RG Microenvironment (Lutzny-Geier)

Current Projects

Communication of malignant B cells with T cells and mesenchymal stromal cells in the bone marrow niche:
- 3-dimensional in vitro models
- CAR-T cell functionality
- Metabolism of the microenvironment
Organoids of mammacarcinomas: Metastasis and T cell function

Methods

Flow cytometry
ELISA
Quantitative RT-PCR
Westernblot
3D confocal microscopy
IHC-IF, H&E staining
3D-cell cultures, organoids

Collaborations internal

Prof. Dr. Metzler (Kinderklinik)
Prof. Dr. Fasching (Frauenklinik)
Dr. Tripal (OICE)

Collaborations external

Prof. Dr. Oostendorp, Klinikum rechts der Isar, TU München
Prof. Dr. Egle, Cancer Research Institute Salzburg, Österreich
Dr. Bosch, Leiden, Niederlande
Prof. Anita Kremer, Zürich

Selected Publications

Handl S, von Heydebrand F, Voelkl S, Oostendorp RAJ, Wilke J, Kremer AN, Mackensen A, Lutzny-Geier G. Immune modulatory effects of Idelalisib in stromal cells of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma. 2021 Nov;62(11):2679-2689. doi: 10.1080/10428194.2021.1927019. Epub 2021 May 17. PMID: 33999745.

von Heydebrand F, Fuchs M, Kunz M, Voelkl S, Kremer AN, Oostendorp RAJ, Wilke J, Leitges M, Egle A, Mackensen A, Lutzny-Geier G. Protein kinase C-β-dependent changes in the glucose metabolism of bone marrow stromal cells of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Stem Cells. 2021 Feb 4. doi: 10.1002/stem.3352. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33539629.

Bernhardt AL, Zeun J, Marecek M, Reimann H, Kretschmann S, Bausenwein J, van der Meijden ED, Karg MM, Haug T, Meintker L, Lutzny-Geier G, Mackensen A, Kremer AN. Influence of DM-sensitivity on immunogenicity of MHC class II restricted antigens. J Immunother Cancer. 2021 Jul;9(7):e002401. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2021-002401. PMID: 34266882; PMCID: PMC8286791.

Mangolini M, Götte F, Moore A, Ammon T, Oelsner M, Lutzny-Geier G, Klein-Hitpass L, Williamson JC, Lehner PJ, Dürig J, Möllmann M, Rásó-Barnett L, Hughes K, Santoro A, Méndez-Ferrer S, Oostendorp RA, Zimber-Strobl U, Peschel C, Hodson DJ, Schmidt-Supprian M,Ringshausen I. Notch2 controls non-autonomous Wnt-signalling in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Nature Communications. 2018 Sep 21;9(1):3839. PMCID: PMC6155045

Lutzny G, Kocher T, Rudelius M, Schmidt-Supprian M, Klein-Hitpass L, Finch A, Dürig J, Haferlach T, Seifert M, Wanninger S, Oostendorp R, Ruland J, Leitges M, Kuhnt T, Wagner M, Feuerstacke Y, Peschel C, Egle A, Ringshausen I. Proteinkinase C-β dependent activation of NF-κB in stromal cells is indispensable for the survival of chronic lymphocytic leukemia B-cells in vivo. Cancer Cell. 2013 Jan 14;23(1):77-92. PMCID:PMC3546417

3D-BMSC/Leukemia model
CAR-T cell functionality
Mammacarcinoma organoids and metastasis

Staff

Dr. rer. nat. Gloria Lutzny-Geier, principle investigator
Franziska von Heydebrand, BTA
Janin Dingfelder, PhD student
Jana Lindacher, PhD student
Kathrina Spießl, MD student
Anna-Katharina Wilbrand, Master student
Max Meyer zu Schwabedissen, MD student
Sarah Handl, MD student

Scientific focus

Our group is interested in the communication of tumor cells with their microenvironment. The tumor microenvironment is essential in the establishment of B-cell lymphomas. Understanding how different signaling pathways get activated through intrinsic signals of the tumor cell itself and extrinsic signals of the microenvironment, is one aim of our studies. Therefore, we investigate how the microenvironment is modulated by tumor cells in 3-dimensional settings and if interference with this modulation can be used as new therapeutic approaches for lymphoma patients.

We also use the principle of the 3D cell culture in solide tumors, like mammacarcinomas. By generating primary organoids, we can characterize the communication and migration of immune cells as well as the metastatic potential of the tumors.