Stem cells are essential for maintaining regenerative tissues and are critical components of repair in response to tissue injury and infection.
Moreover, genetic alterations of stem cells and their progeny can lead to the generation of “cancer stem cells” that drive tumorigenesis, therapy resistance and metastasis in hierarchically organized cancer entities.
Our group explores the principles of normal and diseased stem cell function as well mechanisms of therapy resistance at the molecular, genomic and single cell level.
We also use liquid biopsies in combination with single cell analysis and organoids to analyze breast cancer patients in a longitudinal manner to identify and overcome resistance mechanisms within a personalized and precision oncology program.
Advanced mouse PDX models in combination with patient samples and multidimensional analytical and functional technologies are used to fill the research pipeline from mechanistic understanding to translation into innovative strategies with the aim to target therapy-resistant AML and pancreatic cancer cells in clinical settings.
Stem cells hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and leukemic stem cells (LSCs) cancer stem cells breast and pancreas cancer MYC mechanism of therapy resistance ferroptosis liquid biopsy and Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) precision oncology
