healthy tissues, which can cause damage to organs such as the heart, kidneys, and muscles.
Bernards, group leader at NKI and Oncode Institute, explains: “There is evidence that many of the side effects of chemotherapy are caused by normal cells in the patient’s organs also entering this senescent state. If that is the case, we expect that the drugs we identified to kill senescent cancer cells may also target senescent normal cells, potentially reducing chemotherapy’s side effects.”
With the ERC Proof of Concept grant, the team will test this hypothesis in preclinical models.
More information about Proof of Concept grants