iFIT Seminar Series 2025 with Prof. Dr. Christoph Plass
Enhancer-hijacking in acute myeloid leukemia and the impact on non-genetic therapy resistance
On behalf of the iFIT spokespersons Lars Zender, Juliane Walz and Bernd Pichler, it is our pleasure to inform you about and invite you to the next episode of our iFIT Seminar Series 2025 that will take place
on Monday, July 7th at 12:00 pm (CEST)
at Big Lecture Hall in the Medical Clinic (Medizinische Klinik, Otfried-Müller-Straße 10 , 72076 Tübingen).
Our guest speaker, Prof. Dr. Christoph Plass (German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg) will give a talk on
“Enhancer-hijacking in acute myeloid leukemia and the impact on non-genetic therapy resistance”.
Recurrent DNA losses in cancer genomes often overlap with the location of a tumor suppressor (TS) gene. Following Knudson’s two-hit hypothesis, a second genetic event on the non-rearranged allele identified these TS genes. However, monoallelic loss frequently occurs without a second genetic event, leading to gene haploinsufficiency. Our own preliminary data in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) suggest that genomic rearrangements mediate haploinsufficiency of epigenome regulators (EpiRs), in addition to the activation of previously unknown oncogenes. EpiRs are capable of directly or indirectly remodeling global epigenetic patterns, and include epigenetic enzymes as well as transcription factors. Oncogenes and haploinsufficient EpiRs could synergistically drive tumorigenesis through global gene expression changes mediated by global epigenomic rearrangements. In our group we hypothesize that EpiR haploinsufficiency leads to single-cell epigenomic heterogeneity that, combined with oncogene activation, confers an adaptive selection advantage during leukemic growth and in response to therapy. I will present data from our AML studies, which supports this view and could have a broad impact on elucidating previously unknown oncogenic pathways, understanding epigenomic intratumoural heterogeneity and providing molecular explanations for non-genetic therapy resistance.
As a special feature of this program, iFIT will sponsor free lunch packages! (First come, first serve)
All members of the University Hospital and University of Tübingen are invited to participate!
We look forward to this Seminar Series session and to see you there!
