Winner of university hospital research in health (RHU) in 2023, the Bioface project led by Professor Agnès Dupret-Bories, ENT and head and neck surgeon at Toulouse University Hospital, was selected by the National Research Agency ( ANR). This program aims to develop biomaterials for facial reconstruction in oncology.
Head and neck cancers are the 5es most common cancers in Europe and in a quarter of cases, they concern the oral cavity. For these patients, the standard treatment is major surgery which consists of largely removing the cancer and which is frequently accompanied by bone removal. “Currently facial reconstruction is done by bone harvesting from a donor site of the same patient, most often the fibula, explains Professor Agnès Dupret-Bories. Unfortunately this technique, which requires a surgical intervention lasting 8 to 10 hours, followed by radiotherapy, causes complications in one in two patients. »
The hope of biomaterials
In 30% of cases, these are severe complications, notably hemorrhagic infections and graft rejections. And 10% of patients, who are too old or suffering from associated pathologies, are not even eligible for reconstruction. “Thanks to the synergy of several custom-made and 3D printed biomaterials, Bioface could radically change the treatment of these patients,” advances the specialist.
This program with a total budget of 13.4 million euros, selected by the ANR as RHU within the framework of France 2030, benefits from state funding of 4.3 million euros.
It brings together, alongside the Toulouse University Hospital, a consortium* of industrialists, academic laboratories, a patient association and is based on the combination of several innovative implant design technologies.
Manufacturers are working on the design of a bioceramic bone substitute and a titanium support implant, adapted to the patient’s morphology. An albumin membrane, a 100% natural and pro-healing material, will then promote vascularization and tissue regeneration, then an antimicrobial spray, applied to the implants, will help prevent infections.
Understanding the prevalence of these cancers
“The project which began in June 2024 will continue for five years; and our goal, ultimately, is to avoid bone harvesting in patients”indicates the surgeon. From January 2025, medico-economic studies will also be carried out in nine partner centers, with 200 patients operated on with current technologies. Objective ? Measure the cost and failure rate of the current technique. In 2028, preclinical trials will be conducted on dogs and cats, which are also frequently affected by cancers of the oral cavity, in order to reduce the use of laboratory models.
“All these steps will also allow us to better understand the prevalence of these cancers which have increased significantly in a decade: +72% in women over 70, including in subjects who were not exposed to alcohol. nor cigarettes »specifies Professor Dupret-Bories.
Finally, it is in 2029 that the first phase of implantation testing of the future device designed in biomaterials is announced. It will be carried out on twelve patients, six requiring reconstruction of the mandibles and six others of the maxillae.
*Le consortium Bioface : CHU de Toulouse, Materialise, Cerhum, Spartha Medical, Biomaterials and Bioengineering (Inserm), INPT Cirimat, OCRvet, Corasso
