Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Wick

The clinically oriented research focuses on developement of diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers in anaplastic glioma and glioblastoma. This research is done in collaboration with the Epigenetics group at the DKFZ, funded by the Ministry of Health and Technology (BMBF) and building on two larger randomized trials, which have been coordinated from the clinical neurooncology unit. A second focus is on unravelling the molecular mechanisms of several targeted therapies in glioblastoma, like the protein kinase C beta inhibitor, enzastaurin, the mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor, temsirolimus and the soluble CD95, APG101 plus the understanding of the interaction between these therapies and radiation. In an long going effeort, the group is aiming at developing normal hematopoietic stem cells into therapeutic vehicles. The challenges and interactions here are the molecular mechanisms of specific lesions-tropisms as well as the implementation of a safe, clinically useful lentiviral transduction system. With a specific focus on vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 and regulator of G protein signaling 4, the group is also aiming at understanding the fundamental principles of evasive resistance both in the classical antiangiogensis but also in adapted radiation paradigms. At the end, the research in the KKE Neurooncology should focus on problems derived from the clinical Neurooncology Program with a clear aim to translate the results back into the clinic.

Given a new biomarker, which optimally would be sufficient to guide therapy decisions, these marker will be characterized, developed and explored for its potential in other than brain tumor diseases. Currently, one such predictive marker for anaplastic glioma is under research. With a similar approach a study cohort of elderly patients with malignant glioma will be characterized for differential methylation patterns as compared to the standard malignant glioma, allowing to understand the comparably worse prognosis. Form these and also the research on targeted therapies, new molecules and finally points for intervention may be developed. Here, focus is on small molecule screens and compound development. With the start of a new group on multiphoton-microscopy in the KKE, the field of angiogensis and brain metastases will be strengthened. Focus of this group is to understand the mode of action of antiangiogenic approaches in the brain and also the specific properties of cancer cells that successfully establish a brain metastases. Like in other projects, in this group the interaction with the KKE Neuropathology and the Imaging at the Headclinic and the DKFZ will be of utmost importance for the translation to the clinic.