Tandem Andy Goebel & Tilman Rachner (Alumni)
Signalling pathways control cell and tissue growth during development and regeneration. One of these critical pathways is Wnt signalling, which is particularly involved in bone remodelling and skeletal homeostasis. Mutations and hyperactivation of Wnt signalling proteins and regulators are implicated in tumorigenesis. Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) is a secreted, negative regulator of WNT signalling and blocks the differentiation of bone-building osteoblasts. High levels of DKK-1 are associated with osteolytic bone metastasis in multiple myeloma and breast cancer. However, additional effects of DKK-1 in cancer, apart from its role in bone biology, have been identified. These include the mediation of stress resistance mechanisms and the recruitment of tumor-promoting myeloid-derived suppressor cells into the tumor microenvironment.
Current research of the Göbel/Rachner team explores the potential of DKK-1 as a target in personalized and precision therapy of human cancers. Preliminary experiments in human cancer cell lines demonstrated that DKK-1 regulates the androgen receptor (AR) in prostate cancer cells. Moreover, breast cancer cells lacking DKK-1 show an increased dependence on glutamine. As DKK-1 can be blocked genetically by CRISPR/Cas9 technology and small-interfering RNAs or pharmacologically by neutralizing antibodies, its potential as a target for personalized cancer therapy will be explored.
- Identify breast cancer patient subpopulations that would mostly benefit from an anti-DKK-1 and glutamine metabolism-targeted therapy
- Elucidate the potential of DKK-1 as a valid predictor of endocrine resistance for individualized risk stratification in patients with prostate cancer
- Assess the potential of the mevalonate pathway as a therapeutic target in human malignancies
- Identification of novel biomarkers in osteotropic malignancies
Lab members
Research Group Leader, PI
MSNZ
Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR)
phone: +49-351-458-4049
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POSITIONS |
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since 2020 |
Mildred-Scheel-Nachwuchszentrum (MSNZ) research group leader and staff scientist at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research |
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2015-2020 |
Postdoc at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research |
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EDUCATION |
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2010-2014 |
Doctorate in Tumor Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Technical University Dresden, Germany |
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2005-2010 |
Study of Biology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden |
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HONORS |
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2019 |
American Society of Immunotherapy in Cancer (SITC), Young Investigator Award |
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2010 |
Diploma awarded with highest distinction from the TU Dresden, Germany |
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MEMBERSHIPS |
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since 2015 |
German Society of Immunology (DGfI), since 2024: spokesperson of study group “Tumor Immunology” https://dgfi.org/arbeitskreise/ak-tumorimmunologie/ |
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since 2021 |
Immunology & Inflammation (I&I) consortium, Helmholtz Association |
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2021-2026 |
WP consultant, “MHELTHERA” International Lab, Helmholtz Initiative and Networking Fund |
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FUNDING |
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2019-2022 |
NCT Dresden-Translational Research Grant in Precision Oncology |
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2020-2026 |
MSNZ Dresden/German Cancer Aid (DKH): Personalisierte Karriereentwicklung in der Präzisionsonkologie: P2 Project |
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2022-2026 |
Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network “OncoProTools” |
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2022-2026 |
Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network “TOLERATE” |
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2023-2027 |
Horizon EIC Pathfinder Challenges Network “B-specific” |
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2025 |
Internal Funding, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden |
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2025-2027 |
Wilhelm Sander-Stiftung „Hemmung der Antitumor-Immunantwort in Plattenepithelkarzinomen im Kopf- und Halsbereich (HNSCC) durch CD98hc-vermittelte metabolische Reprogrammierung“ |
Head of Department, PI
MSNZ
Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf
phone: +49-351-458-3428
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POSITIONS |
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since 2019 |
Head of Department Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany |
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2013-2019 |
Postdoctoral senior scientist, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, HZDR, Dresden Germany |
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2010-2012 |
Postdoctoral research fellow, Department Tumor Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany |
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2006-2010 |
PhD student, Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany |
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EDUCATION |
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2006-2010 |
PhD in Tumor Immunology, School of Science, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany |
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2000-2005 |
Study of Biology, School of Science, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany |
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HONORS |
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2010 |
PhD with highest distinction (Dr. rer. nat., summa cum laude) |
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2007-2010 |
Scholarship for post-graduate students from the Free State of Saxony, Germany |
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2005 |
Diploma of Biology with highest distinction |
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MEMBERSHIPS |
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since 2023 |
Member of the Helmholtz Biomedical Engineering Initiative |
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since 2022 |
PI at the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Dresden, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; PI at the National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden (NCT/UCC), Germany |
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since 2021 |
Executive board member of the Helmholtz Immunology & Inflammation (I&I) Initiative |
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since 2021 |
PI in the BMFTR Cluster4Future SaxoCell |
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2021-2026 |
WP consultant, International Lab “MHELTHERA” |
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FUNDING |
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2026-2028 |
Helmholtz Biomedical Engineering Initiative “RoboT3” |
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2024-2027 |
SMWK TG 70, SAB “KI-CARs” |
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2024-2027 |
EP PerMed “COMBAT-PDAC” |
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2023-2027 |
Horizon EIC Pathfinder Challenges Network “B-specific” |
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2022-2026 |
Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network “OncoProTools” |
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2022-2026 |
Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network “TOLERATE” |
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2021-2027 |
BMFTR Cluster4Future SaxoCell TheraSTAR and UniK-T |
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2021-2026 |
Helmholtz Initiative and Networking Fund, International Lab “MHELTHERA” |
Selected publications
Andy Göbel, Stefania Dell’Endice, Nikolai Jaschke, Sophie Pählig , Amna Shahid , Lorenz C. Hofbauer and Tilman D. Rachner The Role of Inflammation in Breast and Prostate Cancer Metastasis to Bone International Journal of Molecular Science. 2021, 22(10), 5078
Göbel A, Rauner M, Hofbauer LC, Rachner TD. C Cholesterol and beyond - The role of the mevalonate pathway in cancer biology. Biochim. Biophys. Acta - Rev. Cancer. 2020; 1873:188351.
Rachner TD, Göbel A, Hoffmann O, Erdmann K, Kasimir-Bauer S, Breining D, Kimmig R, Hofbauer LC, Bittner A-K. . High serum levels of periostin are associated with a poor survival in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res. Treat. 2020; 180:515–24.
Rachner TD, Kasimir-Bauer S, Göbel A, Erdmann K, Hoffmann O, Browne AJ, Wimberger P, Rauner M, Hofbauer LC, Kimmig R, Bittner AK. Prognostic value of RANKL/OPG serum levels and disseminated tumor cells in non-metastatic breast cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 25:1369-1378.
Rachner TD, Göbel A, Thiele S, Rauner M, Benad-Mehner P, Hadji P, Bauer T, Muders MH, Baretton GB, Jakob F, Ebert R, Bornhäuser M, Schem C, Hofbauer LC. Dickkopf-1 is regulated by the mevalonate pathway in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res. 2014 16:R20.
Links
Open postions
We are looking for a motivated technician (MTA, BTA, CTA) to complement our team as soon as possible. Check out the job offer, we are happy to receive your application!
Contact
© Marc Eisele
Tandemlab Goebel/Rachner
Visiting address:
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Bone Diseases Dresden
Haus19/5th floor, 5.128
Fetscherstraße 74
01307 Dresden
Postal address:
TUD Dresden University of Technology Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Bone Diseases Dresden Fetscherstrasse 74
01307 Dresden