GRK 2573:  The inflammatory tumor secretome – from understanding to novel therapies

• Subject Area: Medicine
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 416910386

Researchers at the Universities Marburg and Giessen with a track record in tumor biologyinitiated this proposal for a research training group (RTG) with focus on the role of the inflammation-driven tumor secretome for tumor progression and therapy resistance. The aim is to establishan internationally competitive research center for the training of outstanding PhD/MD students inthis emerging field and to integrate scientific and medical students as early as possible intoresearch projects.The tumor secretome definition includes secretory factors released by cancer cells and by hostcells within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Recently, the tumor secretome has emerged asa key player in tumorigenesis and therapy resistance and holds great promise as a source fornovel cancer biomarkers and drug targets. However, its composition and impact on the reciprocalcross-talk of tumor cells and host cells remain to be investigated in detail. The RTG focusesspecifically on the molecular dissection and functional analysis of secreted factors in ovarian cancer,pancreatic cancer and leukemia as diseases that are critically dependent on the TME. Onefocus of the research program is the role of the inflammatory NF-κB-dependent and the p53-regulated secretome components (proteins) including extracellular vesicles (EVs), whichmodulate the plasticity of tumor-associated immune cells, cancer cell invasion, metastasis, andtherapy response. Moreover, we will analyze the consequences of chemotherapy and DNA damageon the secretome and its role for the anti-tumor response.The distinguishing feature of the RTG is the focus on primary patient-derived samples andin vitro models together with the integrated education of basic and clinical students. Coordinated theoretical as well as practical courses and an internship/fellowship program will be providedwithin a structured curriculum. State of the art methods covering omics technologies, bioinformatics,imaging methods, in vitro cell culture models and mouse tumor models are allocated by establishedcore facilities and by the participating research groups with outstanding expertise in thespecific topic. The program aims to allow the investigation of the cellular communication withinthe TME focusing on the secretome on an internationally high professional level.Altogether, these measures will educate a generation of scientists engaged in tumor biology ingeneral and tumor secretome research, in particular, addressing both, basic scientific questionsand clinical cancer research. This will open career possibilities in academic research and beyond,such as industry, academic management, or society.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Philipps-Universität Marburg
• Participating Institution: Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
• Spokesperson: Professorin Dr. Elke Pogge von Strandmann
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Andreas Burchert; Professorin Dr. Magdalena Huber; Professor Dr. Michael Kracht; Dr. Robert Liefke; Professor Dr. Johannes U. Mayer, since 8/2022; Professor Dr. Rolf Müller; Professor Dr. Andreas Neubauer; Dr. Silke Reinartz, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. M. Lienhard Schmitz; Professor Dr. Thorsten Stiewe; Professor Dr. Uwe Wagner; Professor Dr. Thomas Worzfeld