Working group Heßmann
Chromatin-associated alterations in pancreatic cancer development and progression
Research Focus
Genetic alterations in the pancreatic acinar cell, including mutation, deletion or amplification of major oncogenes and tumorsuppressors play a pivotal role in pancreatic cancer development and progression. In addition to genetic events, pancreatic cancer is characterized by a plethora of epigenetic alterations that influence gene expression without changes in the DNA itself. Epigenetic mechanisms control gene expression at all levels of protein synthesis, e.g. via DNA methylation, chromatin alterations or expression of non-coding RNAs. In contrast to genetic alterations, epigenetic changes are reversible. Therefore, the regulators accountable for epigenetic dysregulation represent promising therapeutic targets in cancer therapy.
Our group focuses on the impact of chromatin dysregulation in the development and progression of pancreatic cancer. We utilize a plethora of functional, biochemical and molecular methods in human and murine tumor cells and organoids to dissect the influence of selected chromatin regulators in pancreatic carcinogenesis and progression. Within and without the context of the KFO 5002 and with the help of transgenic mice and “Patient-derived-Xenograft” models of pancreatic cancer we further investigate the therapeutic potential of targeting chromatin dysregulation in this dreadful malignant disease. We are particularly interested in understanding the role of chromatin regulation and transcription in the development of therapy-induced adaptation and resistance mechanisms which counteract successful PDAC treatment and exploit these mechanisms for more effective therapeutic strategies (GRK2978).
Together, we aim to govern mechanistic insights into chromatin-associated alterations in pancreatic cancer and evaluate therapeutic strategies to tackle epigenetic dysregulation in this disease.
Funding
Publications
Cooperations
- AG Ellenrieder, University Medical Center Göttingen
- AG Neeße, University Medical Center Göttingen
- AG Singh, University Medical Center Göttingen
- AG Johnsen, Robert Bosch Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen, Stuttgart, Germany
- AG Schneider, University Medical Center Göttingen
- AG Papantonis, University Medical Center Göttingen
- AG Conradi, University Medical Center Göttingen
- Prof. Dr. Jochen Gaedcke, University Medical Center Göttingen
- PD Dr. Marian Grade, University Medical Center Göttingen
- AG Dobbelstein, University Medical Center Göttingen
- Prof. Jens Siveke, Westdeutsches Tumorzentrum Essen
- Prof. Alexander Kleger, University Medical Center Ulm
- Prof. Dr. Martin Fernandez-Zapico, Mayo Clinic Rochester, USA
- Patrick Hermann, University Medical Center Ulm
- Dr. Anna Saborowski, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
- Prof. Christine Falk, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
- Dr. Christoph Ammer-Herrmenau, Molekulares Pankreasprogramm, MolPAC, University Medical Center Göttingen
- Prof. Dr. Gabriela Salinas, University Medical Center Göttingen
- Prof. Dr. Ulrich Sax, University Medical Center Göttingen
- Prof. Dr. Martin Haubrock,University Medical Center Göttingen
- Prof. Dr. Philipp Ströbel, University Medical Center Göttingen
- Prof. Dr. Frank Streit, University Medical Center Göttingen
- Prof. Dr. Matthias Wirth, University Medical Center Göttingen
Team
Kontaktinformationen
- Telefon: +49 551 3962616
- E-Mail-Adresse: elisabeth.hessmann(at)med.uni-goettingen.de
Former members
- Waltraut Kopp (TA)
- Dr. Maria Ulisse (PhD)
- Dr. Zhe Zhang (PhD)
- Dr. Shilpa Patil (PhD)
- Dr. rer. nat. Marie Hasselluhn (PhD)
- Dr. med. Theresa Waßmann (MD)
- Dr. med. Maira Volland (MD)
- Dr. med. Luise Goldfuß (MD)
- Dr. med. Lena Levien (MD)
- Dr. med. Dimitra Rabe (MD)
- Dr. med. Sebastian Bremer (clinician scientist)
- Mara Hess (cand. med.)
- Marie Knak (cand. med.)
- Benjamin Steuber (cand. med.)
- Helena Witte (cand. med.)
- Elisabeth Klingberg (M.Sc.)
- Charlotte Sigg (M.Sc.)
- Emma Sauermann (B.Sc.)
- Helene Wischmann (B.Sc.)
- Luisa Hölzl (B.Sc.)
- Anna Blandau (B.Sc.)
- Astrid Strack (B.Sc.)