Department of Neurology & Interdisciplinary Neuro-Oncology

Research Group Prof. Dr. Dr. Ghazaleh Tababatabai

Behling F, Paßlack P, Fodi CK, Hielscher T, Schittenhelm J, Nassiri F, Wang JZ, Zadeh G, Tabatabai G, Sahm F. Loss of H3K27me3 in meningiomas: an independent marker for CNS WHO grade 2? Neurooncol Adv. 2023 Sep 2;5(1):vdad112. doi: 10.1093/noajnl/vdad112. PMID: 37727848; PMCID: PMC10506376.

Capper D, Reifenberger G, French PJ, Schweizer L, Weller M, Touat M, Niclou SP, Euskirchen P, Haberler C, Hegi ME, Brandner S, Le Rhun E, Rudà R, Sanson M, Tabatabai G, Sahm F, Wen PY, Wesseling P, Preusser M, van den Bent MJ. EANO guideline on rational molecular testing of gliomas, glioneuronal and neuronal tumors in adults for targeted therapy selection. Neuro Oncol. 2023 Jan 12:noad008. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noad008.

Becker, H.; Castaneda-Vega, S.; Patzwaldt, K.; Przystal, J.M.; Walter, B.; Michelotti, F.C.; Canjuga, D.; Tatagiba, M.; Pichler, B.; Beck, S.C.; Holland, E.C.; la Fougère, C.; Tabatabai, G. Multiparametric Longitudinal Profiling of RCAS-tva-Induced PDGFB-Driven Experimental Glioma. Brain Sci. 2022, 12, 1426. doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12111426

Koch MS, Zdioruk M, Nowicki MO, Griffith AM, Aguilar-Cordova E, Aguilar LK, Guzik BW, Barone F, Tak PP, Schregel K, Hoetker MS, Lederer JA, Chiocca EA, Tabatabai G, Lawler SE. Perturbing DDR signaling enhances cytotoxic effects of local oncolytic virotherapy and modulates the immune environment in glioma. Mol Ther Oncolytics. 2022 Jul 31;26:275-288. doi: 10.1016/j.omto.2022.07.009. PMID: 36032633; PMCID: PMC9391522.

Trautwein C, Zizmare L, Mäurer I, Bender B, Bayer B, Ernemann U, Tatagiba M, Grau SJ, Pichler BJ, Skardelly M, Tabatabai G. Tissue metabolites in diffuse glioma and their modulations by IDH1 mutation, histology, and treatment. JCI Insight. 2022 Feb 8;7(3):e153526. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.

Walter B, Canjuga D, Yüz SG, Ghosh M, Bozko P, Przystal JM, Govindarajan P, Anderle N, Keller A-L, Tatagiba M, Schenke-Layland K, Rammensee H-G, Stevanovic S, Malek NP, Schmees C, Tabatabai G. Argyrin F Treatment-Induced Vulnerabilities Lead to a Novel Combination Therapy in Experimental Glioma. Adv. Therap. 2021, 2100078.

Nassiri F, Liu J, Patil V, Mamatjan Y, Wang JZ, Hugh-White R, Macklin AM, Khan S, Singh O, Karimi S, Corona RI, Liu LY, Chen CY, Chakravarthy A, Wei Q, Mehani B, Suppiah S, Gao A, Workewych AM, Tabatabai G, Boutros PC, Bader GD, de Carvalho DD, Kislinger T, Aldape K, Zadeh G. A clinically applicable integrative molecular classification of meningiomas. Nature. 2021 Sep;597(7874):119-125. doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03850-3. Epub 2021 Aug 25.

Goldbrunner R, Stavrinou P, Jenkinson MD, Sahm F, Mawrin C, Weber DC, Preusser M, Minniti G, Lund-Johansen M, Lefranc F, Houdart E, Sallabanda K, Le Rhun E, Nieuwenhuizen D, Tabatabai G, Soffietti R, Weller M. EANO guideline on the diagnosis and management of meningiomas. Neuro Oncol. 2021 Nov 2;23(11):1821-1834. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noab150.

Przystal JM, Becker H, Canjuga D, Tsiami F, Anderle N, Keller AL, Pohl A, Ries CH, Schmittnaegel M, Korinetska N, Koch M, Schittenhelm J, Tatagiba M, Schmees C, Beck SC, Tabatabai G. Targeting CSF1R Alone or in Combination with PD1 in Experimental Glioma. Cancers (Basel). 2021 May 15;13(10):2400. doi: 10.3390/cancers13102400. 

Platten M, Bunse L, Wick A, Bunse T, Le Cornet L, Harting I, Sahm F, Sanghvi K, Tan CL, Poschke I, Green E, Justesen S, Behrens GA, Breckwoldt MO, Freitag A, Rother LM, Schmitt A, Schnell O, Hense J, Misch M, Krex D, Stevanovic S, Tabatabai G, Steinbach JP, Bendszus M, von Deimling A, Schmitt M, Wick W. A vaccine targeting mutant IDH1 in newly diagnosed glioma. Nature. 2021 Apr;592(7854):463-468. doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03363-z. Epub 2021 Mar 24.

