SCLC response to chemotherapy and ionizing 𝛾-radiation (B09*)

• Subject Area: General Genetics and Functional Genome Biology ; Bioinformatics and Theoretical Biology ; Hematology, Oncology
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 413326622

Based on her findings of the first funding period, M. Cartolano will further use in silico work and experimental testing to explore the effect of chemotherapy and ionizing 𝛾-radiation on the longitudinal evolution of SCLC. She will first develop a computational tool, which will correct for mutation rate bias along the genome induced by the physical properties of the DNA. She will then perform a detailed characterization of the alterations induced by ionizing 𝛾-radiation in SCLC human cell lines. She will subsequently map the activity of the therapy-induced signatures on individual clones longitudinally evolving upon therapy. Finally, by setting up a controlled experimental setup, she will use the phylogenetic modelling on WES and scRNAseq data to interrogate evolving intra-tumor heterogeneity both at the genomic and the transcriptional level in response to therapy. Thus, through a detailed characterization of the effects of ionizing 𝛾-radiation both at the cellular and at the DNA level, this subproject will be the first to combine evolutionary modelling with the observation of the cellular response of SCLC to chemoradiotherapy

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1399: Mechanisms of drug sensitivity and resistance in small cell lung cancer
• Applicant Institution: Universität zu Köln
• Project Head: Dr. Maria Cartolano, since 7/2023