Regulation of the tumor microenvironment by chronic ß adrenergic activation in the tumor vasculature (C03)

• Subject Area: Cardiology, Angiology ; Pharmacology
• Term: from 2019 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 394046768

Clinical data indicate that chronic stress contributes to cancer progression and that the use of -adrenoceptor (2 AR) antagonists exerts a beneficial effect for disease outcome. Recent data show that endothelial 2AR prime EC for angiogenesis promoting the growth and the vascularization of prostate cancer. We will analyze how persistent 2AR activation in the microvascular endothelium regulates pro-duction and secretion of angiocrine factors and how these factors modify the tumor microenvironment to drive tumor progression. Identified signaling intermediates like Epac1 and the phosphorylation of the transcriptional regulator -catenin will be validated as potential therapeutic targets in relevant in vitro and in vivo models.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1366: Vascular Control of Organ Function
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Project Heads: Dr. Sepp Jansen; Professor Dr. Thomas Wieland, Ph.D.