German Cancer Research Center

STAT3 operates as an inflammation-dependent transcriptional switch in antiviral NK cells

The immune system integrates signals to regulate immune responses, forming complex context-dependent networks where identical cues produce distinct outcomes. Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) transcription factors convert cytokine receptor engagement into tr...

Insulin-mediated ciliary remodeling in the choroid plexus epithelium

Abstract The choroid plexus (ChP) epithelium plays a crucial role in cerebrospinal fluid production and brain homeostasis. ChP is mainly composed of multiciliated epithelial cells that exhibit a noncanonical ciliary organization whose function is still debated. Insulin signaling...

Real‐World Experience With Multimodal Treatment of Resectable Stage II – III Non‐Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Single Institutional Analysis

ABSTRACT Neoadjuvant therapy has recently become an integral component of multimodal treatment for resectable lung cancer. However, real‐world data on perioperative morbidity and treatment adherence remain limited. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and safety of differen...

Globalising the access to advanced molecular diagnostics of CNS tumors: Experience of the Molecular Neuro-Pathology (MNP) Outreach Consortium

Central nervous system (CNS) tumors pose a major global health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where outcomes remain disproportionately poor. The global CONCORD-3 study (Lancet Oncology) highlighted stark disparities in five-year survival (201...

Durable treatment response to Trastuzumab deruxtecan in two patients with recurrent grade III anaplastic ependymoma

Abstract Background Anaplastic ependymoma is a rare and aggressive central nervous system malignancy for which effective systemic treatment options are limited. Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd), an antibody–drug conjugate targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), h...

The HEADSpAcE Data Center: An international data and biospecimen resource for head and neck cancer translational research

Head and neck cancer (HNC) comprises a heterogeneous group of malignancies with substantial variation in incidence, risk factors, and outcomes across populations. Existing studies are often limited by regional scope or lack integration of epidemiological, clinical, and molecular...

Sitagliptin for Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease Prevention in Alternative Donor Transplantation: A Randomized Phase III Trial

PURPOSE This trial evaluated whether the addition of sitagliptin to antithymocyte globulin (ATG)–based prophylaxis reduces the incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) after alternative donor hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. METHODS This prospective, multicent...

Rapid and Efficient Affinity Isolation of Engineered Extracellular Vesicles Encapsulating Functional Proteins via Internal Twin‐Strep Tetraspanin Tagging

ABSTRACT Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are mediators of intercellular communication and promising protein‐delivery vehicles, but isolation of sufficiently pure, intact, engineered EVs remains challenging due to abundant cellular and serum‐derived contaminants. Here, structure‐guid...

Federated EGA in the European and Global Human Data Ecosystem

This Federated EGA in the European and Global Human Data Ecosystem white paper sets out our vision for the future role of Federated EGA (FEGA) in supporting secure, responsible and FAIR reuse of controlled-access human data. It describes how FEGA has developed into an operational...

Peritumoral B cells in primary colorectal cancer and synchronous liver metastases associate with longer survival

Abstract Purpose Prognostic value of local B cells across nontumor colon mucosa (NM), primary colorectal cancer (pCRC), and its paired synchronous and metachronous liver metastases (LM) are currently under investigation. This retrospective, single-center, hypothesis-generating st...

Systemic Inflammation and Colorectal Cancer: Assessing the Role of Reverse Causality

Background/Objectives: Prospective studies have reported associations between systemic inflammatory biomarkers and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, but whether these reflect a causal role of inflammation or responses to preclinical disease remains uncertain. Methods: Using data from...

Distinct Plasma Proteomic Signatures Distinguish MASLD From Non‐Steatotic Individuals but Not From MetALD

ABSTRACT Background and Aims Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most prevalent liver disease, yet accurate early detection remains challenging. A particular diagnostic obstacle is distinguishing MASLD from metabolic dysfunction and alcohol‐rel...

AI Dermatology's Unfulfilled Promise: Why Early Melanoma Detection Remains Unverified

A growing number of artificial intelligence (AI) systems for melanoma diagnosis now match dermatologist-level performance. Early detection is a driving factor, yet it is rarely validated beyond aggregate diagnostic accuracy. More targeted studies are necessary so these claims bec...

Allocation of TSPO-PET signals to cellular and extracellular compartments in dependence of blood-brain barrier disruption in experimental glioblastoma

BACKGROUND: Translocator protein (TSPO)-PET imaging facilitates monitoring of glioblastoma in preclinical models and patients. However, specificity of TSPO-PET signals remains to be investigated. In this study, we aimed to decipher exact contributions of cellular and extracellula...

Divergent medulloblastoma chromatin states disclose KDM2B as a selective dependency

Abstract Medulloblastoma is a biologically heterogeneous childhood cerebellar tumor harboring frequent chromatin-modifying gene alterations. How these alterations promote transcriptional programs governing malignancy remains poorly defined. To address this knowledge gap, we evalu...

Proteogenomic Analysis of HDAC4 and HDAC5 in Uveal Melanoma

Abstract Uveal melanoma (UM) is a rare but aggressive cancer arising from cells of the uveal tract that is highly resistant to therapy once it has metastasized. In drug screening experiments, we identified a high sensitivity of primary UM cell lines to the pan-histone deacetylase...

The Protective Effect of Chlorella vulgaris Supplement Against Mercury Exposure Is Associated with DMT1: A Transcriptomic Analysis

Daily supplements have emerged as a compelling strategy for heavy metal detoxification (e.g., Hg and Pb), given that conventional chelation therapy lacks chronic exposure data and is heavily reliant on the doctor’s experience. Among such natural agents, Chlorella vulgaris (C. vul...

The Second Nitrogen Fits: Development of Diazine-Based Macrocyclic Chelators to Stably Bind Radionuclides Used in Targeted Alpha Therapy

Abstract Identifying suitable chelators for 212Pb, 223Ra, and 225Ac and their diagnostic counterparts 131Ba, 133La, and 203Pb remains one of the major challenges in the development of radiopharmaceuticals for targeted alpha therapy. Four novel macrocyclic chelators containing the...

Schiff Base Derivatives of Benzothiazole and Benzamide as Promising Antimicrobial Agents: Integrated In Silico and In Vitro Evaluation

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains a critical global health challenge, demanding new scaffolds with potent and broad‐spectrum activity. In this work, a library of Schiff‐base derivatives of benzothiazoles ( 2a–2f ) and benzamides ( 5a–5i ) was designed, synthesised via a micr...

Management of Soft Tissue and Visceral Leiomyosarcomas

Importance Leiomyosarcoma is a rare and heterogeneous malignant mesenchymal neoplasm associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Given recent advances in biologic understanding and the complexity of leiomyosarcoma, a consensus-driven approach is needed to harmonize manag...