Hematopoeitic Stem Cells and Microenvironment
Arbeitsgruppe Prof. Dr. med. Götze
Research Interests
We are focused on studying leukemic stem cells in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). In particular, we are interested in the interaction between leukemic stem cells and their microenvironment (niche) in the bone marrow to identify and target critical pathways directing clonal evolution and enabling survival of leukemic stem cells through interaction with the stem cell niche. Current projects have an emphasis on epigenetic changes in the bone marrow microenvironment during clonal evolution in MDS and AML and involve use of transgenic and transplantation mouse models as well as primary human bone marrow samples.
Our projects are funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG, SFB 1243), the Jose Carreras Leukämiestiftung (EPISTROMA) and the German Cancer Consortium (Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung, DKTK). We have close collaborations with researchers at the Department of Mathematics for computational modeling of stem cell hierarchies and with the Jose Carreras Research Institute in Barcelona for research projects on epigenetics, chromatin, metabolism and cell fate.
PhD candidates interested in translational cancer research, cancer biology, hematopoieis, leukemia and/or stem cells are encouraged to contact us. Prior experience with stem cell assays, flow cytometry, bioinformatics, genomics or computational biology is highly desirable.
Wenk C, Garz A-K, Grath S, Huberle C, Witham D, Weickert M, Malinverni R, Niggemeyer J, Kyncl M, Hecker J, Pagel C, Mulholland CB, Müller-Thomas C, Leonhardt H, Bassermann F, Oostendorp RAJ, Metzeler KH, Buschbeck M, Götze KS (2018). Direct modulation of the bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cell compartment by azacitidine enhances healthy hematopoiesis. Blood Adv. 11;2(23):3447–61.
Wermke M, Eckoldt J, Götze KS, Klein SA, Bug G, de Wreede LC, Kramer M, Stölzel F, von Bonin M, Schetelig J, Laniado M, Plodeck V, Hofmann WK, Ehninger G, Bornhäuser M, Wolf D, Theurl I, Platzbecker U. Enhanced labile plasma iron and outcome in AML and MDS patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation – results from the prospective multicenter observational ALLIVE trial (2018). Lancet Haematology, May;5(5):e201-e210.
Platzbecker U, Middeke JM, Sockel K, Herbst R, Wolf D, Baldus CD, …Götze KS…Thiede C. (2018) Measurable residual disease-guided treatment with azacitidine to prevent haematological relapse in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukaemia (RELAZA2): an open-label, multicentre, phase 2 trial. Lancet Oncol.19(12):1668–79.
Platzbecker U, Germing U, Götze KS, Kiewe P, Mayer K, Chromik J, et al. (2017) Luspatercept for the treatment of anaemia in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (PACE-MDS): a multicentre, open-label phase 2 dose-finding study with long-term extension study. Lancet Oncol. 18(10):1338–47.
Park S, Hamel JF, Toma A, Kelaidi C, Thépot S, Campelo MD, Santini V, Sekeres MA, Balleari E, Kaivers J, Sapena R, Götze K, Müller-Thomas C, Beyne-Rauzy O, Stamatoullas A, Kotsianidis I, Komrokji R, Steensma DP, Fensterl J, Roboz GJ, Bernal T, Ramos F, Calabuig M, Guerci-Bresler A, Bordessoule D, Cony-Makhoul P, Cheze S, Wattel E, Rose C, Vey N, Gioia D, Ferrero D, Gaidano G, Cametti G, Pane F, Sanna A, Germing U, Sanz GF, Dreyfus F, Fenaux P (2017). Outcome of Lower-Risk Patients With Myelodysplastic Syndromes Without 5q Deletion After Failure of Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents. J Clin Oncol. 10;35(14):1591-1597.
