The clinical cancer evolution lab.
We are a team of molecular biologists, biotechnicians, and medical scientists based at the Department of Pediatric Surgery in the Charité Universitätsmedizin hospital, 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 aim to develop more effective, durable therapy strategies that can be translated into clinical care.
Cancer evolution in the clinic
Cancer is not a static disease – it evolves. Much like organisms in nature, cancer cells are shaped by selective pressures. These include immune responses, limited access to nutrients or oxygen, and, critically, therapeutic interventions. These challenges select for cells with traits that promote survival and adaptation, and drive disease progression and treatment resistance. Understanding this evolutionary process is crucial for anticipating cancer’s next adaptation and staying one step ahead in the clinic.
Our Mission
Most cancer evolution studies rely on archived tissue samples, offering only a retrospective glimpse into a patient’s disease. At the Clinical Cancer Evolution lab, our mission is to study this evolution in the present. We track how tumors adapt to treatment in real time, revealing critical vulnerabilities such as fitness costs and minimal residual disease.
To close the gap in patient-specific, real-time monitoring, we use patient-derived tumoroid models. These living systems, grown directly from patient tumor samples, allow us to observe cancer evolution as it happens and uncover mechanisms of treatment resistance.