Experimental Neurooncology
Our group is interested in clinically relevant, but also basic questions in cancer research, focussing on mechanisms of tumor growth in the brain, and how the nervous system stimulates it in the brain and beyond. An overarching topic of our research is "Cancer Neuroscience", a rapidly evolving field of research.
Our research
Our work focuses on the Cancer Neuroscience of primary and secondary brain tumors, as well as tumors that grow outside of the brain. To optimally study (brain) tumor initiation and progression, we have refined animal models using in vivo two-photon microscopy in our DKFZ lab to study brain cancer cell populations and their dynamic behavior over many months, including their cellular components, gene expression, blood vessels, glia cells, neurons, intercellular communications, and important physiological and therapeutical parameters. This unique approach makes it possible to investigate dynamic interactions of cells, associated molecular alterations, and the key mechanisms of tumor progression and resistance in a live organism over long periods of time in high resolution. Moreover, with the addition of novel optogenetic tools, we can now study how interactions with the complex multicellular system that makes a tumor influence key factors of (brain) tumor biology. Most relevant findings include the discovery of communicating tumor cell networks; hijacking of neurodevelopmental pathways for glioma progression; and key steps of brain metastasis formation. All in all, by combing these unprecedented insights into brain tumor biology and resistance with patient data and state-of-the-art molecular diagnostics, we aim to provide a framework for a better understanding of the central traits of malignancy of these challenging diseases, with the ultimate aim to develop novel therapeutic concepts.
Social media: winklerlab.bsky.social (BlueSky)