Identification and functional characterization of cancer cell-derived, stroma-modulating factors in cholangiocarcinoma (B07)

• Subject Area: Gastroenterology
• Term: from 2017 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 314905040

Project B07 (Saborowski/Saborowski; Identification and functional characterization of stroma-modulating factors in cholangiocarcinoma) analyses the complex interaction between CCA tumor cells and its multicellular microenvironment. It developed an organoid-based murine model of ICCA to functionally address cancer cell-derived stromal modulators and identified G-CSF and GM-CSF as two differentially regulated secreted factors between premalignant and ICCA-derived tumorous organoids and Stk11 as a potent tumor suppressor in ICCA, which may partially exert its functions via modulation of G- and GM-CSF. In the next funding period the project will analyse the effects of Stk11 genetic alterations and G-CSF/GM-CSF expression to delineate mechanisms of tumor-stroma-interaction and especially tumor-associated stroma formation in order to derive stroma-interventive strategies in ICC.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 209: Liver Cancer - New mechanistic and therapeutic concepts in a solid tumor model
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Project Heads: Privatdozentin Dr. Anna Lena Saborowski; Dr. Michael Saborowski