The University Hospital

Dr. rer. nat. Michael Orth

Dr. rer. nat. Michael Orth

Principal Investigator

Molecular Radiation Oncology

Contact

Phone number: Office: +49 7071 29-82183

E-mail address: michael.orth@med.uni-tuebingen.de

Clinic / Institute / Center

  • The scientific interest of our research group is represented by preclinical radiation oncology and radiation biology with special focus on targeted therapies and biomarker development

  • Preclinical evaluation of targeted therapy concepts ("targeted drugs") for sensitizing purposes when combined with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapies
  • Identification and characterization of biomarkers for the response of malignant tumors towards radiotherapy and radiochemotherapy
  • Image-guided irradiation of preclinical animal models of malignant diseases
  • Inhibition of Mitogen-Activated Protein Protein Kinase 4 (MAP2K4/MKK4) for targeted radio-/chemosensitization of solid tumors
  • Inhibition of the proto-oncogenic GTPase RAS/KRAS for targeted radio-/chemosensitization of solid tumors
  • Role of peptidyl-arginine-deaminases (PADIs) in responsiveness to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapies by solid tumors
  • 2023 - now
    Principal Investigator in the Department of Radiation Oncology of the Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen
  • 2011 - 2023
    Posatdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Radiation Oncology of the Ludwig-Maximilians University (LMU) Munich
  • 2010 - 2011
    Postdoctoral Fellow at the university of Bayreuth (Germany)
  • 2005 - 2010
    Doctoral thesis at the Max-Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Martinsried and at the University of Bayreuth (both Germany)
  • 1999 - 2004
    Study of Biology at the Ruprecht-Karls University of Heidelberg (Germany)
  • 1996 - 1999
    Apprenticeship for Biological Lab Assistant, BASF SE, Ludwigshafen at the Rhine (Germany)
  • Auernhammer CJ, Zitzmann K, Lindner S, Ilhan H, Bartenstein P, Maccio U, Orth M, Peischer L, Maurer J, Spöttl G, Wang K, Spitzweg C, Fischer A, Hantel C, Grossmann A, Beuschlein F, Pacak K, Nölting S: Upregulation of SSTR2 expression and radioligand binding of [18F] SiTATE in neuroendocrine tumour cells with combined inhibition of class I HDACs and LSD1. Neuroendocrinology (2025); 115: 618-631.
  • Nieto AE, Fleischmann DF, Unger K, Albrecht V, Maas J, Zitzelsberger H, Belka C, Proescholdt M, Lauber K, Niyazi M, Orth M: Targeting VEGF-A in an immunocompetent orthotopic mouse model of mesenchymal glioblastoma improves anti-tumorigenicity and decreases proinflammatory response in normal brain tissue after fractionated radiotherapy. Advanced Therapeutics (2025); 8: 2400374.
  • Clasen K, Ballin L, Schütz L, Bonzheim I, Kelemen O, Orth M, Gani C, Rieß O, Ossowski S, Niyazi M, Schroeder C: Tumor sequencing before and after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy: Genetic tumor characterization in locally advanced rectal cancer and clinical outcome. Clinical and Translational Radiation Oncology (2024); 50: 100894.
  • Clasen K, Gani C, Schuetz L, Clasen S, Ballin N, Bonzheim I, Orth M, Ossowski S, Riess O, Niyazi M, Schroeder C, Kelemen O: Dynamics of cell-free tumor DNA correlate with early MRI response during chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer. Radiation Oncology (2024); 19: 153.
  • Gold L, Barci E, Brendel M, Orth M, Cheng J, Kirchleitner SV, Bartos LM, Pötter D, Kirchner MA, Unterrainer LM, Kaiser L, Ziegler S, Weidner L, Riemenschneider J, Unterrainer M, Belka C, Tonn JC, Bartenstein P, Niyazi M, von Baumgarten L, Kälin RE, Glass R, Lauber K, Albert NL, Holzgreve A: Impact of inoculation-driven immune response on PET imaging in experimental orthotopic glioblastoma. Biomedicines (2024); 12(1): 188.
  • Schnöller LE, Piehlmaier D, Weber P, Brix N, Fleischmann DF, Nieto AE, Selmansberger M, Heider T, Hess J, Niyazi M, Belka C, Lauber K, Unger K, Orth M: Systematic in vitro analysis of therapy resistance in glioblastoma cell lines by integration of clonogenic survival data with multi-level molecular data. Radiation Oncology (2023); 18(1): 51.
