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YODA Project
Identify and assess environmental risk factors associated with the increase in digestive cancers among young people.
Principal Investigators:
Dr. Alice Boilève
Dr. Cristina Smolenschi
The Program
There has been an alarming increase in the incidence of gastrointestinal cancers among young adults (patients aged 20 to 49). The vast majority of these patients are diagnosed at a metastatic stage and have a shorter survival time, since current screening guidelines are geared toward older individuals. Unlike older populations, for whom we know that obesity, physical inactivity, diet, and addictive behaviors play a role in the development of gastrointestinal cancers, we have very little data on the environmental factors involved in the development of gastrointestinal cancers in young adults. Given these alarming figures, it is urgent to identify the underlying causes.
Key Objectives
“YODA”* aims to generate knowledge about the genetic or environmental risk factors underlying the development and progression of gastrointestinal cancers in young adults. To achieve this, a European cohort of patients with early-onset gastrointestinal cancers (patients aged 20 to 49) “YODA”* and a comparison cohort of patients with digestive cancers (patients aged 65 to 70) “AODA”** will be established.
1/ Measure the impact of environmental pollution (exposure to pollutants: air, water, soil, pesticides, microplastics, etc.)
Characterize exposure to environmental factors to understand their impact on the development and progression of the disease.
2/ Assess the impact of nutrition and quality of life
Collect and evaluate clinical data related to nutrition, physical activity, and quality of life to measure their impact on the disease.
3/ Elucidate molecular signatures using multi-omic*** approaches (highly advanced biotechnological analyses) integrated with artificial intelligence
Generate a clinomic signature that captures the complex interactions between clinical, molecular, environmental, and nutritional factors. The results of this study will provide invaluable insights into the etiology, progression, and treatment response in young adults, ultimately guiding the development of precision medicine approaches.
4 / Propose a prevention plan for early-onset gastrointestinal cancers
Identifying risk factors could help raise awareness and lead to the development of screening programs for young people.
Good to Know
YODA is the first prospective study dedicated to investigating environmental factors in gastrointestinal cancers.
Benefits for patients
Understanding the risk factors involved in the development of digestive cancers in young adults enables us to address these risky behaviors and reduce their incidence.
Data from YODA could also accelerate the development of public policies related to the environment and prevention among young adults.
The experts at work
Principal Investigator: Dr. Alice Boileve
As the principal investigator of the YODA project, Dr. Alice Boileve earned her medical degree in 2021 and completed her Ph.D. at the Inserm Research Unit 1279 “Tumor Cell Dynamics,” led by Dr. Fanny Jaulin, a research director at Gustave Roussy. Her doctoral research aims to elucidate the mechanisms of pancreatic cancer invasion. A medical oncologist specializing in gastrointestinal cancers, she also holds a degree in biology from the École Normale Supérieure. She will be supported by European experts in environmental toxicology as well as in genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and the microbiome to conduct an in-depth study of the complex interplay of factors contributing to the development and progression of gastrointestinal cancers in young adults.
Requirements
Analyses:
| Unit cost | No. of patients | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microbiome tests | 500 € | 2,000 | 1,000,000 € |
| Genomic analyses | 300 € | 1,000 | €300,000 |
| Transcriptomic analyses | 300 € | 2,000 | 600,000 € |
| Metabolomic analyses | 500 € | 2,000 | €1,000,000 |
| Environmental toxicological analyses | 600 € | 2,000 | €1,200,000 |
| Creation of the patient organoid cohort | 2,000 € | 75 | €150,000 |
| Artificial Intelligence Program | €100 | 1,000 | 100,000 € |
| Clinical Monitoring by Clinical Research Associates | 500 € | 1,000 | 500,000 € |
| Blood tests | 100 € | 2,000 | 200,000 € |
| Data storage | 200 € | 2,000 | €400,000 |
Incidental expenses:
| Questionnaires | €100,000 |
| Medical-economic study | €300,000 |
| Regulatory aspects | €300,000 |
Total cost: 6.15 M€
Key Figures - Projections
Gastrointestinal cancers account for nearly one-third of all cancer deaths, or approximately 600,000 deaths out of more than 1.6 million cancer deaths (Europe, 2018).
It is estimated that by 2030, 11% of colon cancers and 23% of rectal cancers will occur in patients under the age of 50, and that gastrointestinal cancers will become the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality.
For the population with early-onset cancer, projections indicate that global incidence and mortality rates will increase by 31% and 21%, respectively, by 2030, and that a large portion of this increase will be attributable to gastrointestinal cancers.
* Young-Onset Digestive
Adenocarcinoma** Adult-Onset Digestive
Adenocarcinoma*** Multioomics is a field of biotechnology that combines the latest advances and analyses from the research fields of genomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics.