Translational Gastrointestinal Oncology and Preclinical Models

Our work focuses on investigating tumor biology of gastrointestinal cancers - particularly the mechanisms driving resistance to cancer therapies - and translating these insights into clinical practice. We specifically focus on:

• Identification and characterization of genes and signaling pathways impacting response and resistance to chemotherapy and targeted therapies
• Mechanisms of tumor cell adaptation to treatment
• Testing novel therapies and combination approaches (e.g., drugs, radiotherapy) in preclinical studies and analyzing their underlying mechanisms.

To unravel the complex mechanisms of tumor biology and therapy resistance, we employ cutting-edge technologies:

• Organoid models: We use 3D cell cultures derived directly from tumor and normal tissue biopsies from our patients. These organoids retain essential molecular characteristics of the original tumors and serve as precise models for preclinical analysis of therapies.
• High-throughput drug testing: Using our robotics-based platforms, we simultaneously test hundreds of drugs for their effectiveness in organoids.
• Multi-omics approaches: By integrating genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data, we uncover links between molecular changes and therapy responses.
• Single-cell technologies: High-throughput microscopy and single-cell sequencing, combined with co-culture systems involving cells and factors from the tumor microenvironment, provide detailed insights into cell-cell interactions.