DKFZ Heidelberg - Molecular Genome Analysis

The Gene Expression Profiling group (Dr. Sueltmann) wants to gain insights into the correlation of specific (marker) genes as well as metabolic and signalling pathways with tumor development and progression. Prediction of disease progression may soon become possible with the use of diagnostic DNA chips which are being developed in the laboratory. Gene expression data are compared with clinical, histological and cytogenetic data in order to find new (sub)classes of tumours.

In 1957, the German government invested 3 million Deutsch Marks into cancer research, which was used to establish a central research centre for cancer research in Heidelberg. The DKFZ (German Cancer Research Center) became officially what it is today in 1964.

PD Dr. rer. nat. Holger Sueltmann (Group Head)

Im Neuenheimer Feld 580
69120 Heidelberg
Germany
Phone: +49-6221-42-4646
Fax: +49-6221-42-3454

In projects regarding gene expression analyses in cancer, various disease specific microarrays for renal cell carcinoma, brain tumours and mamma carcinoma, containing between 4200 and 8800 genes and ESTs, were designed. Over 4000 disease-specific microarrays were processed. Since 2003 the group has processed over 4000 human “whole genome” cDNA microarrays, including 37,500 cDNA clones (annotated genes and ESTs). These are now used in collaborative projects on the analysis of differential gene expression in a variety of human diseases.