Clinical Cancer Evolution
welcome to the CanEvo lab
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"In essence, everything in biology is evolution" ~ Theodosius Dobzhansky
We are a team of molecular biologists, biotechnicians, and medical scientists based at the Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology at Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Together, we investigate the mechanisms behind cancer treatment resistance, with a focus on how tumors evolve and adapt over time. By uncovering these evolutionary dynamics, we strive to develop smarter, more durable therapies that can be directly translated into clinical care.
Cancer Evolution in the Clinic
Cancer is not static—it evolves. Cancer evolution is the process where cancer cells undergo changes over time, leading to disease development and progression. Like organisms in nature, cancer cells face pressures such as immune responses, limited resources, and therapy. These challenges select for cells with traits that promote survival, growth, and adaptation.
Tumor heterogeneity—the variation in cancer cells within and between tumors—is a key driver of cancer evolution and contributes to treatment resistance.
By applying evolutionary principles—including both Darwinian and non-Darwinian models—we gain critical insights into how tumors change over time. This knowledge helps predict treatment responses and supports the development of more effective, personalized therapies.
Our mission
Most studies on cancer evolution rely on archived tissue, offering only a retrospective view. Our mission is to bring evolutionary medicine into the clinic by studying cancer progression in real time. By monitoring how tumors adapt under treatment, we aim to identify vulnerabilities like fitness costs and minimal residual disease.
To address the critical gap in understanding relapsed and late-stage cancers—especially in colorectal and pediatric tumors—we use patient-derived organoids (PDOs) as powerful, patient-near models to track tumor evolution and treatment resistance.
Projects overview
Patient-Derived 3D Tumoroid Platforms
Evolutionary medicine in the clinic
Resistence/ Plasticity
