By using Hall effect sensors and electromagnetic induction coils, the magnetic flux density, the change in magnetic flux density, and the change in magnetic flux can be monitored simultaneously. The compact measuring sensor is connected to the supply and data storage device via a signal cable and can be attached to any body part. A fully functional prototype has already been constructed and tested.
Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are promising anticancer agents and are currently being evaluated in clinical trials. However, due to their unselective action, pan-HDACi exhibit dose-limiting side-effects restricting their full potential in anti-cancer therapy. Therefore, characterization of the molecular function of single HDAC isozymes is of major importance for a targeted therapy with less side-effects. We show that HDAC10 overexpression mediated cell survival and targeting of HDAC10 sensitized tumor cells for cytotoxic drug treatment and it correlates with progression or recurrence of neuroblastoma in vivo. These results demonstrate for the first time that HDAC10 induces an alternative lysosomal-mediated tumor cell death pathway, re-sensitizes cells for cytotoxic drugs and may thus be a novel strategy for neuroblastoma therapy.
This technology was achieved by a cooperation between McGill University and DKFZ. Brain tumours, such as the highly aggressive glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), are currently the leading cause of cancer-related mortality and morbidity in children. Current diagnosis of brain cancers involve MRI, PET and CT scans, angiographies, followed by biopsies performed either during the resection of the tumor or as a separate procedure via a burr hole. A blood-based test would provide a more economical, i.e accessible and less invasive diagnostic tool. The GBM specific biomarker has been patented and is available for licensing i.e. for companion diagnostics.
The here presented technology provides an apparatus for 4Pi STED which allows to generate a three-dimensional light intensity distribution comprising a very steep light intensity gradient between the areas of minimum and maximum light intensity.
Labeled oligonucleotides are used in research and for diagnostic, therapeutic and industrial applications. Researchers from the DKFZ and the Heidelberg University developed a fast method for post-synthetic multiple orthogonal labeling of oligonucleotides by combining the inverse Diels-Alder reaction with the well-known copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition.
Endostatin is an antiangiogenic protein first discovered in Folkman's laboratory at Childrens Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Boston. The antitumor properties of this protein are well established. Nowever, the amount of protein required for injection in patients was beyond production feasibility due to the poor pharmacokinetics of endostatin monomer. We have shown that the problem of poor pharmacokinetics can be solved by using the Fc domain of IgG being conjugated to endostatin, a component of all monoclonal antibodies approved for patients with a number of diseases including cancer. As a result of employing Fc-endostatin, the half-life in mice was increased to 2 weeks instead of 2 hours for endostatin alone, consistent with pharmacokinetics of monoclonal antibodies.
Efficient treatment strategy based on antigen-armed antibodies (AgAbs). After AgAb treatment Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cell lines and various Burkitt’s lymphoma cell lines were able to present antigens that efficiently induce T cell activation.
Synchronization and control of linear accelerator, multi-leaf collimator, gantry system, patient support system and x-ray beam generation system at the same time is difficult to establish, particularly with hard real-time requirements. The presented technology comprises a control unit consisting of standardized programmable logic controllers for real-time operation of all subsystems of a radiation therapy device. Thus, the technology allows precise and dynamic patient treatment with high time resolution.
Several limitations restrict conventional Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) application. Examples are: 1) Low temporal resolution, which prohibits measurements of faster processes 2) FRAP evaluation schemes cannot include spatial constraints imposed by the cellular environment on protein mobility 3) FRAP ignores the sequential nature of the bleaching and image acquisition process. In order to overcome these limitations of conventional FRAP DKFZ researchers developed a novel FRAP based method called 3PEA (Pixel-wise Photobleaching Profile Evolution Analysis). The advantages of 3PEA are e.g.: accurate mobility measurements of fast, slow, and immobile proteins and fast determination of effective diffusion coefficients. The presented technology is thought to be suitable for use in all confocal laser scanning microscopes (no additional hardware is needed) and would allow automated high throughput FRAP experiments.
Virus-like particles (VLPs) of EBV, completely devoid of viral DNA, for the prevention of infectious mononucleosis (IM) and EBV-associated diseases like lymphomas often developed in patients with immunosuppression.
In 50-80% OPSCC patients human papilloma virus (HPV) can be detected. These patients have an improved survival and would benefit from deescalate cancer treatment. The technology provides a reliable marker based on RNA pattern.
Diagnosis and monitoring of IDH1/IDH2/IDH3 dependent diseases such as: Glioblastomas, astrocytoma, oligodendrogliomas, oligoastrocytoma, acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), chondrosarcoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma. The technolgy describes a patented test, which is a simple and robust enzymatic assay with a readout in 3 hours. The test is suitable for 96-/384-well format, less expensive/time-consuming and high-throughput possible in opposite to established GC-MS test.
DKFZ inventors identified the Wnt secretion protein Evi/Gpr177 as new target, which is strikingly upregulated during glioma tumorigenesis in a stage-independent way and which correlated with poor prognosis. Silencing of the Evi/Gpr177 protein significantly inhibited glioma cell proliferation and migration. Additionally an inhibitory antibody against Evi/Gpr177 was invented that significantly reduced Wnt Evi/Gpr177 gene response.
Currently, multi leaf collimators (MLC) are established and state of the art in numerous devices for radiotherapy used for cancer treatment. However, the established MLC comprising 80 and more leafs require an enormous space at the level of the leaves for corresponding drive and controlling elements if realized with normal electric motors. Since space is very limited within the head of linear accelerators the invention proposes a new small and convenient driving/controlling device based on piezoelectricity, which is directly coupled to the leaves and their driving rods.
The multi-leaf collimator MLC for radiation therapy has leaves where the positions of the leaves are determined by measuring a magnetic field. This allows determining the leaf position with enhanced precision, and is at the same time robust to perturbations or disturbances. The magnetic sensor may comprise a magnetic encoder that varies in a predefined pattern along a lengthwise direction of the magnetic element, in particular according to a step function. The technology can be used for a new generation of especially compact and small MLC. The Hall effect sensor does not interfere with therapeutic beam and the contact-free measurements does not affected by friction or abrasive wear.
Current technologies for radiologically guided interventions leave the interventionalist with a high degree of uncertainty regarding the position of his instruments and the surrounding tissue/organs. We developed a true 4D imaging providing a full control in three spatial dimensions including temporal changes during interventions suitable for MRI and CT (single shot for lower radiation dose).
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