Deconstructing the evolution of metastasis

Evomet aims to create a high-level training programme on the various aspects of metastasis evolution in order to provide young researchers with skills to become future leaders in the field.

To this end, it is imperative to have a solid mentoring and training strategy, a state-of-the-art scientific approach, and a broad range of complementary soft skills.

Collectively, these skills will be provided to each ESR through a series of events (local and network-wide) and initiatives that will allow ESRs to ensure smooth progress of their research projects and a successful career.

Scientifically, Evomet has been designed to address an unmet medical need through leverage of basic science to impact drug development and, ultimately, improve how patients are managed. Scientific WPs tackling metastasis from a functional perspective have been defined.

To metastasize, cancer cells must orchestrate diverse cellular functions to overcome the challenges inherent in the metastatic cascade (Cell Fate – WP1).

These functions are also highly dependent on the interactions of the metastatic cell with the host immune system and tissue stroma (Environment – WP2).

However, the kinetics of metastasis and, in particular, the mechanisms that regulate metastasis latency remain poorly understood (Latency – WP3).

Mapping this complexity, examining patterns of clonal evolution, mechanisms of therapy failure, and pathways for expansion is central to defining new targets (Expansion – WP4).

In summary, we are facing a fast-growing multidisciplinary area created from the aggregation of different fields that have problems communicating with each other.

Evomet’s success builds on the strong relations between partners, the open exchange of ideas, state-of-the-art methodology, tools and equipment as well as the exploitation of synergistic opportunities between the network members, covering different perspectives and filling the gap between them, thus breaking the isolation between disciplines.