CRC-Res

Lead Institution: Medical University Vienna

Partner Institution: University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna

Head: Dr.med.univ. Johannes Längle, PhD

Mentor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Oliver Strobel

Deputy Heads: Ao.Univ.-Prof. Dr.med.univ. Michael Bergmann,  Mag. Dr. Matthias Farlik-Födinger

Contact: : pep-erf@zrqhavjvra.np.ng

For about half of all people with colorectal cancer, current medical treatments cannot offer a cure. This is especially the case when the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, a process known as metastasis. In these situations, chemotherapy or immunotherapy are often the only remaining treatment options. Although many patients initially respond well to these therapies, the cancer frequently becomes resistant over time. Treating the disease is made even more difficult by the fact that every tumor is slightly different. For this reason, personalized tumor models are needed to better understand how treatment resistance develops.
In recent years, scientists have developed new techniques that allow human tumors to be grown in the laboratory in small dishes. Early research suggests that these patient-specific tumor cultures may help predict how well a particular therapy will work for an individual and can be used to test different drugs. However, these models still need to be further improved and carefully validated.
The CRC-Res research team has developed and standardized advanced tumor models that more closely reflect real tumors in the human body. These models include not only cancer cells, but also supporting tissue cells and immune cells taken from the same patient. This is an important step forward, as resistance to treatment often arises from interactions between tumor cells and the immune system. In addition, the team has developed mouse models in which metastatic tumors grow with the same genetic features as those found in patients.
Using these improved models, the researchers aim to identify new treatment targets to overcome therapy resistance. The team has already discovered two new combinations of drugs that effectively counter resistance to chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy. These combinations are now being tested in patients with advanced, metastatic cancer who have no remaining standard treatment options.
Another promising approach involves taking a small piece of a patient’s tumor, growing it in the laboratory, and testing which drug combinations work best against it. The most effective treatment can then be selected and given to the patient. This innovative strategy has the potential to make truly personalized cancer treatment a reality. Importantly, this approach could be applied to many different types of solid tumors and may help patients live longer and better lives.