Experimental Radiotherapy and Radiobiology of Tumors

	Prof. Dr. med. Michael Baumann Group Leader Email: Michael.Baumann[at]Oncoray.de
	PD Dr. med. Mechthild Krause Group Leader Email: Mechthild.Krause[at]uniklinikum-dresden.de

PD Dr. med. Daniel Zips Group Leader Daniel.Zips[at]uniklinikum-dresden.de

• Identification of tumour specific factors of radioresistance
• Combination of radiotherapy with novel drugs to increase the radiosensitivity of    tumours
• Individualization of treatment by prediction of tumour response to radiotherapy
• Biological imaging to guide specific clinical interventions in combination with    radiotherapy

Unlimited growth is one of the hallmarks of malignant tumours. Underlying mechanisms include mutations, facilitation of cell cycle progression, resistance to apoptosis, increased expression of different molecules and changes in the tumour micromilieu. Radioresistance of tumours may be affected by several of these factors. For example, some tumours are poorly supplied with oxygen and therefore very resistant to therapies. Other tumours are very efficient in recovery of radiation -induced damage or keep proliferating during treatment. To clarify the importance of these factors we use clinically relevant experimental endpoints (tumour cure) and analyse biological and physiological mechanisms by a panel of molecular, radiobiological and imaging methods.

The aim of this research is to understand the biological mechanisms underlying the heterogeneity of tumour response to fractionated irradiation or combined treatments. From this, predictive biological assays and rational molecular targeting approaches in combination with radiotherapy are developed, which may be translated into clinical practice of modern personalised radiotherapy.

Epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) are able to regulate cell survival, apoptosis and cell division. EGFR inhibitors are promising drugs to enhance the anti-tumour activity of ionizing radiation.