Workgroup Ass.-Prof.in Mag.a Dr.in Katrina Vanura
Ass. Prof. Katrina Vanura, MSc PhD
Department of Medicine I
Division of Hematology & Hemostaseology
Medical University of Vienna
Währinger Gürtel 18-20
A-1090 Vienna. Austria
Phone: +43(0)1 40 400 73781
Fax: +43(0)1 40 400 73595
E-Mail: katrina.vanura@meduniwien.ac.at
Laboratory at the Anna Spiegel Forschungsgebäude / Center for Translational Research
Lazarettgasse 14
A-1090 Vienna
Austria
Research:
Our research encompasses various aspects of lymphoid malignancies - host and tumor genetics, environmental factors, sex specific differences, markers for prognosis and treatment response, and drug development.
Host and tumor genetics: Previous research lines included molecular studies of translocations found in acute leukemia and lymphoma. In particular, the role of V(D)J recombination was studied to refine our mechanistic understanding and to determine more precisely its contribution to genetic aberrations and to genome plasticity found in blood cancer patients and healthy individuals. More recently, we began to study the role of copy number variations (CNV) and the resulting differences in gene expression in lymphoid malignancies. These aspects are being explored both with regard to a potential involvement in the development of hematologic neoplasms and in cancer biology and treatment.
Environmental factors: Chronic antigenic stimulation of the immune system is being considered a risk factor for the development of lymphoid neoplasms. The biological background for this phenomenon, however, remains unclear.
We try to tackle this aspect from several sides: in epidemiological studies, we assess the prevalence of chronic inflammatory conditions in lymphoma patients at diagnosis and try to determine the clinical impact of chronic conditions on cancer prognosis. Experimentally, we try to link more precisely infectious agents with B-cell neoplasms, in particular chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Future perspectives incorporate functional studies in cell lines and primary cells in vitro , taking into account backgrounds of both chronic infections and autoimmune diseases.
Sex-specific differences: Hematologic malignancies are characterized by a male to female ratio of 1.5-3:1, depending on the neoplasm. The reason for this increased risk of men to develop blood cancer is entirely in the dark. Also, female sex is associated with good prognosis and better response to treatment in many of the diseases. Hard facts regarding sex-specific differences are, however, mostly lacking.
Using CLL as model system, we are developing a project line to systematically acquire data which may help to elucidate these differences, to better understand the biology of CLL, and which could lead to different therapeutic approaches taking into account biological differences of the sexes.
Markers for prognosis and treatment response: Based on mRNA gene expression analysis carried out on the good and bad prognostic subgroups in CLL1, we screened several genes and pathways with regard to their usability as prognostic markers. We could describe several genes, where mRNA gene expression is associated with bad prognosis thus serving as surrogate prognostic markers2,3,4,5. In addition, we are working on the characterization of genes which are associated with treatment response. This work may help to understand the reason for bad response or no response during cancer treatment and could lead to alternative therapeutic regimens based on the expression of certain genes.
1 Bilban et al. (2006) Leukemia 20, 1080.
2 Heintel et al. (2004) Leukemia 18, 756.
3 Heintel et al. (2005) Leukemia 19, 1216.
4 Kainz et al. (2007) Int J Cancer 121, 1850.
5 Porpaczy et al. (2009) Eur J Clin Inv 39, 568.
Drug development: B-cell neoplasms are among the most common malignancies in Western countries. Current therapeutic options include chemotherapy, small molecules, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplantations, often combination chemo-immunotherapies or sequential therapies are necessary to achieve optimal results. Nonetheless, many hematologic malignancies have to be considered incurable, and novel treatment options are needed to provide tailored therapy for patients.
In a co-operation with the Department of Medicinal Chemistry of the University of Vienna we are currently investigating several novel compounds with regard to their efficacy to induce cell death in B-cell malignancies. On one hand, we work at drug development, exploring different strategies of cytotoxicity, and to achieve higher efficacy and usability in cells and organisms. On the other hand, we study the biological changes induced by the drugs to better understand their mode of action. This knowledge is then used for further refinement and development of the drugs.
Publications:
Pubmed publication record
Staff:
| Technician: | Trang Le, Biomedical Scientist |
| PhD Students: | Michaela Gruber, MD Edit Porpaczy, MD |
| Master Students: | Karl Hermann Patricia Weiss |
| Cooperation Partners: | Ass. Prof. Christoph Steininger, Priv.-Doz. MD Franz Rieder Department of Medicine I Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Medical University of Vienna Website Infectious Diseases Prof. Thomas Erker, PhD Department of Medicinal Chemistry Faculty of Life Sciences University of Vienna Website Medicinal Chemistry Prof. Alexandra Kautzky-Willer, MD Interdisciplinary Gender Medicine Facility Medical University of Vienna Website A. Kautzky-Willer |
Links:
Platform for Accelerated Drug Optimisation in Malignant Diseases (PADO)
Anna Spiegel Forschungsgebäude
Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna (CCC)
American Society of Hematology
Atlas of Genetics and Cytogenetics in Oncology and Haematology
Children´s Cancer Research Institute
European Hematology Association
European Leukemia Net
European Research Initiative on CLL
GEN-AU: Genome Research in Austria
Initiative Krebsforschung
