In vivo- and in vitro-investigations regarding the impact of hypoxia on ocular tumors (retinoblastoma and melanoma) in correlation to tumor cell motility.

• Applicant: Privatdozentin Dr. Martina Herwig-Carl
• Subject Area: Ophthalmology
• Term: from 2010 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 171971315

Hypoxia is one of the major factors regulating the growth behavior of tumors. However, themetabolic conditions in a tumor as well as in its environment are heterogeneous. In ourstudy, the impact of hypoxia on tumor cell motility shall be investigated with the long-termprospective to develop new therapeutic strategies. In vitro- and in vivo-models are used tostudy choroidal melanoma with regard to tumor cell behaviour (especially motility) underdifferent hypoxic conditions. For the in vivo-experiment there is a mouse model allowingstudies in hypoxic (anterior chamber) and normoxic (corneal pocket) conditions, dependingon the injection site of tumor cells. Eventually, computational analysis is used for thecorrelation of time course, cell motility and oxygen levels.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professor Dr. Hans E. Grossniklaus