Scientists from ITQB NOVA and the Portuguese Institute of Oncology have started the BRIDGE project to uncover how aggressive breast cancer evades the immune system. The initiative seeks biomarkers for better prediction of disease progression and personalized treatments. Funded with up to €75,000, the two-year effort uses patient samples to validate lab findings.
The BRIDGE project, short for Biomarker Research Integrating Data of Glyco-Immune Signatures and Clinical Evidence in Breast Cancer, targets the tumor microenvironment where cancer cells interact with immune cells. Researchers aim to identify small molecules on cell surfaces that allow tumors to suppress immune detection, leading to unchecked growth. This builds on prior discoveries about tumor-immune communication, now tested with real patient samples from IPOFG.
