Neural-crest derived catecholamine producing tumours: implementation of molecular and metabolic fingerprints to predict disease progression and therapeutic response (B12)

• Subject Area: Endocrinology, Diabetology, Metabolism ; Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation ; Pneumology, Thoracic Surgery
• Term: since 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 314061271

The aim of Project B12 is to identify the mechanistic links between intratumoural heterogeneity and neural-crest derived catecholamine producing (NCCP) tumour progression. Novel molecular and metabolic fingerprints will be investigated to stratify disease aggressiveness and predict treatment responses. These fingerprints will then be used to train machine learning models, which will be integrated into clinical decision support systems, enabling our findings to be transferred directly into clinical use. We expect the project to facilitate the early identification of aggressive NCCP tumours, paving the way for enhanced patient management and novel therapeutic strategies for these heterogeneous tumours.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 205: The Adrenal: Central Relay in Health and Disease
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität Dresden
• Project Heads: Dr. Nicole Bechmann, since 7/2021; Professor Graeme Eisenhofer, Ph.D., until 12/2025; Dr. Barbara Klink, until 6/2021; Professor Jacques W.M. Lenders, Ph.D., until 6/2021; Privatdozentin Christina Pamporaki, Ph.D., since 1/2026