Prevention and Liquid Biopsies

Liquid biopsies - progress in personalized medicine

We use liquid biopsies to improve molecular diagnostics, therapy decisions and disease monitoring. These make it possible to analyze genetic information of the tumor from plasma or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) - a gentle alternative to traditional tissue biopsies. Dr. Kendra Maaß's working group is also based at the KiTZ .

Following the optimization of analysis procedures and bioinformatic tools, we are working together with partners, including the GPOH and SIOP-E, on the introduction of uniform liquid biopsy standards in paediatric oncology. Clinical implementation is taking place in ongoing studies such as INFORM2, LOGGIC, PersoMed-1 and SIOP EPN II as well as diagnostic programs such as INFORM, MSP2.0 and LIQUIFY.

A particular focus is on the molecular profiling of tumors. Together with the Thomas Grünewald and Ana Banito groups, we are developing the MSP2.0 platform, an innovative diagnostic tool for soft tissue sarcomas.

We are also researching cancer predisposition syndromes, i.e. genetic factors that increase the risk of cancer. Our work includes:

• Patient counseling and genetic diagnostics within international consortia (AACR, SIOP, GPOH)
• Predisposition sequencing as part of the population-based CPS-GCCR study (funded by the German Childhood Cancer Foundation)
• Early detection using liquid biopsies in the ADDRESS project (funded by the BMBF)

Our goal: Innovative molecular procedures to detect childhood cancers earlier, diagnose them more precisely and treat them more specifically.