ESCALON
Developing cost-effective tools for the early diagnosis of hepatobiliary cancers in Latin America and to identify factors that allow for risk stratification and primary prevention for these tumors.
The expertise
We have assembled a unique team of specialists in different areas (both academic and geographical areas) that is optimally prepared for this project. We will create databases and biobanks (both cross-sectional and prospectively) to evaluate biomarkers in blood that could predict hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer. We will evaluate a variety of clinical, environmental and genetic factors for each cancer that could shed light into the mechanisms leading to carcinogenesis and help us understand potential prevention points.
The results
Our study will lead to the discovery and utilization of biomarkers that could be applied worldwide for early diagnosis and detection of hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer, improve the understanding and provide identification of risk factors associated with hepatobiliary carcinogenesis that could be targeted for prevention and treatment of such cancers.
The consortium
The consortium is formed by physicians, scientists, epidemiologists, statisticians and media specialists in multiple countries across Europe and South America. Each task, designed to work on a different hepatobiliary cancer, is led by a center in one continent in close collaboration with a center in a different continent (Europe and South America).
Different members are in charge of collecting samples and/or performing analysis for the different tasks, with a broad distribution of collection and analysis in both Europe and South America. In addition, we have incorporated different advisory committees formed by world experts in different fields who will advise us and closely follow up the developments of the project.
Main activities
Our first activity is to identify, evaluate and validate peripheral markers for different
hepatobiliary cancers.
The project also evaluates infectious, environmental, clinical and genetic
parameters that could influence development of non-cirrhotic liver cancers
We evaluate infectious and genetic parameters that influence the occurrence of
cholangiocarcinoma
And finally we assess genetic and immune variables that could increase
predisposition to gallbladder cancer in specific populations
