CA19138 - Lobular Breast Cancer: Discovery Science, Translational Goals, Clinical Impact (LOBSTERPOT)

Invasive Lobular Breast cancer (ILC) represents a major cancer type that affects 25,000 patients annually in Europe, representing a severe societal impact. Differential diagnosis is still unreliable due to variable histological criteria, long-term survival is poor in the metastatic setting and the response to chemotherapy is virtually absent. Despite its etiological, pathological, molecular and clinical peculiarities, there is still no specific treatment strategy for ILC patients, which is mostly due to the lack of concerted multidisciplinary efforts.

 LOBSTERPOT aims to better understand, diagnose and treat ILC. This Action will combine the essential areas of expertise and provide a comprehensive platform to bring together and foster collaborations between epidemiologists, geneticists, biologists, clinicians, data scientists, academic and industry trialists, ethical and legal experts, as well as ILC patient advocacy movements. This Action will bridge the gaps in translational cancer research for ILC, and will provide an unprecedented clinical impact due to the streamlining of the “from bench-to-bedside” principal to enable uniform diagnosis and tailored treatment for ILC patients. 

 To achieve its aims and in agreement with the mission and vision of the COST Actions, LOBSTERPOT will:
(1) coordinate Europe-wide multidisciplinary ILC research,
(2) promote capacity-building by developing a unique biobank, state-of-the-art models, exclusive platforms of multi-OMICs and clinical ILC data accessible to the scientific community,
(3) advice policy-makers and other key stakeholders,
(4) provide an attractive structure for the development of ILC-focused clinical trials, and,
(5) create a unique training and networking opportunity for young and senior researchers devoted to fight ILC.