Seed Funding Program 2023
HypoxRM
Radiomics and Multiomics integration for tumor hypoxia characterization
Coordinator
Maria José Besso
Radioonkologie / Radiobiologie, DKFZ
Detailed description
Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) are malignant tumors that can originate in numerous locations in the oral cavity and upper respiratory tract. In Germany, around 17,000 people are diagnosed with head and neck cancer every year. A key treatment for HNSCC is radiation therapy. However, the emergence of radiation resistance occurs, in part due to the presence of regions in the tumor with poor oxygenation, a condition known as “hypoxia”. Efforts have been made to render hypoxic cancer cells more sensitive to radiation by increasing the oxygen availability during treatment. This “reoxygenation” also occurs after radiation, though it may have a negative impact on the treatment. This suggests that these transiently hypoxic cells are important in understanding why some patients do not respond well to radiation treatment. Nowadays, it is known that hypoxia is a dynamic phenomenon that can virtually affect any cell in the tumor ecosystem.
In this project, new techniques will be implemented that will allow to measure the oxygen status on a cellular level and use samples stored in biobanks. Single cells and their surroundings will be investigated by means of advanced imaging techniques. Results are expected to deliver hints how the fluctuating oxygen levels affect cancer cells and their respective impact on treatment. This knowledge can help to find better ways to treat HNSCC in the future.