VHL-dependent licensing of hetero-cellular crosstalks within the tumor micro-environment of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) (P12)

• Subject Area: Biochemistry ; Nephrology
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 431984000

P12 proposes to investigate the central role of the tumor micro-environment for tumor relapse and metastasis in both VHL-dependent and sporadic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), using tissue samples of a local cohort of ccRCCs coupled to a platform of in vitro and ex vivo systems and patient-derived models. P12 will elucidate the composition of the in situ secretome and depositome in syndromic and sporadic ccRCC, and search for matrisome features of progressive or recurrent disease. They will further investigate the roles of dysfunctional pVHL signaling and potential interactions with co-occurring driver mutations for hetero-cellular crosstalk in the tumor micro-environment, and study the contribution of paracrine signaling factors in shaping its spatial and functional composition.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1453: Nephrogenetics (NephGen)
• Applicant Institution: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Christoph B. Schell; Professor Dr. Oliver Schilling