Keller Lab | MDC Berlin

Our utmost goal is to identify and target crucial cancer cell vulnerabilities while sparing normal tissue. From discovery approaches to validation and preclinical testing. Aiming for clinical application.

Cancer originates from normal cells through genetic and epigenetic alterations. By employing forward genomic screening we start from a known gene mutation or cancer-associated condition and investigate the path that results in a manifest malignancy. Major further focus areas of the lab include: oncoprotein-induced disturbance of post-translational protein modifications, in particular SUMOylation, and sensing of DNA damage; constitutively activated B-cell receptor and chemokine receptor signaling; and molecular cancer imaging and theranostics.

Group Leader

Prof. Dr. med. Ulrich Keller

Team

Markus Schick, M.Sc., Postdoc

Matthias Wirth, PD Dr. rer. nat., Scientist

Stefan Habringer, Dr. med. Dr. univ., Clinician scientist

Jolanta Slawska, M.Sc., Technical assistant (affiliation: TUM)

Konstandina Isaakidis, B.Sc., Technical assistant

Veronika Schulze, M.Sc., Technical assistant

Stefanos Alexandros Bamopoulos, Clinician scientist

Nikita Nikita, PhD student

Le Zhang, MD student

Minh Ho, B.Sc., Technical assistant

Yingfen Hong, MD student (TUM)

Josefina Doffo, M.Sc., PhD student (affiliation: TUM)

Elena Rohleder, Dr. med., Clinician scientist

Sven Liebig, Clinician scientist

Francis Baumgartner, Dr. med., Clinician scientist

Uta Demel, Dr. med., Clinician scientist

Richard Lewis, MD student (affiliation: TUM/Charité)

Stavroula Litsiou, Pharmacist, PhD student

Laura Schmalbrock, Dr. med., Clinician scientist

Enio Gjerga, M.sc., Bioinformatician, Postdoc

Currently, the Keller Group focuses on the following research projects:

Myc-associated cancer biology

Functional genomic screening

Aberrant Ub/SUMO activity in cancer

Chemokine receptor signaling

Functional imaging and theranostics

October 12, 2021 in EJNMMI Res

Rationale for MYC imaging and targeting in pancreatic cancer

G. Schneider
M. Wirth
U. Keller
D. Saur

October 01, 2021 in Leukemia

CXCR4 hyperactivation cooperates with TCL1 in CLL development and aggressiveness

R. Lewis
H.C. Maurer
N. Singh
I. Gonzalez-Menendez
M. Wirth
M. Schick
L. Zhang
K. Isaakidis
A.K. Scherger
V. Schulze
J. Lu
T. Zenz
K. Steiger
R. Rad
L. Quintanilla-Martinez
M. Espeli
K. Balabanian
U. Keller
S. Habringer

August 21, 2021 in EJNMMI Res

Investigation of spleen CXCR4 expression by [(68)Ga]Pentixafor PET in a cohort of 145 solid cancer patients

R. Lewis
S. Habringer
M. Kircher
M. Hefter
C.A. Peuker
R. Werner
V. Ademaj-Kospiri
A. Gäble
W. Weber
H.J. Wester
A. Buck
P. Herhaus
C. Lapa
U. Keller

August 20, 2021 in Leuk Lymphoma

Ibrutinib- and bortezomib-extended R-CHOP induction in elderly higher-risk patients newly diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma - first analysis of toxicity and efficacy signals

S. Denker
A. Bittner
M. Frick
J. Kase
J. Hoffmann
C. Trenker
U. Keller
C. Bogner
A. Hüttmann
J. Dürig
M. Janz
S. Mathas
R. Marks
U. Krohn
I.K. Na
L. Bullinger
C.A. Schmitt

July 30, 2021 in J Immunother Cancer

High-affinity T-cell receptor specific for MyD88 L265P mutation for adoptive T-cell therapy of B-cell malignancies

Ö. Çınar
B. Brzezicha
C. Grunert
P.M. Kloetzel
C. Beier
C.A. Peuker
U. Keller
A. Pezzutto
A. Busse

July 13, 2021 in Blood Adv

Polatuzumab vedotin as a salvage and bridging treatment in relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphomas

June 01, 2021 in Lancet Haematol

PET-guided eBEACOPP treatment of advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma (HD18): follow-up analysis of an international, open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial

May 27, 2021 in Haematologica

Characteristics and outcome of patients with low-/intermediate-risk acute promyelocytic leukemia treated with arsenic trioxide - an international collaborative study

May 13, 2021 in Blood

A randomized phase 3 trial of autologous vs allogeneic transplantation as part of first-line therapy in poor-risk peripheral T-NHL

May 12, 2021 in Cancers

Spontaneous non-sustained ventricular tachycardia and premature ventricular contractions and their prognostic relevance in patients with cancer in routine care

A. Albrecht
J. Porthun
J. Eucker
A.J.S. Coats
S. von Haehling
A. Pezzutto
M. Karakas
H. Riess
U. Keller
U. Landmesser
W. Haverkamp
S.D. Anker
M.S. Anker

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 824, SFB 1335)
Deutsche Krebshilfe
Sander Stiftung
EU/BMBF Horizon 2020
German Cancer Consortium (DKTK)
Stiftung Charité
Berlin Institute of Health (BIH)
Berliner Krebsgesellschaft