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Junior Research Group

Translational Molecular Imaging in Oncologic Therapy Monitoring

  • Imaging and Radiooncology
  • DKFZ Hector Cancer Institute
  • Clinical Cooperation Unit
  • Junior Research Group

Priv. Doz. Dr. Freba Grawe

Group leader

Management of cancer patients can be challenging, especially when it comes to selecting the most suitable treatment that promises the best success with minimal side effects. To monitor treatment success, regular follow-up checks are conducted.

Our Research

Molecular imaging plays a crucial role in this process. Radioactive substances are administered to the patient to visualize biological processes non-invasively using Positron Emission Tomography (PET). The combination of PET with Computed Tomography (PET/CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (PET/MRI) allows us to capture functional and morphological information simultaneously.

Our goal is to harness the capabilities of molecular imaging, especially PET, to translate research results into clinical practice. In our clinical cooperation unit, experts from various disciplines, including nuclear medicine physicians, radiologists, radiopharmacists, and medical physicists work together on the development and establishment of innovative PET tracers using cutting-edge technology such as the long-axial field-of-view PET/CT, PET/MRI, and photon-counting CT to advance personalized oncology. We aim to improve the early detection of cancer and precise prediction of therapy response for our patients. Our work represents a significant step toward precision medicine for oncology patients.

Projects

Figure 1. Study overview of the PRINCIPLE Study. LAFOV-PET/CT: long-axial field-of-view Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography, FU: follow-up examination, PN: pulmonary nodule, LC: lung cancer, PCCT: photon-counting Computed Tomography

The aim of the PRINCIPLE study is to improve the early and precise characterization of pulmonary nodules through innovative, multimodal diagnostics.

State-of-the-art imaging technologies, such as the "long-axial field-of-view Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography" (LAFOV-PET/CT) and Photon-Counting Computed Tomography (PCCT), are combined with innovative molecular genetic analyses from both liquid and tissue biopsies. Artificial intelligence supports the detection of pulmonary nodules, image evaluation, and integration of multimodal examinations to precisely predict the malignancy of pulmonary nodules. The study overview is presented in Figure 1.

Patients with a pulmonary nodule between 6 and 30 mm without known cancer diagnosis in the past five years are eligible to participate in the study after consultation with a pulmonologist.

Fundings and Research Cooperations

The PRINCIPLE study is funded by the Hector Seed Funding 2024.

The PRINCIPLE study is supported by a research cooperation with Optellum.

The EPIC and THE-LUNG studies are funded by the DKFZ Management Board.

Team

5 Employees

  • Priv. Doz. Dr. Freba Grawe

    Group leader

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  • Dr. Anna Hinterberger

    Deputy group leader

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  • Letizia Vella

    MTRA Manager

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  • Sergej Lossew

    MTRA

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  • Marie Feline Prochiner

    Scientific Associate

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Selected Publications

2023 - European Radiology

Grawe F et al.

2023 - Cancer imaging : the official publication of the International Cancer Imaging Society 23(1): p. 41

Grawe F et al.

2023 - European Radiology 33(5): p. 3416-3424

Grawe F et al.

2023 - Cancer imaging : the official publication of the International Cancer Imaging Society

Fabritius MP et al. 

Get in touch with us

Priv. Doz. Dr. Freba Grawe
Group leader
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