Tumor networks and Cancer Neuroscience of Astrocytoma:
Understanding and targeting tumor-intrinsic and extrinsic networks

Dr. Salma Baig

Dr. Sophie Heuer

German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg
University Hospital Heidelberg

Project Summary:
In this research project, we will first establish models to culture astrocytoma tissue after surgical resection from patients or generate fixed tissue.
Then, we will investigate the tumor for mechanisms to interconnect to a cell network and communicate with other astrocytoma cells or normal brain cells as we have found out, that another malignant tumor type, glioblastoma, does so and uses this as a resistance mechanism.
These could be factors from normal nerve cell development or routes of communication known from other tissues or tumor types. After finding specific genes or proteins involved in network formation and communication we will find and test drugs with the goal of finding new therapy options through network and communication inhibition.