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Krebsforschungszentrum

An international research team led by scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the Hopp Children's Tumor Center at the NCT Heidelberg (KiTZ) has identified new genetic alterations and mechanisms that lead to very aggressive types of childhood brain cancer. Their results, which have now been published in the journal Nature, will contribute to developing novel treatment approaches for previously incurable cancer cases and to targeting tumors more specifically.

Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University have discovered a new mechanism that causes faster sprouting of blood vessels. Cells of a specific type called pericytes, which are attached to the outside of fine blood vessels, are involved in this process. If a particular protein molecule is switched off, this leads to the formation of significantly more, albeit immature, vessels, the scientists now report. As a result, the tumor gets supplied better and can grow faster.

During the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to the German Cancer Research Center, they will tour a laboratory and converse with patients.

For his work towards developing a vaccine against brain tumors, Lukas Bunse from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) has received the Young Investigator Award of the 2017 Württemberg Cancer Award. The award comes with a budget of €15,000.

Children with low grade brain cancer usually suffer many years of distress. An international initiative that is coordinated at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the Hopp Children's Tumor Center (KiTZ) at the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg has now been established with the goal of changing this. Research teams from Heidelberg and London aim to gain better understanding of the biology of low grade pediatric brain tumors and to use these findings to develop novel treatment approaches. The British Brain Tumour Charity provides funds of €5.7 million to support the project, which was launched in late June.

How can the individual molecular origins of a disease be used to achieve enhancements in prevention, diagnosis and, above all, therapy? This question is the conference theme of an international meeting on personalized medicine with top-class specialists on July 3-4, 2017, at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg.

Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) are developing a radiopharmaceutical that visualizes prostate cancer in two different ways: Radioactive labeling facilitates detection of a tumor or its metastases in the body. At the same time, a coupled fluorescent dye helps surgeons identify and safely remove cancer tissue during surgery.

Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), in collaboration with colleagues from Heidelberg University Hospital, have been able to visualize brain cancer using a novel MRI method. They use a simple sugar solution instead of conventional contrast agents, which can have side effects in the body.

What promotes the development of bile duct cancer in the liver? Are these factors different from those that are responsible for the much more common hepatocellular carcinomas? Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have been the first to uncover the molecular and cellular causes that selectively lead to the development of bile duct cancer in mice. The researchers also discovered that antioxidants or an inhibitor of a specific key enzyme can be used to stop this cancer-promoting process.

• 13.07.2017, 11:00 Uhr Distinguished Lecturer Seminar Series: Fighting Cancer and Restoring Vision with Photopharmacology