Cancer evolves through a stepwise process of cellular reprogramming driven by genetic alterations. During malignant transformation, tumor cells acquire the capability to proliferate, spread, and escape the immune system. Targeted drugs interfere with proteins that drive tumor growth and survival. Immunotherapies can reinstall the clearance of malignant cells. Although these therapies have improved treatment options for patients with gastrointestinal cancer, there is still a need to increase therapy efficacy. Our goal is to identify new vulnerabilities of tumor cells and to exploit them therapeutically. We aim to combine these new treatment strategies with existing drugs or immunotherapy to enhance anti-cancer effects. We do genetic screens, proteomics, and transcriptomics, using cell and mouse models of gastrointestinal cancer. We are particularly interested in identifying novel treatment options for liver cancer.
Novel treatment options for liver cancer
Dr. Verena Wagner
Head of the research group
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Biosketch
Verena Wagner studied medicine at Heidelberg University and did her thesis at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) investigating the use of novel small molecules for the treatment of hematologic malignancies. After graduation, she joined the Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and GI Oncology in Tuebingen. During her postdoctoral fellowship in the group of Jesus Gil at Imperial College London, she investigated vulnerabilities of Ras-driven premalignant and malignant cells. She also worked on drug combinations to utilize senescence for the treatment of cancer. She is now continuing her work as a clinician scientist and group leader at the Department of Gastroenterology and the M3 Research Institute.
identification
of new vulnerabilities of tumor cells
new
treatment strategies in combination with existing drugs or immunotherapy
enhance
anti-cancer effects