Non-Coding RNAs in Cancer
Non-coding RNAs are functional RNA molecules that are transcribed from DNA but not translated into proteins. They play pivotal roles in a plethora of cellular processes in development and diseases, including cancer. Recent findings indicate a strong participation of epigenetic factors in cancer initiation, maintenance and treatment response. Although a DNA sequence specific binding could not be identified, epigenetic enzymes exhibit a strong locus and context specificity. The underlying mechanism is not known. There is first evidence that specific non-coding RNAs might serve as scaffolds that mediate epigenetic protein-DNA interactions and ensure target specificity. However, if this is a global mechanism that influences cancer characteristics and therapy response has not been elucidated.
By exploring various cancer entities and state-of-the art techniques, our tandem lab demonstrates that the interaction of non-coding RNAs with epigenetic enzymes is a general phenomenon that ensures target specific epigenetic chromatin remodeling. Moreover, we hypothesize that specific protein-non-coding RNA networks strongly influence the functional characteristics of tumor initiating cells and the development of therapy resistance. Thus, they might serve both as novel biomarkers for epigenetic drugs as well as direct therapeutic targets.
- Identification and characterization of non-coding RNAs related to leukemia initiating cell activity in AML
- Characterization of non-coding RNA-epigenome landscapes in various cancers
- Defining prognostic lncRNA scores for different cancer therapies including epigenetic drugs, e.g. HDAC-inhibitors or BET-inhibitors
© Thomas Albrecht
Group leader
NameDr. Alexander A. Wurm
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POSITIONS |
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| since 07/2020 | Mildred-Scheel-Nachwuchszentrum (MSNZ) research group leader affiliated with National Center for Tumor diseases (NCT) Dresden |
| 2019-2020 | Postdoc at the NCT Dresden |
| 2017-2018 | Postdoc at the Division of Hematology and Oncology, Leipzig University |
| 2015-2016 | Short term scientific exchange visits, Institute of Molecular Genetics (IMG) of the ASCR, Prague, Czech Republic |
| 2011-2013 | Research associate, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Leipzig University |
| EDUCATION | |
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| 2013-2017 | Doctorate (PhD), Division of Hematology and Oncology, Leipzig University |
| 2005-2010 | Study of Biology, Technische Universität Dresden |
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HONORS |
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| 2012-2015 | Research Excellence Stipend, Deutsche José Carreras Leukämie-Stiftung e.V. (DJCLS) |
| 2014 | ASH Abstract Achievement Award |
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Wurm AA and Pina C, Long Non-coding RNAs as Functional and Structural Chromatin Modulators in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Front Oncol. 2019 Sep 11
Krakowski RHE*, Wurm AA*, Gerloff D, Katzerke C, Bräuer-Hartmann D, Hartmann J, Wilke F, Thiede C, Müller-Tidow C, Niederwieser D, Behre G. MiR-451a abrogates treatment resistance in FLT3-ITD-positive acute myeloid leukemia. Blood Cancer J. 2018 Mar 21;8(3):36. *both authors contributed equally
Wurm AA, Zjablovskaja P, Kardosova M, Gerloff D, Bräuer-Hartmann D, Katzerke C, Hartmann JU, Benoukraf T., Fricke S, Hilger N, Müller AM, Bill M, Schwind S, Tenen DG, Niederwieser D, Alberich-Jorda M, Behre G. Disruption of the C/EBPα - miR-182 balance impairs granulocytic differentiation. Nat Commun - 2017 Jun 29;8(1)
Zjablovskaja P, Kardosova M, Danek P, Angelisova P, Benoukraf T, Wurm AA, Kalina T, Sian S, Balastik M, Delwel R, Brdicka T, Tenen DG, Behre G, Fiore F, Malissen B, Horejsi V, Alberich-Jorda M. EVI2B is a C/EBPα target gene required for granulocytic differentiation and functionality of hematopoietic progenitors. Cell Death Differ. 2017 Feb 10.
Wurm AA, Tenen DG, Behre G. The Janus-faced Nature of miR-22 in Hematopoiesis: Is It an Oncogenic Tumor Suppressor or Rather a Tumor-Suppressive Oncogene? PLoS Genet. 2017 Jan 12;13(1)
for complete publication record see ORCID
© Thomas Albrecht
Group leader
NameDr. Marius Bill
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POSITIONS |
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| since 09/2020 | Mildred-Scheel-Nachwuchszentrum (MSNZ) Clinician Scientist affiliated with the Medical Department I, University Hospital Dresden (UKD) |
| 2017-2020 | Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center |
| 2013-2017 | Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Leipzig, Department for Hematology and Oncology |
| 2015-2016 | Hematologist in training, University of Leipzig, Department of Hematology and Oncology |
| EDUCATION/CLINICAL TRAINING | |
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| 2008-2015 | Study of Medicine, doctor's licence in 06/2015 |
| 2006-2013 | Doctorate (PhD), Institute for Organic Chemistry and Natural Product Chemistry |
| 2001-2006 | Studies in Chemistry, main focus organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and biochemistry, University of Leipzig, Chemical Faculty, Diploma (M.Sc.) |
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HONORS |
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| 2017-2020 | Scholarship of the Leukemia Clinical Research Foundation |
| 2013-2014 | Scholarship of the Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig |
MEMBERSHIPS
2016 Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hämatologie und Medizinische Onkologie (DGHO)
2016 European Hematology Association (EHA)
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Bill M, Pathmanathan A, Karunasiri M, Shen C, Burke MH, Ranganathan P, Papaioannou D, Zitzer NC, Snyder K, LaRocco A, Walker AE, Brannan ZJ, Nalin AP, Freud AG, Dikov M, Zhang X, Bloomfield CD, Garzon R, Dorrance AM. EGFL7 Antagonizes NOTCH Signaling and Represents a Novel Therapeutic Target in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Clinical Cancer Research 2020;26(3):669-678.
