Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. In 2022, the World Health Organization counted about 2.3 million new cases and around 670,000 deaths.
Even though treatments are getting better, some tumors grow very fast and are hard to control. Doctors still lack reliable ways to predict how these aggressive cancers will behave.
What the BRIDGE Project Aims to Do
The new research program called Biomarker Research Integrating Data of Glyco‑Immune Signatures and Clinical Evidence in Breast Cancer (BRIDGE) tries to fill that gap. It looks for biological clues—called biomarkers—that show how a tumor will act in each patient.
Biomarkers are measurable signals found in blood, tissue or other samples. They can tell doctors if a tumor is likely to grow quickly or respond to a certain medicine.
How Tumors Talk to the Immune System
Scientists from the Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB‑NOVA) and the Portuguese Institute of Oncology (IPOFG) are working together. Their focus is the tumor micro‑environment – the mix of cancer cells, immune cells, blood vessels and supporting tissue around a tumor.
They are especially interested in tiny molecules on the surface of cells in this environment. These molecules may help the tumor hide from immune cells, letting the cancer grow unchecked.
From Lab Discoveries to Real‑World Care
"We already know some ways tumors hide from immune cells," says Catarina Brito, leader of the Advanced Cell Models lab at ITQB‑NOVA. "With BRIDGE we will test these ideas with real patient samples and try to turn them into tools doctors can use."
The IPOFG will provide the patient samples and will verify whether the lab findings hold true in clinical practice. This step is essential for turning scientific knowledge into everyday medical tools.
Moving Toward Personalized Treatment
By learning how tumors escape immune attack, researchers hope to create new ways to diagnose and treat breast cancer. New biomarkers could be used to track disease progress, and fresh therapeutic targets may lead to stronger treatments.
The ultimate goal is personalized care—matching each patient with the therapy that works best for their specific tumor.
Funding and Future Plans
The BRIDGE project receives support from the iNOVA4Health Lighthouse Projects 2025 program. Over the next two years, up to €75,000 will fund the work, helping to speed up the move from lab bench to clinic.