Translational Research - Urological research laboratory

The laboratory of the Department of Urology is lead by Prof. Dr. Susanne Füssel. The laboratory team includes several postdocs, scientific doctoral and master's students as well as medical students who are working on various research projects as part of their dissertations. The primarily translational projects are carried out together with researching clinicians, resulting in synergies with regard to relevant clinical questions, the application of appropriate experimental methods and the interpretation of the results obtained. Experienced medical-technical assistants also make a substantial contribution to the success of the research.

The high number of urological tumor interventions at the Clinic for Urology Dresden enables a comprehensive collection of tissue and liquid samples, which are preserved in the biobank of the University Cancer Center (UCC) Dresden with the consent of the patients. These samples are available for a variety of research purposes and translational projects. Our experimental and clinical research, which is largely financed by third-party funds, focuses on the most common urological tumor types: prostate carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, testicular tumor and penile carcinoma. The focus is on research into the basic mechanisms of tumor biology as well as the evaluation of potential biomarkers and new therapeutic approaches.

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Current research projects

Innovative therapy concepts for advanced prostate cancer (PCa)

Influence of androgen receptor stability on anti-androgen therapy resistance in PCa
Proteomic characterization of tumor-promoting signaling pathways by cancer-associated fribroblasts
Influence of the tumor microenvironment on the mode of action of current and experimental PCa therapies
Evaluation of tumor metabolism as a potential therapeutic target in refractory PCa
Evaluation of the eIF4F complex as a therapeutic target structure in PCa

Characterization of diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers in urological tumors (PD Dr. rer. nat Kati Erdmann, Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Susanne Füssel)

Prospective evaluation of biomarkers in urine and blood for diagnosis ad prognosis prediction of PCa
Evaluation of extracellular vesicles from urine and blood for the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma
Characterization of circulating biomarkers to predict treatment response in patients with advanced urological tumors undergoing checkpoint inhibitor therapy

Imaging, focal therapy and translational research in prostate cancer (PD Dr. med. Angelika Borkowetz, PD Dr. rer. nat Kati Erdmann, Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Susanne Füssel)

Imaging and characterization of molecular genetic sigantures in prostate cancer

Development of an assistance system for the functional evaluation of donor organs in transplantation medicine (Dr. med. Juliane Putz, Abdul Yakac, Dr. Carla Steinhauser and Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Susanne Füssel)

ASYS-Transplant - Development of an assistance system for normothermic whole blood perfusion of percine kidneys as a model for later perfusion projects in the context of kidney transplants in humans. The aim is to develop a perfusion device for clinical use and to establish clinical scores for the functional evaluation of the organs on the basis of molecular, biochemical and histological analyses.

Collaboration in national networks and research associations

Deutsches Prostatakonsortium e. V. (DPKK)
Deutsches Netzwerk Nierenzelltumoren (Link)
Deutscher Forschungsverbund Blasenkarzinom (DFBK)
Arbeitskreis Nierentransplantation (AK NTX)
Arbeitsgruppe Urologische Forschung (AUF) der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Urologie (DGU)
Naturwissenschaftler in der Urologischen Forschung (UroFors) als DGU-Arbeitsgemeinschaft (UroFors)
GeSRU Academics (GeSRU)
EAU Section of Urological Research (ESUR)