Beta-6-integrin in colorectal carcinoma: patho-functions and perspectives as a therapeutic target

结直肠癌（Colorectal carcinoma，CRC）是世界范围内最具挑战性的疾病之一，每年导致数十万人死亡。在我们以前的工作中，我们发现ITGB 6表达和血清水平在CRC的转移阶段增加。此外，发现ITGB 6血清水平与CRC小鼠模型中的治疗反应和功能研究相关，表明药理学ITGB 6抑制可以抵消肿瘤生长。在这里，我们的目的是阐明ITGB 6作为一个致病因子和治疗靶点在CRC中的作用。为了实现这些目标，我们将应用最先进的分子方法，新的离体细胞为基础的系统和体内小鼠模型。我们的结果的转化验证将使用从大量临床记录良好的CRC患者队列中获得的人类样本来获得。两个项目合作伙伴的良好合作和互补的研究专长将极大地促进项目的成功。两国合作将（i）为相关员工提供高教育价值，（ii）提高对CRC发病机制的理解，（iii）为治疗这种疾病提供新的途径。

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is one of the most challenging diseases world-wide, causing deaths of hundreds of thousands of people yearly. In our previous work we showed that ITGB6 expression and serum levels are increased in metastatic stages of CRC. Moreover, ITGB6 serum levels were found to be associated with therapy response and functional studies in CRC mouse models suggested that pharmacologic ITGB6 inhibition may counteract tumor growth. Here we aim to elucidate the role of ITGB6 as a pathogenic factor and therapeutic target in CRC. To achieve these goals we will apply state-of-the-art molecular approaches, novel ex vivo cell-based systems and in vivo mouse models. Translational validation of our results will be obtained using human samples obtained from large and clinically well-documented cohorts of CRC patients. The well-established co-operation and complimentary research expertise of the two project partners will highly foster the project success. The bi-national co-operation will (i) generate a high educational value for the employees involved, (ii) improve the understanding of CRC pathogenesis and (iii) provide novel avenues for treatment of this disease.