Dr. Carolina Rosswog and Dr. Christoph Bartenhagen are awarded the Kind-Philipp Prize for Pediatric Oncology Research

The awardees: Dr. Carolina Rosswog and Dr. Christoph Bartenhagen (photo - M. Wodak)

The development of cancer has only been partially elucidated to date and amplification of oncogenes is a frequent transforming event in cancer. Dr. Carolina Rosswog and Dr. Christoph Bartenhagen from the Department of Experimental Pediatric Oncology, led by Prof. Dr. Matthias Fischer, investigated the development of highly complex amplifications in cancer cells. Amplifications are duplications of cancer genes that are not present in two copies as in normal cells, but in up to several hundred copies leading to a strong increase in their activity and thus contributes to the development of tumors. They identified a type of amplification that they termed “seismic amplification”, which is characterized by multiple rearrangements and numerous genomic segments amplified at distinct levels.

In addition to extreme fluctuations in the number of copies, these amplifications showed a strongly altered sequence of the normal DNA sequence with numerous rearrangements within the DNA strand. By detailed analysis of the structure of these amplifications, a mechanism could be deciphered that shows how these changes in tumor evolution occur. A better understanding of the origin of such complex cancer-causing genetic changes is important to develop preventive measures or new treatment strategies. The results were published in 2021 in the renowned scientific journal Nature Genetics.

The Kind-Philipp Foundation for Pediatric Oncology Research in the Donors' Association, which celebrates its 50^th anniversary this year, supports research on all types of childhood cancer. The prestigious Kind-Philipp Prize, which the foundation awards on an annual basis, honors the best work by German-speaking authors on research into leukemia and cancer in children. The prize is endowed with 10,000 euros. The prize winner is selected by a review panel of the Society for Pediatric Oncology and Hematology.

Source: News - University Hospital Cologne