Bill M, Nicolet D, Kohlschmidt J, Walker C, Mrózek K, Eisfeld AK, Papaioannou D, Rong-Mullins XC, Branna ZJ, Kolitz JE, Powell BL, Archer KJ, Dorrance AM, Carroll AJ, Stone RM, Byrd JC, Garzon R, Bloomfield CD. Mutations associated with a 17-gene leukemia stem cell score and its prognostic relevance in the context of the European LeukemiaNet classification for acute myeloid leukemia. Haematologica 2020;105(3):721-729.
Papaioannou D, Petri A, Dovey OM, Terreri S, Wang E, Collins FA, Woodward LA, Walker AE, Nicolet D, Kumchala P, Pepe F, Bill M, Walker CJ, Karunasiri M, Gardner M, Mrózek K, Zitzer NC, Camilotto V, Cooper JL, Cai X, Rong-Mullins X, Kohlschmidt J, Archer KJ, Freitas MA, Zheng Y, Lee RJ, Aifantis I, Vassiliou G, Singh G, Kauppinen S, Bloomfield CD, Dorrance AM, Garzon R. The long non- coding RNA HOXB-AS3 regulates ribosomal RNA transcription in NPM1-mutated acute myeloid leukemia. Nat Commun. 2019;10(1):5351.
Bill M, Papaioannou D, Karunasiri M, Kohlschmidt J, Pepe F, Walker CJ, Walker AE, Brannan Z, Pathmanathan A, Zhang X, Mrózek K, LaRocco A, Volinia S, Bloomfield CD, Garzon R, Dorrance AM. Expression and functional relevance of long non-coding RNAs in acute myeloid leukemia stem cells. Leukemia. 2019;33(9):2169-2182.
Bill M, Grimm J, Jentzsch M, Kloss L, Goldmann K, Schulz J, Beinicke S, Häntschel J, Cross M, Vucinic V, Pönisch W, Behre G, Franke GN, Lange T, Niederwieser D, Schwind S. Digital droplet PCR-based absolute quantification of pre-transplant NPM1 mutation burden predicts relapse in acute myeloid leukemia patients. Ann Hematol. 2018;97(10):1757-1765.
for complete publication record see ORCID
© Thomas Albrecht
Technician
NameSilke Brilloff
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© Silvia Schäfer
PhD-student
NameSilvia Schäfer
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© Elahe Rahimian
PhD student
NameElahe Rahimian
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© Sandra Schuster
Student
NameSandra Schuster
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© Sofia Kolovich
Clinical fellow
NameSofia Kolovich
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© Vida Kufrin
PhD-student
NameVida Kufrin
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SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Bill M, Papaioannou D, Karunasiri M, Kohlschmidt J, Pepe F, Walker CJ, Walker AE, Brannan Z, Pathmanathan A, Zhang X, Mrózek K, LaRocco A, Volinia S, Bloomfield CD, Garzon R, Dorrance AM. Expression and functional relevance of long non-coding RNAs in acute myeloid leukemia stem cells. Leukemia. 2019
Krakowski RHE*, Wurm AA*, Gerloff D, Katzerke C, Bräuer-Hartmann D, Hartmann J, Wilke F, Thiede C, Müller-Tidow C, Niederwieser D, Behre G. MiR-451a abrogates treatment resistance in FLT3-ITD-positive acute myeloid leukemia. Blood Cancer J. 2018 Mar *both authors contributed equally
Wurm AA, Zjablovskaja P, Kardosova M, Gerloff D, Bräuer-Hartmann D, Katzerke C, Hartmann JU, Benoukraf T., Fricke S, Hilger N, Müller AM, Bill M, Schwind S, Tenen DG, Niederwieser D, Alberich-Jorda M, Behre G. Disruption of the C/EBPα - miR-182 balance impairs granulocytic differentiation. Nat Commun - 2017 Jun 29;8(1):46.
OPEN POSITIONS
Our group offers thesis topics for MSc- or MD-students with a strong interest in translational cancer research. In case you are interested, please get in touch!
FUNDING
CONTACT
© Zunamys Carrero
Visiting address:
Abteilung für Translationale Medizinische Onkologie, NCT Neubau, 002 Mildred-Scheel Straße 136
01307 Dresden
Postal address:
TUD Dresden University of Technology
Zentrum für Personalisierte Onkologie
Nationales Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen (NCT) Dresden
Dr. Alexander Wurm
PO Box 64
Fetscherstrasse 64
01307 Dresden