Cancer Genome Research
- Functional and Structural Genomics
Prof. Dr. Holger Sültmann
Head of Division
The evolution of tumors is accompanied by molecular alterations on genomic, epigenomic, and gene expression levels. The aims of our research are to identify these molecular changes, to translate them into the diagnosis, prognosis and prediction of cancer at therapy response, and to understand their roles in the formation and progression of tumors.
Image: Research content Division Cancer Genome Research at DKFZ, © DKFZ, Abteilung Krebsgenomforschung
Projects
Liquid Biopsy for noninvasive tumor monitoring
Molecular tumor profiling is crucial for clinical practice, as the genomic composition of a tumor considerably influences its response to therapy. Typically, histopathological analysis of tissue samples is performed to determine the molecular properties of a tumor. However, tissue biopsies are invasive, may not accurately reflect tumor heterogeneity and provide little information about metastases.
Liquid biopsy analysis, in contrast to tissue biopsy, utilizes tumor-derived nucleic acids, proteins, or other molecules detected in body fluids, such as blood or urine. Sampling of such fluids is part of routine medical practice in certain cancers and is minimally invasive, with little risk for the patient. Furthermore, tumor material in a liquid biopsy sample may originate not only from the primary tumor but also from metastases, providing valuable insights into tumor heterogeneity.
We focus on the application of liquid biopsy to:
- identify new genomic biomarkers to monitor metastatic breast cancer (SATURN3)
- analyze epigenomic (DNA methylation) and genomic alterations (single nucleotide variants and copy number variants) to detect minimal residual disease and therapy resistance
- trace clonal compositional changes in cancer patients using molecular alterations in longitudinal blood samples
- predict therapy response and outcome by fragmentomic analysis of cell-free DNA
Further resources:
Tracking tumors through blood samples: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpGLAdQBCdk
Methods for ctDNA detection and analysis: https://youtu.be/pwK1BTlQl6w
Cooperations:
- Dept. Thoracic oncology, Thoraxklinik Heidelberg
- Dept. Gynecological Oncology, NCT Heidelberg
- Dept. Molecular Genetics, DKFZ Heidelberg
- Multiparametric methods for early detection of prostate cancer, DKFZ and Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg
- Dept. Radio oncology, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg
- Institute of Pathology, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg
- Klinik für Hämatologie und Onkologie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck
Support: German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) in the funding programs German Centers for Lung Research (DZL), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), OUTLIVE-CRC, and SATURN3
Team
The employees in the division have experience in molecular and cell biology, medicine, or AI-supported data analysis. Our goal is to investigate therapy resistance and translate molecular markers into clinical diagnostics.
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Prof. Dr. Holger Sültmann
Head of Division
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Dr. Isabell Berneburg
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Priv. Doz. Dr. Petros Christopoulos
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Michela De Meo
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Simay Dolaner
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Sabrina Gerhardt
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Dr. Kate Glennon
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Myesha Jahin
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Dr. Florian Janke
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Priv. Doz. Dr. Sabine Klauck
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Dr. Astrid Laut
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Simon John Ogrodnik
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Luca Sebastian Schulte
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Dr. Rebecca Schunk
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Dr. Andrey Turchinovich
Funding and Collaboration
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