RadioTransNet, Radiotherapy Translational and Preclinical Research Network: Results from the dedicated French cancer institute (INCa) call for projects

Purpose

The RadioTransNet project is a French initiative structuring preclinical and translational research in radiation therapy for cancer at national level. The network's activities are organized around four chosen priorities, which are: target definition, normal tissue, combined treatments and dose modelling. The subtargets linked to these four major priorities are unlimited. They include all aspects associated with fundamental radiobiology, preclinical studies, imaging, medical physics research and transversal components clearly related to these scientific areas, such as medical oncology, radio-diagnostics, nuclear medicine and cost-effectiveness considerations.

Method

During its first phase of activity, four workshops following the consensus conference model and based on scientific and medical state of the art in radiotherapy and radiobiology were organized on the four above-mentioned objectives to identify key points. Then a road map has been defined and served as the basis for the opening in 2022 of a dedicated call, SEQ-RTH22, proposed by the French cancer national institute (INCa).

Results

Four research projects submitted by RadioTransNet partners have been selected to be supported by INCa: the first by Professor Anne Laprie from Oncopole Claudius-Regaud and Inserm ToNic in Toulouse on neurocognition and health after pediatric irradiation, the second submitted by Fabien Milliat from IRSN aims to study decryption and targeting of endothelial cell–immune cells interactions to limit radiation-induced intestinal toxicity, the third project, submitted by Yolanda Prezado from institut Curie–CNRS on proton minibeam radiotherapy as a new approach to reduce toxicity, and the latest project proposed by R. de Crevoisier from centre Eugène-Marquis in Rennes on predictive multiscale models of head and neck radiotoxicity induced for optimized personalized radiation therapy. Topics of each of these projects are presented here.

Conclusion

RadioTransNet project has been launched in 2018, supported by INCa, in order to structure and promote preclinical research in oncology radiotherapy and to favor collaboration between the actors of this research. INCa relied on RadioTransNet initiatives and activities, resulting in the opening of dedicated call for projects. Beyond its first main goals, RadioTransNet network is able to help to fund the human and technical resources necessary to conduct optimal translational and preclinical research in radiation oncology.