Lena Tschirner: PhD student
Prof. Dr. med Rhoikos Furtwängler: project supervisor
Prof. Michele Bernasconi: project co-supervisor

CAR T cells are engineered T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). CARs are fusion proteins composed by an extracellular antigen binding moiety recognizing tumor surface antigens, a transmembrane domain, and intracellular effector domains. CAR T cells therapy is one of the most promising approaches against relapsed or otherwise untreatable cancer. Since 2018, our laboratory focuses on this personalized immunotherapy, in order to enhance the normal capacity of the patient's immune system to recognize and attack the tumor. Investigation of surfaceome in Wilms tumor patients’ samples will allow the selection of specific targets, against which CAR T cells will be generated. In vitro selection will reveal which targets are the most likely to eliminate tumors in vivo. These will be further validated and translated into clinical trials.

Cooperation with: Prof. M. Gessler, Dr. Jenny Wegert, University of Würzburg; Prof. C Vokuhl, University Hospital Bonn

Caroline Piccand, PhD student
Prof. Michele Bernasconi: project supervisor
PD Dr. Jochen Rössler: project co-supervisor

Rabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children and adolescents. The poor prognosis and the low overall survival rates for metastatic, high-grade, and relapsed RMS, highlight the urgent need for more effective therapies.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cells are engineered T cells recognizing specific targets on the surface of tumor cells and induce killing. While CAR T cells have shown remarkable success in patients with hematological malignancies, their efficacy against solid tumors. Our recent studies identified B7-H3, L1CAM, and FGFR4 as promising RMS targets. However, while B7-H3-CAR T cells showed strong activity in vitro and achieved complete remission in two orthotopic RMS mouse models expressing high B7-H3 levels, FGFR4-CAR T cells exhibited only a partial response in vivo. Moreover, B7-H3-CAR T cells failed to eradicated tumors expressing lower levels of B7-H3.

To overcome these limitations we are investigating next generation CAR T cells coexpressing enzymes to increase tumor penetration, armed with alternative CAR to overcome antigen escape.

Stenija Anton Joseph, PhD student
Prof. Michele Bernasconi: project supervisor
PD Dr. Jochen Rössler: project co-supervisor

In this project we explore targeted drug delivery by drug-loaded nanoparticles decorated with cancer-specific ligands to promote tumor accumulation and decrease systemic toxicity. We are developing lipid nanoparticles called liposomes. Liposomes are small lipid vesicles, approximately 100 nm in size and can be loaded with chemotherapeutic agents. We have performed a fluorescent-based screening of peptides and nanobody ligands to target the most common pediatric soft tissue sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma. We have optimized the technology to decorate nanoparticles with these molecules. The most effective nanoparticle design are now being tested in pre-clinical models.

Cooperation with: Prof. Paola Luciani, Departement für Chemie und Biochemie, Universität Bern. Dr. Franck Perez, Dr. Sandrine Moutel, Institut Curie, Paris, France.

HERMES: In patients with hemophilia A and B (PWH), the availability of clotting factor concentrates and the introduction of prophylactic home treatment in developed countries greatly improved clinical outcomes. As the life expectancy of PWH has increased, the management of comorbidities has become an area of greater focus within the hemophilia comprehensive care setting. Although most studies focused on somatic problems and complications, a small but growing body of work reports increased prevalence of mental health problems in PWH. To date, very little is known on factors that influence mental ill-health of PWH. The aim of this project is to pilot a Switzerland-based, multicentre, cross-sectional study that is designed to assess the relationship between hemophilia and comorbid mental health problems (including quality of life and psychosocial functioning) in different age groups using psychiatric interviews and psychological questionnaires, and investigate whether age moderates this relationship.

This pilot study will show feasibility and meaningfulness of research on mental ill-health in hemophilia and will set the ground for a larger, multicentre project.

Cooperating partners: Prof. Dr. Johanna Kremer Hovinga, Department of Hematology, Inselspital Bern; Prof. Dr. Michael Kaess, PD Dr. Julian Koenig, Stefan Lerch, University Hospital for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, UPD Bern

Influence of specific cancer therapies and chronic disease on emotions and mental health
MSc Sabine Nafzger, PhD student
Dr. med. Martina De Gaudenzi, postdoctoral researcher
Dr. med. Mutlu Kartal-Kaess, principal investigator

EMOKid: Glucocorticoids (GC) in supranormal dosing play an important role in the treatment regimens of pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), Hodgkin`s disease (HD) and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Since their introduction in the 1950s, GC have been associated with emotional dysregulation (EDR), ranging from psychotic symptoms to mild changes in mood and cognition, in addition to their well-known physical side effects. The majority of research on EDR associated with GC treatment has been in adult populations, while only a number of controlled prospective trials in children and adolescents provide preliminary findings on GC associated EDR. In particular, it has been difficult to disentangle EDR caused by GC from "normal" responses to stress and anxiety provoked by the underlying illness for which GC are prescribed.

