The “ILIAD” project has been awarded the national “integrated cancer research site” (SIRIC) label for the best cancer centres.
The SIRIC ILIAD (Imaging and Longitudinal Investigations to Ameliorate Decision-making in multiple myeloma and breast cancer) is a regional consortium led by the Irecan health cooperation group (GCS), which brings together the Nantes University Hospital, the Institute of Cancerology (ICO) and the Angers University Hospital. Its partners are INSERM, the Arronax cyclotron, the Ecole Centrale de Nantes, the two universities of Nantes and Angers and Atlanpole.
Led by Professor Philippe Moreau, head of the haematology department at Nantes University Hospital, director of the project, together with Professor Mario Campone, director general of the ICO, as co-director, SIRIC ILIAD is one of eight new projects selected by an international jury at the end of the new wave of labelling by INCa in December 2017.
This accreditation highlights the dynamism of Loire Valley cancer research in both the translational and clinical fields, and its leadership in the project’s two flagship tumours: multiple myeloma and breast cancer. The ILIAD project intends to develop a new approach to address the key issues of cancer cell resistance to treatment and tumour heterogeneity. A better understanding of the evolution of the tumour and its environment at all stages of the patient’s care pathway will help combat therapeutic failure in multiple myeloma and breast cancer.
The search for innovative and personalised treatments for patients
The ILIAD project proposes an original approach based on an in-depth analysis of the tumour – functional and longitudinal study of the tumour phenotype and microenvironment – at the cell and whole-body level through three integrated research programmes aimed at
- Develop nuclear medicine tools and biological tests to predict prognosis and develop innovative targeted and personalised approaches,
- Combating resistance from a functional perspective by simultaneously exploring tumour cells and their microenvironment during treatment,
- Develop predictive tools for quality of life during treatment and return to work at the end of anti-tumour treatment.
In the long term, they should lead to the identification of new biomarkers, new imaging modalities or the use of e-health tools to predict the return to work after cancer treatment and improve the quality of life of patients.
A collective approach – doctors, researchers, teachers, patients and patient associations – to benefit from the highest level of expertise
The ILIAD project will be based on the technological platforms of the Nantes-Angers site, and will benefit from the medical and scientific expertise in nuclear medicine, oncology, haematology, human and social sciences, epidemiology, chemistry, physics and mathematics, brought together within 36 teams and 9 institutions. This interdisciplinary consortium will use the results of clinical and translational research programmes already underway and financed through national calls for tenders that have established cohorts and clinical or biological databases, and will prospectively develop new programmes in nuclear medicine, oncology, haematology and human and social sciences. The project places the patient at the heart of its strategy and will be developed in close collaboration with patient associations such as AF3M (national association of myeloma patients) and EUROPA DONNA (association of breast cancer patients).