  • Holzgreve A, Pötter D, Brendel M, Orth M, Weidner L, Gold L, Kirchner MA, Bartos LM, Unterrainer LM, Unterrainer M, Steiger K, von Baumgarten L, Niyazi KM, Belka C, Bartenstein P, Riemenschneider MJ, Lauber K, Albert NL: Longitudinal 18F-GE-180 PET imaging facilitates in vivo monitoring of TSPO expression in the GL261 glioblastoma mouse model. Biomedicines (2022); 10(4): 738.
  • Schnöller LE, Albrecht V, Brix N, Nieto AE, Fleischmann DF, Niyazi M, Hess J, Belka C, Unger K, Lauber K, Orth M: Integrative analysis of therapy resistance and transcriptomic profiling data in glioblastoma cells identifies sensitization vulnerabilities for combined modality radiochemotherapy. Radiation Oncology (2022); 17(1): 79.
  • Schoetz U, Klein D, Hess J, Shnaiyen S, Spoerl S, Orth M, Mutlu S, Hennel R, Sieber A, Ganswindt U, Luka B, Thomsen A, Unger K, Jendrossek V, Zitzelsberger H, Blüthgen N, Belka C, Unkel S, Klinger B, Lauber K: Early senescence and production of senescence-associated cytokines are major determinants of radioresistance in head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cell Death & Disease (2021); 12(12): 1162.
  • Kirchner MA, Holzgreve A, Brendel M, Orth M, Ruf VC, Steiger K, Pötter D, Gold L, Unterrainer M, Mittlmeier LM, Barci E, Kaelin RE, Glass R, Lindner S, Maas J, von Baumgarten L, Ilhan H, Belka C, Notni J, Bartenstein P, Lauber K, Albert NL: PSMA PET imaging in glioblastoma: A preclinical evaluation and theranostic outlook. Frontiers in Oncology (2021); 11: 774017.
  • Mahajan UM, Li Q, Alnatsha A, Maas J, Orth M, Maier SH, Peterhansl J, Regel I, Sendler M, Wagh PR, Mishra N, Xue Y, Allawadhi P, Beyer G, Kühn JP, Marshall T, Appel B, Lämmerhirt F, Belka C, Müller S, Weiss FU, Lauber K, Lerch MM, Mayerle J: Tumor-specific delivery of 5-Fluorouracil-incorporated epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted aptamers as an efficient treatment in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma models. Gastroenterology (2021); 161(3): 996-1010.
  • Vounotrypidis E, Hillenmayer A, Wertheimer CM, Athanasiou A, Siedlecki J, Orth M, Ohlmann A, Priglinger SG, Wolf A: In vitro evaluation of simulated stereotactic radiotherapy for wet age-related macular degeneration on three different cell lines. Scientific Reports (2021); 11(1): 8068.
  • Orth M, Albrecht V, Seidl K, Kinzel L, Unger K, Hess J, Kreutzer L, Sun N, Stegen B, Nieto A, Maas J, Winssinger N, Friedl AA, Walch AK, Belka C, Zitzelsberger H, Niyazi, M, Lauber K: Inhibition of HSP90 as a strategy to radiosensitize glioblastoma: Targeting the DNA damage response and beyond. Frontiers in Oncology (2021); 11: 612354.
  • Stegen B, Nieto A, Albrecht V, Maas J, Orth M, Neumaier K, Reinhardt S, Weick-Kleemann M, Goetz M, Parodi K, Belka C, Niyazi M, Lauber K: Contrast-enhanced, CT-based fractionated radiotherapy and therapy monitoring of orthotopic mouse glioblastoma: A proof-of-concept study. Radiation Oncology (2020); 15(1): 19.
  • Gennen K, Käsmann L, Taugner J, Eze C, Karin M, Roengvoraphoj O, Neumann J, Tufman A, Orth M, Reu S, Belka C, Manapov F: Prognostic value of PD-L1 expression on tumor cells combined with CD8+ TIL density in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Radiation Oncology (2020); 15(1): 5.
  • Orth M, Metzger P, Gerum S, Mayerle J, Schneider G, Belka C, Schnurr M, Lauber K: Adenokarzinom des Pankreas: Biologische Merkmale, Stand der Dinge und Ausblick auf multimodale Behandlungsansätze der Zukunft. Karger Kompass Onkologie (2019); 6(4): 196-208.
  • Fankhauser M, Bechmann N, Lauseker M, Klink B, William D, Gieldon L, Maurer J, Spöttl G, Rank, P, Knösel T, Orth M, Ziegler CG, Aristizabal Prada ET, Rubinstein G, Fassnacht M, Spitzweg C, Grossmann A, Pacak K, Beuschlein F, Bornstein SR, Eisenhofer G, Auernhammer CJ, Reincke M, Nölting S: Synergistic highly potent targeted drug combinations in different pheochromocytoma models including human tumor cultures. Endocrinology (2019); 160(11): 2600-17.
  • Orth M, Metzger P, Gerum S, Mayerle J, Schneider G, Belka C, Schnurr M, Lauber K: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Biological hallmarks, current status, and future perspectives of combined modality treatment approaches. Radiation Oncology (2019); 14(1): 141.