In this study named "EMOKid", we are prospectively analysing EDR due to GC therapy in children with hematological malignancies, mainly ALL, NHL and HD. We aim to address individual variation within patients by standardized assessment of GC effects on emotional states and reactions, neurocognitive functioning (such as emotion recognition, -inhibition and memory), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) as well as psychophysiological and neuroendocrine activity during a GC treatment phase compared to a GC free interval (within-subject).

Cooperatiion with: Prof. Dr. Michael Kaess, PD Dr. Julian Koenig, Stefan Lerch, University Hospital for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, UPD Bern

Late Effects in adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer: Needs, Evaluation of interdisciplinary Clinic
Dr. med. Eva Maria Tinner: PI
Prof. Dr. med Rhoikos Furtwängler: Co-PI
Prof. Dr. med. Dr. phil. Maria Wertli: Co-PI

Survivors of Childhood Cancer suffer from late effects caused by their disease and the aggressive treatment they received. The frequency and severity of these late effects augment with age and can affect all organs. Compared with peers who have not had cancer morbidity and mortality is elevated in Childhood Cancer Survivors. We run specific interdisciplinary late effects clinics in Liestal and at the University Hospital Bern Inselspital, in which adults are being seen according to evidence based guidelines (COG-LTFU-Guidelines) by Internal Medicine doctors in cooperation with pediatric oncologists. We also empower the patients by informing them thoroughly about the disease and treatment they had using the tool Passport for Care®. Since the way we conduct these clinics is new, we accompany the clinics with a research project to measure the impact we have on the quality of life of our patients, if we satisfy the needs of our patients, and observe their current health problems.

Cooperation with: Prof. Jörg Leuppi, head of internal medicine Kantonsspital Baselland Liestal, Prof. Gisela Michel, Professor of Health and Social Behavior Director MSc Health Sciences Lucerne, Prof. Claudia Kühni, Head of Research Group, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)

Mechanisms of genomic instability in childhood cancer

Dr. med. Mutlu Kartal-Kaess, principal investigator
Prof. Dr. med. Rhoikos Furtwängler, co-investigator
Clonal Hematopoiesis of indeterminate Potential (CHIP): 

 

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is an age-related condition characterized by somatic mutations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of otherwise healthy adults that has been associated with increased risk of developing hematological malignancies. Given the nature of CHIP being an age-related condition, it remains unclear how, in children and adolescents, cellular stressors, such as cytotoxic therapy, influence the expansion of clones carrying mutations in genes commonly affected in CHIP (e.g. DNA damage response genes). The incidence of clonal hematopoiesis after chemotherapy in children and adolescents has not been thoroughly investigated yet.

High-dose chemotherapy followed by reinfusion of autologous stem cells is a substantial part of the standard treatment in solid tumors such as neuroblastomas, gliomas and Ewing sarcomas in children and adolescents. As part of the largest Swiss stem cell program located at the University Hospital of Bern, our Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology has a longstanding experience in performing high-dose chemotherapies and autologous stem cell reinfusions for the majority of pediatric patients in Switzerland. Within this program, we investigate samples routinely collected and stored after stem cell harvest to characterize clonal hematopoiesis in children after cytotoxic therapy.

We are aiming to investigate whether the stress from cytotoxic therapy promotes the expansion of CHIP clones and its association with clinical parameters.

Cooperating partners: Prof. Dr. Vera Ulrike Bacher, Dr. Naomi Porret, Core Genomic Facility, Inselspital Bern; Prof. Dr. Gabriela Baerlocher, Stem Cell Laboratory, Inselspital Bern

Our aim is to improve existing therapies for pediatric solid tumors and to devise novel therapies, with a particular focus on rhabdomyosarcoma.

The treatment of tumors in children must meet specific needs, as chemotherapeutic agents can lead to significant long-term consequences. It is therefore the aim of our research to optimize existing therapies by targeting them to the tumor, sparing normal tissues and minimizing long-term side effects.

In a friendly and enthusiastic atmosphere, we can also count on collaborations with the DBMR Mass Spectrometry, Flow Cytometry, Life Cell Imaging and Animal Facilities.

Master work projects: if you are interested in performing a master work in one of our projects, please contact michele.bernasconi@STOP-SPAM.dbmr.unibe.ch

Please visit our Lab Website for more information.