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Medizinische
Klinik A

AG Bleckmann – Tumorprogression und Metastasierung

The research group investigates the mechanisms of tumor progression, especially the single steps of the metastasis cascade in solid tumors. In this context we are focusing in particular on the non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway and try to characterize its role in tumor progression and to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms. Moreover, we are analyzing the interaction of tumor cells with the surrounding benign cells of the tumor stroma, especially tumor-associated macrophages, in regard to tumor invasion. Our lab is particularly interested in the intercellular communication via extracellular vesicles.

In our research we work on one specific population of extracellular vesicles, the so-called microvesicles (diameter 100–1000 nm) which are constantly released from the cellular plasma membrane. One the one hand, we try to elucidate the functional effects of tumor-derived microvesicles on neighboring stroma cells, on the other hand, we are working on the identification of markers that will allow the detection and functional analysis of tumor microvesicles in cancer patients’ blood.

In order to better understand the mechanisms of tumor invasion, we analyze metastases samples of different solid tumors as well as cell lines and extracellular vesicles via high-throughput methods on the RNA, protein and metabolism level (RNA sequencing, Proteomics, Metabolomics). Based on the results we can then define signatures that will be correlated with clinical parameters in a translational approach and in the end can provide information about the prognosis of cancer patients.

Our research

One main focus of our research is the role of extracellular vesicles in lung cancer. As lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, our aim is to improve patients' survival by monitoring their course of disease in order to detect relapse or progression prior to imaging. Our lab has already established a tumor-defining antigen pattern on extracellular vesicles that can help identify tumor-derived vesicles in the blood of lung cancer patients and subsequently be used as a biomarker to monitor disease. We have special interest in the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors in lung cancer and identifying groups of patients that benefit or do not benefit from immunotherapy.

Since 2022 our team is part of the BMBF-funded consortium Permiccion which aims to understand the role of the tumor microbiome for the development of colorectal cancer in young patients. More information can be found here.

Kontakt

Kerstin Menck

Junior Arbeitsgruppenleiterin

Laborleiterin

Spenden für unsere Forschung

Wenn Sie unsere Forschung finanziell unterstützen möchten, freuen wir uns darüber sehr:

Universitätsklinikum Münster
Deutsche Bank AG
IBAN: DE42 4007 0080 0013 8842 00
BIC: DEUTDE3B400
Verwendungszweck: ZUW80276 (Krebs-Forschung)

Unser Team

Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Annalen Bleckmann

Bereichsleiterin Internistische Onkologie, Direktorin Westdeutsches Tumorzentrum (WTZ) Münster

Fachärztin für Innere Medizin, Hämatologie und Internistische Onkologie

Sprechstunde für Thorakale Onkologie
+49 251 83 52712
+49 251 83 52849
Do 8.30–14.00 Uhr

 

Kerstin Menck

Junior Arbeitsgruppenleiterin

Laborleiterin

Priv.-Doz. Dr. med. Georg Evers

Oberarzt

Facharzt für Innere Medizin und Hämatologie und Onkologie
Facharzt für Innere Medizin und Pneumologie

Dr. med. Carolin Krekeler

Assistenzärztin

Dr. med. Lea Elisabeth Reitnauer

Assistenzärztin

Barnabas Irmer

Wissenschaftlicher Doktorand

Molekularbiologe

Katharina Maria Richter

Wissenschaftliche Doktorandin

Molekularbiologin

Suganja Chandrabalan

Wissenschaftliche Doktorandin

Molekularbiologin

Nadja Kämper

Medizinische Doktorandin

Allegra Angenendt

Masterstudentin

Dipl.- Betriebsw. Claudia Bieber-Tuschen

Wissenschaftliche Koordinatorin

Assistentin der Bereichsleitung Internistische Onkologie

Dr. med. Marcel Kemper

Facharzt für Innere Medizin und Hämatologie und Onkologie

Laura Sophie Altschulze

Medizinische Doktorandin

Medizinische Klinik A (Hämatologie, Hämostaseologie, Onkologie und Pneumologie)

Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1

Gebäude A1

48149 Münster

+49 251 83-47587 

lenzsekr@ukmuenster.de

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