CA22125 - Precision medicine in biliary tract cancer (Precision-BTC-Network)

Biliary tract cancers (BTC) include a heterogeneous group of aggressive tumours with an increasing incidence in Europe. Limited knowledge of risk factors and the lack of biomarkers for diagnosis are responsible for frequent late detection. These tumours are characterised by high refractoriness to conventional chemotherapy, and an unmet need for development of novel therapeutic strategies. Targeted therapies have proven to be a good option for only subgroups of patients, but their access is unevenly distributed across Europe, requiring urgent implementation plans for patients’ benefit.
Precision-BTC-Network aims to create a unique cooperative and interdisciplinary network of European multi-stakeholders, including basic researchers, clinical investigators, SMEs, European Commission and EU agencies, international scientific organizations, patient representatives, and industrial partners, to address the diversified, but interrelated challenges, in the implementation of precision medicine in the management of BTC.
The Action will be organized in four working groups involved in the development of a personalized management of patients with BTC: Identification of epidemiological heterogeneity in Europe to apply precision prevention, Personalised early detection of BTC, Personalisation of treatment for patients with BTC, Patient-centric support management, and two horizontal WGs will provide cross-sectional activities relevant to WG1-4 goals: Artificial intelligence, and Drug development using preclinical models.
The expected impact includes speeding up the development of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for BTC patients and bringing beneficial therapies and optimal management of these patients across Europe. In addition, the training of Young Researchers and Innovators in precision medicine in BTC will ensure further progress in the future.