Clinical Relevance of Molecular Changes in Embryonal Tumors (Project G)

Author: Dr. med. Ralf Herold, Last modification: 2004/06/16

Clinical Relevance of Molecular Biological Alterations in Embryonic Tumors

This project is dedicated to the research of molecular genetic alterations in hepatoblastomas, primitive neuroectodermal tumors of the central nervous system, nephroblastomas, and neuroblastomas. These embryonic tumors are defined by the similarity of the malign cells with their respective normal embryonic precursors. The surprisingly early manifestation during infant age allows to suppose that comparatively few genetic steps are necessary before a malignant phenotype is reached. Apart from their pathogenetic importance, genetic alterations are also of prognostic relevance for the individual patient. A c-myc or n-myc amplification in certain sub-groups for example, clearly has a negative effect on the survival rate. Therefore relevant pathogenetic steps for tumorigenesis are being identified by use of molecular biologic methods while at the same time the relevance of molecular biologic alterations for the diagnosis and prognosis of the disease is examined. Because the available methods only allow a molecular genetic identification of a small number or risk patients (max. 20%), we - while simultaneously realizing well established test methods - evaluate possible new molecular biological markers to determine their prognostic value.