Integration of Molecular and Psychiatric Biomarkers in Personalized Diagnosis and Therapeutic Monitoring of Colorectal Cancer

HR  EN   

Project acronym: IMPACT-CRC

Project number: 581-UNIOS-85

Principal investigator: Jasenka Wagner Kostadinović, MSc, PhD, Full Professor
Funding source: European Union – NextGeneration EU
Project duration: 1 October 2025. to 30 September 2029.
Budget: 109.980,00 EUR

Project summary:

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with treatment outcomes largely depending on timely disease detection and precise monitoring of therapeutic response. Conventional diagnostic methods are often invasive, limited in sensitivity, and do not provide insight into the molecular changes that accompany disease progression or response to therapy. Therefore, there is a pronounced need for the development of new, non-invasive, and precise molecular approaches for the early diagnosis and monitoring of CRC treatment.

The aim of this project is to develop and validate an integrated molecular framework that combines miRNA profiling and analysis of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from blood plasma samples (“liquid biopsy”) of patients with colorectal cancer. Through this research, we will identify both specific biopsychological markers and molecular signatures associated with early stages of the disease and therapeutic response, with a particular focus on genetic alterations detected in cfDNA and deregulated miRNA molecules relevant to tumorigenesis and therapy resistance.

The project involves a multidisciplinary approach integrating expertise from gastroenterology, pathology, molecular biology, bioinformatics, oncology, and psychiatry. The obtained results will enable the identification of biomarkers for non-invasive monitoring of patients during therapy, thereby opening opportunities for a personalized treatment approach and early detection of disease recurrence. In the long term, the project’s outcomes could improve standards of care for patients with CRC and promote the implementation of precision medicine in oncology.