Prof. Dr. Annalen Bleckmann
Tumor progression and metastasis
Tumor invasion
Metastasis
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, and 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-troughput 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.
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.
Vita
- since 02/2019: W3-Professorship "Medical Oncology" at University of Münster, Head of Department "Medical Oncology” in the Medical Clinic A of the UKM
- since 02/2019: Director of the West German Cancer Center Münster (permanent), former Comprehensive Cancer Center Münster (CCCM); UKM
- 2016: Venia legendi Internal Medicine
- 2008: Doctorate (MD) in Medicine, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Germany
- Until 2008: Studies in Medicine
Selected references
Menck, K., Heinrichs, S., Wlochowitz, D., Sitte, M., Noeding, H., Janshoff, A., Treiber, H., Ruhwedel, T., Schatlo, B., von der Brelie, C., Wiemann, S., Pukrop, T., Beißbarth, T., Binder, C., Bleckmann, A. (2021). „WNT11/ROR2 signaling is associated with tumor invasion and poor survival in breast cancer”, J Exp Clin Cancer Res 40(1):395.
Fromme, J. E., Schmitz, K., Wachter, A., Grzelinski, M., Zielinski, D., Koppel, C., Conradi, L. C., Homayounfar, K., Hugo, T., Hugo, S., Lukat, L., Rüschoff, J., Ströbel, P., Ghadimi, M., Beissbarth, T., Reuter-Jessen, K., Schildhaus, H.U. and Bleckmann A. (2018)., “FGFR3 mRNA overexpression defines a subset of oligometastatic colorectal cancers with worse prognosis”, Oncotarget, 9(63):32204-32218.
Bayerlova, M., Menck K., Klemm, F., Wolff, A., Pukrop, T., Binder, C., Beissbarth T. and Bleckmann, A. (2017). "Ror2 Signaling and Its Relevance in Breast Cancer Progression." Front. Oncol., 7, 135.
Menck, K., Bleckmann, A. Wachter, A. Hennies, B., Ries, L., Schulz, M., Balkenhol, M., Pukrop, T., Schatlo, B., Rost, U., Wenzel, D., Klemm F. and Binder C. (2017). "Characterisation of tumour-derived microvesicles in cancer patients' blood and correlation with clinical outcome." J. Extracell. Vesicles. 6, 1340745.
Bleckmann, A., Conradi, L.C., Menck, K., Schmick, N.A., Schubert, A., Rietkötter, E., Arackal, J., Middel, P., Schambony, A., Liersch, T., Homayounfar, K., Beissbarth, T., Klemm, F., Binder, C., and Pukrop, T. (2016). “beta-catenin-independent WNT signaling and Ki67 in contrast to the estrogen receptor status are prognostic and associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer liver metastases”. Clin. Exp. Metastasis. 33, 309-323.
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