Junior Clinical Cooperation Unit Translational Surgical Oncology

In localized stages, most solid tumors are curable by surgical resection. However, once the disease has spread to distant organs, the tumors are generally considered a systemic disease and are incurable in the majority of cases. Systemic spread is a consequence of tumor cell seeding into the blood stream. Tumor cells in circulation are called circulating tumor cells (CTC), single tumor cells found in distant organs are called disseminated tumor cells (DTC). CTC and DTC are the biological correlate of metastasis and are therefore the main reason for cancer-associated mortality. We are interested in the biological traits of CTC and DTC and the mechanisms enabling these cells to perform the complex process of metastasis. To investigate these mechanisms we use patient samples as well as state-of-the-art preclinical models such as genetically engineered mouse models and 3D organoid culture. In the past we were able to identify differentially regulated surface proteins in CTC which enable these cells to escape the immune system while in circulation. Future goals include the identification of actionable targets on CTC to develop agents which may be used to prevent metastatic spread of solid tumors.