  • Jin XF, Auernhammer CJ, Ilhan H, Lindner S, Nölting S, Maurer J, Spöttl G, Orth M: Combination of 5-Fluorouracil with epigenetic modifiers induces radiosensitization, somatostatin receptor 2 expression, and radioligand binding in neuroendocrine tumor cells in vitro. Journal of Nuclear Medicine (2019); 60(9): 1240-6.
  • Krombach J, Hennel R, Brix N, Orth M, Schoetz U, Ernst A, Schuster J, Zuchtriegel G, Reichel C, Bierschenk S, Sperandio M, Vogl T, Unkel S, Belka C, Lauber K: Priming anti-tumor immunity by radiotherapy: Dying tumor cell-derived DAMPs trigger endothelial cell activation and recruitment of myeloid cells. Oncoimmunology (2019); 8(1): e1523097.
  • Orth M, Unger K, Schoetz U, Belka C, Lauber K: Taxane-mediated radiosensitization derives from chromosomal mis-segregation on tripolar mitotic spindles orchestrated by AURKA and TPX2. Oncogene (2018); 37(1): 52-62.
  • Aristizabal Prada ET, Weis C, Orth M, Lauseker M, Spöttl G, Maurer J, Grossman A, Auernhammer CJ, Nölting S: GSK3: a novel therapeutic target for neuroendocrine tumors? Neuroendocrinology (2018); 106(4): 335-51.
  • Aristizabal Prada ET, Orth M, Nölting S, Spöttl G, Maurer J, Auernhammer CJ: The MTH1 inhibitor TH588 demonstrates anti-tumoral effects alone and in combination with everolimus, 5-Fluorouracil and gamma-irradiation in neuroendocrine tumor cells. PLoS ONE (2017); 12(5): e0178375.
  • Hess J, Unger K, Orth M, Schoetz U, Schüttrumpf L, Zangen V, Gimenez-Aznar I, Michna A, Schneider L, Stamp R, Selmansberger M, Braselmann H, Hieber L, Drexler GA, Kuger S, Klein D, Jendrossek V, Friedl AA, Belka C, Zitzelsberger H, Lauber K: Genomic amplification of Fanconi anemia complementation group A in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Cellular mechanisms of radioresistance and clinical relevance. Cancer Letters (2017); 386 (1): 87-99.
  • Hocke S, Guo Y, Job A, Orth M, Ziesch A, Lauber K, De Toni EN, Gress TM, Herbst A, Göke B, Gallmeier E: A synthetic lethal screen identifies ATR-inhibition as a novel therapeutic approach for POLD1-deficient cancers. Oncotarget (2016); 7(6): 7080-95.
  • Kinzel L, Ernst A, Orth M, Albrecht V, Hennel R, Brix N, Frey B, Gaipl US, Zuchtriegel G, Reichel CA, Blutke A, Schilling D, Multhoff G, Li M, Niyazi M, Friedl AA, Winssinger N, Belka C, Lauber K: A novel HSP90 inhibitor with reduced hepatoxicity synergizes with radiotherapy to induce apoptosis, abrogate clonogenic survival and improve tumor control in models of colorectal cancer. Oncotarget (2016); 7(28): 43199-219.
  • Ernst A, Anders H, Kapfhammer H, Orth M, Hennel R, Seidl K, Winssinger N, Belka C, Unkel S, Lauber K: HSP90 inhibition as a means of radiosensitizing highly resistant, aggressive soft tissue sarcomas. Cancer Letters (2015); 365(2): 211-22.
  • Orth M, Lauber K, Niyazi M, Friedl AA, Li M, Maihöfer C, Schüttrumpf L, Ernst A, Niemöller O, Belka C: Current concepts in clinical radiation oncology. Radiation & Environmental Biophysics (2014); 53(1): 1-29.
  • Lauber K, Ernst A, Orth M, Herrmann M, Belka C: Dying cell clearance and its impact on the outcome of tumor radiotherapy. Frontiers in Oncology (2012); 2: e116.
  • Franz A, Orth M, Pirson PA, Sonneville R, Blow J, Gartner A, Stemmann O, Hoppe T: CDC48/p97 coordinates CDT-1 degradation with GINS chromatin association to ensure faithful DNA replication. Molecular Cell (2011); 44(1): 85-96.
  • Orth M, Mayer B, Rehm K, Rothweiler U, Heidmann D, Holak TA, Stemmann O: Shugoshin is a Mad1/Cdc20-like interactor of Mad2. EMBO Journal (2011); 30(14): 2868-80.
  • Rothweiler U, Czarna A, Weber L, Popowicz GM, Brongel K, Kowalska K, Orth M, Stemmann O, Holak T: NMR screening for lead compounds using tryptophan-mutated proteins. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (2008); 51(16): 5035-42.
  • Publications
  • Modul E2 - Medizintechnik "Grundlagen der Strahlentherapie"
  • Modul BM7 - M.Sc. Strahlenwissenschaften "Tumor- und Strahlenbiologie"
  • Modul BM12 - Molekulare Medizin "Klinische Strahlenbiologie"
  • Wahlpflichtmodul - Molekulare Medizin "Strahlenbiologie & Strahlenschutz"