Objectives and benefits

The main objective of the Action is :

(i) to generate new FISH reagents and technologies. These are to be applied for the analysis of different tumour types with the aim of broadening our current knowledge of tumour-specific chromosomal changes associated with tumour development and progression;

(ii) to transfer important breakthroughs into diagnostic services to improve on speed and efficiency of tests with prognostic and diagnostic value.

Monitoring tumour progression and their responses to therapeutic intervention will be very useful for identification and dissection of tumour-specific chromosomal markers.

Secondary objectives are to promote exchanges between the research groups in the following areas:

- Genome resources: development of reagents for FISH analysis to be used in both basic research and diagnosis of different solid tumours

- Molecular cytogenetic technology: development of novel FISH-derived techniques with high resolution and rapid processing times, tailored to overcome the difficulties caused by the heterogeneic nature of the tumour cell populations

- Molecular cytogenetics of solid tumours (including the major tumour types)

- Molecular cytogenetics of carcinomas

- Genetic predisposition to cancer

Since a few researchers of the previously described areas are very specialized in their individual topics, success is likely to depend upon establishing scientific complementarity and multidisciplinary research.

Participation of industrial representatives in the meetings will stimulate economic development of these scientific goals, and help to define the needs of biotech industrial development. It is also proposed to make guidelines for the diagnostics of solid tumours to be used by oncological laboratories performing routine diagnostic services.