DKTK/TranslaTUM Seminar Series: Targeting the MYC-SUMO connection in cancer (U. Keller)

Ulrich Keller is physician scientist specializing in hematology and oncology. He is the Director of the Medical Clinic for Hematology and Oncology at Charité’s Campus Benjamin Franklin. In addition, he is the Speaker of the DKTK partner site Berlin, the Medical Director of the Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center and leads a research group at the Max Delbrück Center (MDC) focusing on mechanism-based cancer therapies. 

His research centers on the molecular mechanisms of hematological and blood cancers, with a strong emphasis on post-translational modifications such as SUMOylation. Notably, his team discovered that loss of the SUMO-specific protease SENP6 promotes genomic instability in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, identifying a novel tumor-suppressive pathway. This work revealed that SENP6-deficient lymphomas are particularly vulnerable to PARP inhibition, laying the groundwork for targeted therapies in this subtype. Beyond lymphoma, Ulrich has contributed significantly to the field of molecular oncology by exploring SUMO pathway vulnerabilities in solid tumors such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, highlighting the translational potential of targeting MYC-driven cancers.