Objective
Inhibition of heparanase overexpressed by tumours, preventing not only the release and activation of angiogenic growth factors stored by heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans but also the disruption of the basement membrane and the extracellular matrix is regarded as a very promising strategy to develop anticancer drugs. This project aims at:
a) mapping the binding sites of heparanase for HS;
b) determining the structural requirements of HS-like polysaccharides for interaction with the enzyme as substrates and as inhibitors;
c) improving the heparanase-inhibiting properties of polysaccharides by generating specific sulfation patterns optimised on biological activity (inhibition of heparanase, antimetastatic-antiangiogenic activity).
These aims will be pursued through a study of the inhibition of heparanase with natural and synthetic HS-like oligo/polysaccharides, glycomimetics, and its in vivo effects.
Fields of science
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
20133 MILANO
Italy