Klaeger S, Heinzlmeir S, Wilhelm M, Polzer H, Vick B, Koenig PA, Reinecke M, Ruprecht B, Petzoldt S, Meng C, Zecha J, Reiter K, Qiao H, Helm D, Koch H, Schoof M, Canevari G, Casale E, Depaolini SR, Feuchtinger A, Wu Z, Schmidt T, Rueckert L, Becker W, Huenges J, Garz AK, Gohlke BO, Zolg DP, Kayser G, Vooder T, Preissner R, Hahne H, Tõnisson N, Kramer K, Götze KS, Bassermann F, Schlegl J, Ehrlich HC, Aiche S, Walch A, Greif PA, Schneider S, Felder ER, Ruland J, Médard G, Jeremias I, Spiekermann K, Kuster B (2017). The target landscape of clinical kinase drugs. Science.1;358(6367).
Garz A-K, Wolf S, Grath S, Gaidzik V, Habringer S, Vick B,Rudelius M, Ziegenhain C, Herold S, Weickert MT, Smets M, Peschel C, Oostendorp RAJ, Bultmann S, Jeremias I, Thiede C, Döhner K, Keller U, Götze KS (2017). Azacitidine combined with the selective FLT3 kinase inhibitor crenolanib disrupts stromal protection and inhibits expansion of residual leukemia-initiating cells in FLT3-ITD AML with concurrent epigenetic mutations. Oncotarget. 12;8(65):108738–59.
Schreck C, Istvánffy R, Ziegenhain C, Sippenauer T, Ruf F, Henkel L, Gärtner F, Vieth B, Florian MC, Mende N, Taubenberger A, Prendergast Á, Wagner A, Pagel C, Grziwok S, Götze KS, Guck J, Dean DC, Massberg S, Essers M, Waskow C, Geiger H, Schiemann M, Peschel C, Enard W, Oostendorp RA (2017). Niche WNT5A regulates the actin cytoskeleton during regeneration of hematopoietic stem cells. J Exp Med. 214(1):165-181.
Eichner R, Heider M, Fernández-Sáiz V, van Bebber F, Garz A-K, Lemeer S, …Götze KS, Kuster B and Bassermann F (2016). Immunomodulatory drugs disrupt the cereblon-CD147-MCT1 axis to exert antitumor activity and teratogenicity. Nat Med. 22(7):735–43.
Herhaus P, Habringer S, Philipp-Abbrederis K, Vag T, Gerngross C, Schottelius M, Slotta-Huspenina J, Steiger K, Altmann T, Weißer T, Steidle S, Schick M, Jacobs L, Slawska J, Müller-Thomas C, Verbeek M, Subklewe M, Peschel C, Wester HJ, Schwaiger M, Götze K, Keller U (2016). Targeted positron emission tomography imaging of CXCR4 expression in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Haematologica. Aug;101(8):932-40.
Jilg S, Reidel V, Müller-Thomas C, König J, Schauwecker J, Höckendorf U, Huberle C, Gorka O, Schmidt B, Burgkart R, Ruland J, Kolb HJ, Peschel C, Oostendorp RA, Götze KS, Jost PJ (2016). Blockade of BCL-2 proteins efficiently induces apoptosis in progenitor cells of high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes patients. Leukemia. Jan;30(1):112-23.
Principal Investigator
Prof. Dr. med. Katharina Götze
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Laboratory: Trogerstrasse 32
Lab Members (alphabetical)
Jennifer Beauvarlet, Post-doc
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Dr. Judith Hecker, resident
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Michele Buck, PhD student
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Jonas Lang, medical student
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Romina Ludwig, PhD student
Luisa Vogel, medical student
Mark Van der Garde
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Application
Written applications including CV are welcome and should be forwarded by e-mail(link sends e-mail) to Prof. Katharina Götze.

Third party funding
DFG – Research Center SFB1243(link is external)
DJCLS Jose Carreras Leukämie Stiftung 14R/2018 2019-2021
DKTK Joint Funding CHOICE 2019-2021
Ihr Ansprechpartner
Prof. Dr. med. Katharina Götze Principal Investigator
Laboratory: Trogerstr. 32