Press Releases
The socio-economic consequences of cancer - an underestimated problem
Many cancer patients suffer not only from health problems, but experience loss of income and out-of-pocket expenditures for medical services. This is true even in European countries with high incomes and comprehensive health insurance systems. This problem has been largely underestimated in the past and little systematic research has been carried out. The Organization of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) is now presenting consensus recommendations to guide future research into the socio-economic consequences of cancer.
Machine learning classifier accelerates the development of cellular immunotherapies
Making a personalised T cell therapy for cancer patients currently takes at least six months; scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the University Medical Center Mannheim have shown that the laborious first step of identifying tumor-reactive T cell receptors for patients can be replaced with a machine learning classifier that halves this time.
AI-supported image analysis: metrics determine quality
How well do the algorithms used in the AI-supported analysis of medical images perform their respective tasks? This depends to a large extent on the metrics used to evaluate their performance. An international consortium led by scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) in Heidelberg has compiled the knowledge available worldwide on the specific strengths, weaknesses and limitations of the various validation metrics. With "Metrics Reloaded", the researchers are now providing a widely available online tool that supports users in selecting the most suitable algorithm for their task.
Next generation models for brain tumor research
"GLO", glioblastoma-like organoids grown in the laboratory from human stem cells, are a suitable model for investigating the correlation between genetic mutations and molecular subtypes in glioblastoma. This was published by scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). When investigating the GLOs, they discovered that glioblastoma development is characterised by a reprogrammed lipid metabolism. This could be the starting point for developing new drugs.
The unexpected long-term consequences of female fertility
The constant remodeling of the organs of the female reproductive tract during the reproductive cycle leads to fibrosis and chronic inflammation over the years. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now uncovered these unexpected long-term consequences of female reproductive function in mice. The results have been published in the scientific journal CELL.
Epigenetic status determines metastasis
Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Medical Faculty Mannheim of the Heidelberg University investigated in mice how spreading tumor cells behave at the site of metastasis: Some tumor cells immediately start to form metastases. Others leave the blood vessel and may then enter a long period of dormancy. What determines which path the cancer cells take is their epigenetic status. This was also confirmed in experiments with human tumor cells. The results of the study could pave the way for novel diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Precursor of Cholesterol Protects Cancer Cells From Cell Death and Makes them Aggressive
A precursor of cholesterol can protect cancer cells from a form of cell death known as ferroptosis. Scientists of the University of Würzburg, the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), and the Stem Cell Institute HI-STEM* published this finding in the journal Nature. The results opens up exciting prospects for further improving the treatment of cancer and other diseases associated with oxidative stress and ferroptosis.
Indicator for liver health status identified
A high-fat, high-sugar diet damages the liver in the long term. Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now identified a characteristic change in the molecular signaling pathways of liver cells in mice that were exposed to such a diet for weeks. It fuels the division activity of hepatocytes and correlates with the risk of patients suffering liver failure after liver surgery
AI-based support system for skin cancer diagnostics explains its decisions
Artificial intelligence (AI) can help dermatologists to detect skin cancer. However, many dermatologists distrust the algorithms' decisions, which they cannot comprehend. Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center have now developed an AI-based support system for skin cancer diagnostics that explains its decisions. The system uses established diagnostic features that relate to specific areas of suspicious lesions. The explanations increased doctors' confidence in the machine's decisions - as well as in their own diagnoses.
Brain tumors in children: Cancer cells become less aggressive as they migrate within the tumor
Certain brain tumors in small children contain cells that develop very similarly to normal brain cells and others that have already developed malignantly, depending on where they are located within the tumor. By analyzing individual cells, a team of researchers from the Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD) were able to characterize the genetic programs of the individual cells in detail and identify their developmental pathway within the tumor.
The "Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg" (KiTZ) is a joint institution of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD) and Heidelberg University (Uni HD).