Cancer Stem Cell Core (CSCC)

Novel strategies in cancer diagnostics and therapy rely on high quality and life-relevant research. We know that inter- and intratumoural heterogeneity is an obstacle to successful treatment and is driven by populations of highly aggressive and therapy resistant Tumour Initiating Cells (TICs) of stem like characteristics. Investigation into behaviour, stress response and molecular mechanisms which drive TICs is essential for testing and discovery of novel therapeutic targets. CSCC has established several collaborations with local and international clinical partners to obtain fresh brain and breast cancer tissue specimens from surgical resections and biopsies.

We have good expertise in the specimen banking, cancer cell extraction, TIC enrichment, culture, characterization, and in vivo propagation. CSCC has access to top of the line tools and routinely performs several high-throughput assays and screening on low propagated and life-relevant material. Over the years we developed several successful collaborations including multidisciplinary research with chemists, biochemists, physicists, and engineers. CSCC’s aim is to facilitate and accelerate the growth of local research and to foster national and international collaborations.