In our Radiation Biology Research Laboratory, headed by Dr. rer. nat. Natalia Bogdanova, we work on both experimental and clinical, mostly interdisciplinary research projects. The following pages provide an overview. Are you looking for an experimental doctoral thesis or are you an interested student of biology and medical biotechnology and would like to write a diploma, bachelor or master thesis in our research laboratory? Then please contact our office.

Scientific focus

• Molecular causes of tumor diseases relevant to radiotherapy
• Molecular determinants of tumor radiosensitivity
• Molecular factors of acute and chronic organ toxicity after irradiation
• Basic research in the field of effects and mechanisms of low-dose radiation use
• Basic research into the significance of radiation-induced DNA damage

The Experimental Radiation Oncology Laboratory meets the requirements of safety level S1 according to GenTSV and has modern laboratory equipment and techniques with which RNA, DNA and proteins can be isolated and analyzed. The laboratory has two main areas spread over 3 rooms: the cell culture area and the molecular biology area.

Furthermore, our Experimental Radiation Oncology Laboratory has highly precise and rapid systems for data analysis of high-throughput sequencing (Next Generation Sequencing) and analysis of high-throughput genotyping. We have expertise in quantitative analysis of gene expression, as well as gene cloning, immunocytochemical analysis and sequencing. Techniques used in the experimental approach can be divided into 3 main sections: Nucleic acids tools, Protein tools and Cell tools.

Nucleic acids tools

• PCR
• Restriction enzymatic digest
• Sequencing (Sanger)
• Next-generation sequencing
• SNP genotyping
• High Resolution Melting
• Gene expression (Q-RT PCR and high throughput microfluidic systems)
• Transcript isoform analysis

Protein tools

• Western blot analysis
• Co-immunoprecipitation
• 2D SDS PAG

Cell tools

• Life cell imaging
• Cells immortalization (EBV, SV40, hTERT)
• Molecular cloning
• Flow cytometry (Cell cycle)
• siRNA technology
• Real-time noninvasive monitoring of cell viability, proliferation, invasion, migration
• Clonogenic Cell Survival Assay
• Immunocytochemistry (Monitoring of DNA DSB repair and DNA damage response)

Radiobiological and molecular basis of treatment response in patients with PSMA-ligand positive recurrent prostate cancer

Funding: Wolfgang Dieckmann Foundation/ Förderstiftung MHH-plus

 

Radiobiological basis of the treatment response of radioligand therapy with 177Lu-DOTA-TATE in patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors

Cooperation project: Radiotherapy/Nuclear Medicine
Funding: Else Kröner Foundation

 

Gene polymorphisms and disease risk for breast carcinoma.

Interdisciplinary research group: Radiotherapy/Gynecological Clinical Department:
Funding: European Union

 

Identification of new breast cancer genes via Slavic founder mutations

Interdisciplinary Research Group: Radiotherapy/Gynecological Clinical Department:
Funding: DFG

 

Molecular basis of radiation toxicity

Funding: NKG

The Clinical Department of Radiotherapy and Special Oncology participates in the following clinical studies:

 

• Register-based research to record radiation-associated late side effects after radiotherapy in children and adolescents (RiSK)
• Participation in the HYPOSIB study (hypofractionated radiotherapy of breast cancer with simultaneous integrated boost)
• Participation in the Tumor Core Boost study (simultaneous integrated tumor core boost in the radiotherapy of large tumors)
• Participation in the Oligoma study (testing the efficacy and tolerability of local radiotherapy of metastases as a supplement to standard therapy in patients with oligometastatic breast cancer)
• Participation in the AERN study (Abscopal Effect of Radiotherapy and Nivolumab in anti-PDl Pretreated Relapsed or Refractory classical Hodgkin Lymphoma) - international multicenter phase II study
• Biomarker study (Molecular basis of radiotherapy response in patients with PSMA ligand positive recurrent prostate cancer)
• Structural changes in clinical radiotherapy: effects of demography, optimization of fractionation and target volume concepts

Shift of radiotherapy indications during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic? An analysis of German inpatient data
- Changes in the frequency of radiotherapy indications during the COVID-19 pandemic

 

Funding within the framework of the Medical Informatics Initiative (MII) from project funds of the MIRACUM consortium
- overall project leader: Prof. Dr. Hans-Ulrich Prokosch (Erlangen) / PD Dr. med. Dr. med. Daniel Medenwald (Halle)