Researcher Database
Dr. Henner Farin
Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy
Paul-Ehrlich-Str. 42-44
60596 Frankfurt
Programs
Exploitation of Oncogenic Mechanisms (EOM)
Molecularly Targeted Therapy (MTT)
Summary
The main interest of my DKTK Young Investigator group at the Georg-Speyer-Haus is how exogenous signals regulate normal and cancerigenous stem cells in the human gut. Our lab explores the 3D ‘organoid’ culture system as cellular model. With the help of our clinical collaborators we establish patient-specific organoids from colon cancer biopsies. Defined genetic models age generated by engineering of oncogenic lesions in normal human colon organoids using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology to reflect distinct stages of tumor progression. We perform molecular characterization in vitro (genomic sequencing, RNA sequencing in co-cultures, proteome profiling and drug testing) to link tumor genotypes with phenotypes. In order to address microenvironmental signaling context we use organoid xenotransplantation models that are differentially compared with in vitro cultures and primary tumor samples. Our goal is to identify new strategies to interfere with stromal crosstalk.
DKTK Junior Group Leader for Cancer Systems Biology
Single-cell approaches have not only revealed a wide variety of cell states, characterized by cells exhibiting striking differences in their transcriptional profile, but have also illuminated the mechanisms underlying state transitions in health and disease. Cellular plasticity and adaptive state changes have recently emerged as a basis for therapeutic resistance in cancer, and a better understanding of how cell state transitions are regulated is critical to develop therapeutic approaches that can overcome therapy resistance.
Our research focuses on understanding the mechanisms driving non-genetic cellular heterogeneity and therapy resistance in malignancy. Using novel single-cell sequencing approaches, we seek to develop new experimental and computational strategies to define altered cell states in both, cancer and immune cells. Our aim is to leverage a data driven strategy combined with single cell genomics and systems biology to address the challenges posed by heterogeneity in cancer, and to develop new strategies to overcome it, with the aim of translating laboratory-based findings into the clinic.