Research

    Goal

    Onkologie/Oncology group is focused on clinical translation of novel imaging and therapy for cancer. Our aim is to translate molecular imaging and radionuclide therapy concepts to achieve improved outcomes in cancer patients.

    Focus on theranostic

    Major focus is the assessment of theranostic radioligands and radionuclides, i.e. molecules designed to deliver radioactive payloads into tumor lesions. Theranostic radioligands/radionuclides enable a combination of accurate detection and efficacious radionuclide therapy. Our research aims for substantial clinical improvement leading to guideline implementation.

    Clinical projects assess the impact of molecular imaging on tumor detection, clinical stage and outcome. Longitudinal cohort studies examine the efficacy and safety of radionuclide therapy. Projects are carried out in close collaboration with Oncology, Urology and other Clinical Partners.

    Translational research builds onto our preclinical findings and explores new theranostic applications. Translational projects address among other topics a current NEED for the advancement of theranostic:

    • N ovel cancer targets for radionuclide imaging and therapy
    • E nhanced target expression
    • E scalation of activity and radiation dose
    • D rug combination therapy

    Funding

    Financial support is provided by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG), Mercator Research Center Ruhr (MERCUR), IFORES, Doktor Robert Pfleger-Stiftung, Wiedenfeld-Stiftung/Stiftung Krebsforschung Duisburg, Landeskrebsregister NRW, Winterseminar UKE, and SOFIE Bioscience.

    apl. Prof. Dr. med.
    Wolfgang Fendler

    Nuclear Medicine Physician by training, previous visiting Professor at the University of California Los Angeles and current Vice Chair of the Department as well as Head of Translational Oncology research.

    Team

    Theranostic Radio Ligands bind to specific surface targets of cancer cells. Upon binding Radio Ligands undergo subsequent internalization and radioactive decay. Decay emissions are designed for tumor imaging and internal radiotherapy.

    Kontakt

    Tel.: 0201 723 2073
    Fax: 0201 723 5964
    Email: sekretariat.nuklearmedizin@uk-essen.de

    Onkologie – Members and Affiliates

    Dr. med.
    Francesco Barbato

    Geschäftsführender Oberarzt

    Dr. med.
    Ines Maric

    Oberärztin

    Dr. med.
    Kim Pabst

    Funktionsoberärztin

    Madeleine Karpinski

    PhD Student

    Tugce Telli

    Assistenzärztin

    Selected Publications

    Enhancing Radioiodine Incorporation Into Radio Iodine Refractory Thyroid Cancer With MAPK Inhibition (ERRITI): A Single-Center Prospective Two-Arm Study.

    Weber M, Kersting D, Riemann B, Brandenburg T, Führer-Sakel D, Grünwald F, Kreissl MC, Dralle H, Weber F, Schmid KW, Herrmann K, Jentzen W, Grafe H, Rischpler C, Theurer S, Bockisch A, Nagarajah J, Fendler WP.

    Clin Cancer Res. 2022 May 20:clincanres.0437.2022-2-9 05:28:38.980. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-22-0437.

    Efficacy and Safety of 177Lu-labeled Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen Radionuclide Treatment in Patients with Diffuse Bone Marrow Involvement: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

    Gafita A, Fendler WP, Hui W, Sandhu S, Weber M, Esfandiari R, Calais J, Rauscher I, Rathke H, Tauber R, Delpassand ES, Weber WA, Herrmann K, Czernin J, Eiber M, Hofman MS.

    Eur Urol. 2020 Aug;78(2):148-154. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2020.05.004.

    Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Ligand Positron Emission Tomography in Men with Nonmetastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

    Fendler WP, Weber M, Iravani A, Hofman MS, Calais J, Czernin J, Ilhan H, Saad F, Small EJ, Smith MR, Perez PM, Hope TA, Rauscher I, Londhe A, Lopez-Gitlitz A, Cheng S, Maurer T, Herrmann K, Eiber M, Hadaschik B.

    Clin Cancer Res. 2019 Dec 15;25(24):7448-7454. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-19-1050.

    Assessment of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET Accuracy in Localizing Recurrent Prostate Cancer: A Prospective Single-Arm Clinical Trial.

    Fendler WP, Calais J, Eiber M, Flavell RR, Mishoe A, Feng FY, Nguyen HG, Reiter RE, Rettig MB, Okamoto S, Emmett L, Zacho HD, Ilhan H, Wetter A, Rischpler C, Schoder H, Burger IA, Gartmann J, Smith R, Small EJ, Slavik R, Carroll PR, Herrmann K, Czernin J, Hope TA.

    JAMA Oncol. 2019 Jun 1;5(6):856-863. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2019.0096.

    68Ga-PSMA-11 Positron Emission Tomography Detects Residual Prostate Cancer after Prostatectomy in a Multicenter Retrospective Study.

    Farolfi A, Gafita A, Calais J, Eiber M, Afshar-Oromieh A, Spohn F, Barbato F, Weber M, Ilhan H, Cervati V, Wetter A, Hadaschik B, Briganti A, Walz J, Pianori D, Fanti S, Haberkorn U, Herrmann K, Fendler WP.

    J Urol. 2019 Dec;202(6):1174-1181. doi: 10.1097/JU.0000000000000417.

    68Ga-PSMA PET/CT: Joint EANM and SNMMI procedure guideline for prostate cancer imaging: version 1.0.

    Fendler WP, Eiber M, Beheshti M, Bomanji J, Ceci F, Cho S, Giesel F, Haberkorn U, Hope TA, Kopka K, Krause BJ, Mottaghy FM, Schöder H, Sunderland J, Wan S, Wester HJ, Fanti S, Herrmann K.

    Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2017 Jun;44(6):1014-1024. doi: 10.1007/s00259-017-3670-z.

    EANM procedure guidelines for radionuclide therapy with 177Lu-labelled PSMA-ligands (177Lu-PSMA-RLT).

    Kratochwil C, Fendler WP, Eiber M, Baum R, Bozkurt MF, Czernin J, Delgado Bolton RC, Ezziddin S, Forrer F, Hicks RJ, Hope TA, Kabasakal L, Konijnenberg M, Kopka K, Lassmann M, Mottaghy FM, Oyen W, Rahbar K, Schöder H, Virgolini I, Wester HJ, Bodei L, Fanti S, Haberkorn U, Herrmann K.

    Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2019 Nov;46(12):2536-2544. doi: 10.1007/s00259-019-04485-3.

    Prostate Cancer Molecular Imaging Standardized Evaluation (PROMISE): Proposed miTNM Classification for the Interpretation of PSMA-Ligand PET/CT.

    Eiber M, Herrmann K, Calais J, Hadaschik B, Giesel FL, Hartenbach M, Hope T, Reiter R, Maurer T, Weber WA, Fendler WP.

    J Nucl Med. 2018 Mar;59(3):469-478. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.117.198119.

    Sartor O, Hope TA, Calais J, Fendler WP.

    J Nucl Med. 2021 Feb;62(2):146-148. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.120.261834.

    Selected Awards

    2018Forschungspreis der „Wiedenfeld-Stiftung“, Magdalena Staniszewska
    2019Forschungs- und Innovationspreis für urologische Onkologie der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Urologie (DGU), Wolfgang Fendler
    2019CE Alken Preis der CE Alken Stiftung, Wolfgang Fendler
    2021Preis der Dr. Dagobert Nitz-Stiftung, Wolfgang Fendler
    2021European Prostate Cancer Research Award 2021 from the Fritz H. Schröder Foundation, Wolfgang Fendler
    2022Alavi-Mandell Award of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Nader Hirmas