Dr. Sven Diederichs and his team are investigating the molecular mechanisms of the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. The scientists are particularly focusing on so-called non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). These are transcripts of the human genetic material that, unlike the normal genes of the human genome, do not code for proteins. This class of molecules, which represents the vast majority of the human DNA, has not been under close investigation until recently.
Diederich’s group has been focusing on the role that is played by “long non-coding RNAs" (ncRNAs) in the onset of cancer. In a first step, the researchers analyzed the expression of thousands of ncRNAs in various types of tumor including liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma). They identified molecules that differ in the levels of expression found in tumor cells from that in healthy liver tissue. In a next step, the researchers determined the cellular and molecular functions of the deregulated RNA molecules. To this end, they selectively turned off the molecules in the living cells and observed the functions that were lost or added as a result.
In hepatocelluar carcinoma, the researchers studied the interactions of one of these ncRNA with an RNA binding protein. They discovered that both partners not only regulate each other but that they are also important for the survival of liver cancer cells. The scientists observed in various model systems that turning off the ncRNA or its interaction partner led to the demise of tumor cells. Therefore, both molecules are potential new targets in treating hepatocellular carcinoma, which is the most frequent cancer of the liver.
The €10,000 award was presented on September 19, 2004, at the annual conference of the DGVS in Leipzig.