Dissecting the molecular interplay between tumor cells and stroma in primary liver cancer (B08)

• Subject Area: Pathology
• Term: from 2021 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 314905040

Project B08 (Longerich/Pellegrino; Dissecting the molecular interplay between tumor cells and stroma in primary liver cancer) has entered the SFB/TR 209 in late 2018 and analyses mechanisms underlying plasticity of liver cancer cells, which bear on tumor differentiation and therapy resistance. The project has identified candidate genes affecting liver cancer cell differentiation/plasticity by acting on tumor cells and/or tumor-associated stroma using exome/transcriptome sequencing of different liver cancer variants. In the new funding period the gain-of-function phenotypic driver candidates will be evaluated in mosaic mouse models and functionally characterized in vitro and in vivo with the aim to identify modes of interdependency between tumor cell plasticity and tumor-associated stroma and potential ways of intervention.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 209: Liver Cancer - New mechanistic and therapeutic concepts in a solid tumor model
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Thomas Longerich; Dr. Rossella Pellegrino