About EpiFlaMe P08:
In P08, we hypothesize that inflammatory stimuli, including infection with pro-tumorigenic bacteria such as F. nucleatum, induce an epigenetically encoded, colon-specific inflammatory memory within the intestinal epithelium. While this memory enhances tissue readiness to respond to future insults, it also increases colon cancer development arising from memory-experienced intestinal stem cells harboring CRC driver mutations.

Using advanced composite organoid and mouse models, this study aims to identify key epigenetic factors and mechanisms that mediate inflammatory memory in intestinal epithelial cells and will test whether targeting these epigenetic factors in imprinted intestinal epithelial cells can impede oncogenic transformation and colon cancer progression.

In summary, P08 will provide a comprehensive and mechanistic investigation of how epigenetic reprogramming and inflammatory memory are regulated in intestinal epithelial cells. P08 aims to identify memory signatures that are specific to the colon or shared with other organs and to associate them with colorectal cancer. Our research has significant translational potential and will provide therapeutic opportunities by manipulating epigenetic regulators of inflammatory memory, thereby laying the foundation for novel cancer therapies.

Keywords: Cancer, Immunology, inflammation, infection