Wick A, Bähr O, Schuler M, Rohrberg K, Chawla SP, Janku F, Schiff D, Heinemann V, Narita Y, Lenz HJ, Ikeda M, Ando Y, Wick W, Steinbach JP, Burger MC, Wenger K, Lassen U, Sankhala KK, Roggia C, Genvresse I, Munhoz C, Rentzsch C, Reschke S, Langer S, Wagner M, Kaulfuss S, Cai C, Lagkadinou E, Jeffers M, Peña C, Tabatabai G. Phase I Assessment of Safety and Therapeutic Activity of BAY1436032 in Patients with IDH1-Mutant Solid Tumors. Clin Cancer Res. 2021 May 15;27(10):2723-2733. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-20-4256. Epub 2021 Feb 23.

Behling F, Fodi C, Gepfner-Tuma I, Kaltenbach K, Renovanz M, Paulsen F, Skardelly M, Honegger J, Tatagiba M; International Consortium on Meningiomas, Schittenhelm J, Tabatabai G. H3K27me3 loss indicates an increased risk of recurrence in the Tübingen meningioma cohort. Neuro Oncol. 2021 Aug 2;23(8):1273-1281. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noaa303.

Herrlinger U, Tzaridis T, Mack F, Steinbach JP, Schlegel U, Sabel M, Hau P, Kortmann RD, Krex D, Grauer O, Goldbrunner R, Schnell O, Bähr O, Uhl M, Seidel C, Tabatabai G, Kowalski T, Ringel F, Schmidt-Graf F, Suchorska B, Brehmer S, Weyerbrock A, Renovanz M, Bullinger L, Galldiks N, Vajkoczy P, Misch M, Vatter H, Stuplich M, Schäfer N, Kebir S, Weller J, Schaub C, Stummer W, Tonn JC, Simon M, Keil VC, Nelles M, Urbach H, Coenen M, Wick W, Weller M, Fimmers R, Schmid M, Hattingen E, Pietsch T, Coch C, Glas M; Neurooncology Working Group of the German Cancer Society. Lomustine-temozolomide combination therapy versus standard temozolomide therapy in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma with methylated MGMT promoter (CeTeG/NOA-09): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2019 Feb 16;393(10172):678-688. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31791-4. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Koch MS, Czemmel S, Lennartz F, Beyeler S, Rajaraman S, Przystal JM, Govindarajan P, Canjuga D, Neumann M, Rizzu P, Zwirner S, Hoetker MS, Zender L, Walter B, Tatagiba M, Raineteau O, Heutink P, Nahnsen S, Tabatabai G (2020) Experimental glioma with high bHLH expression harbor increased replicative stress and are sensitive toward ATR inhibition. Neurooncol Adv Sep 10;2(1):vdaa115.

Gugel I, Ebner FH, Grimm F, Czemmel S, Paulsen F, Hagel C, Tatagiba M, Nahnsen S, Tabatabai G (2020) Contribution of mTOR and PTEN to Radioresistance in Sporadic and NF2-Associated Vestibular Schwannomas: A Microarray and Pathway Analysis. Cancers (Basel) 12(1):177

Bitzer M, Ostermann L, Horger M, Biskup S, Schulze M, Ruhm K, Hilke F, Öner Ö, Nikolaou K, Schroeder C, Riess O, Fend F, Zips D, Hinterleitner M, Zender L, Tabatabai G, Beha J, Malek NP (2020) Next-Generation Sequencing of Advanced GI Tumors Reveals Individual Treatment Options. JCO Precis Oncol 4:PO.19.00359

Weller J, Tzaridis T, Mack F, Steinbach JP, Schlegel U, Hau P, Krex D, Grauer O, Goldbrunner R, Bähr O, Uhl M, Seidel C, Tabatabai G, Brehmer S, Bullinger L, Galldiks N, Schaub C, Kebir S, Stummer W, Simon M, Fimmers R, Coch C, Glas M, Herrlinger U, Schäfer N (2019) Health-related quality of life and neurocognitive functioning with lomustine-temozolomide versus temozolomide in patients with newly diagnosed, MGMT-methylated glioblastoma (CeTeG/NOA-09): a randomised, multicentre, open-label, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol 20(10):1444-1453

Tzaridis T, Gepfner-Tuma I, Hirsch S, Skardelly M, Bender B, Paulsen F, Schaub C, Weller J, Schäfer N, Herrlinger U, Tabatabai G (2019) Regorafenib in advanced high-grade glioma: a retrospective bicentric analysis. Neuro Oncol 21(7):954-955

Herrlinger U, Tzaridis T, Mack F, Steinbach JP, Schlegel U, Sabel M, Hau P, Kortmann RD, Krex D, Grauer O, Goldbrunner R, Schnell O, Bähr O, Uhl M, Seidel C, Tabatabai G, Kowalski T, Ringel F, Schmidt-Graf F, Suchorska B, Brehmer S, Weyerbrock A, Renovanz M, Bullinger L, Galldiks N, Vajkoczy P, Misch M, Vatter H, Stuplich M, Schäfer N, Kebir S, Weller J, Schaub C, Stummer W, Tonn JC, Simon M, Keil VC, Nelles M, Urbach H, Coenen M, Wick W, Weller M, Fimmers R, Schmid M, Hattingen E, Pietsch T, Coch C, Glas M; Neurooncology Working Group of the German Cancer Society (2019) Lomustine-temozolomide combination therapy versus standard temozolomide therapy in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma with methylated MGMT promoter (CeTeG/NOA-09): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial. Lancet 393(10172):678-688

Rajaraman S, Canjuga D, Ghosh M, Codrea MC, Sieger R, Wedekink F, Tatagiba M, Koch M, Lauer UM, Nahnsen S, Rammensee HG, Mühlebach MD, Stevanovic S, Tabatabai G (2018) Measles Virus-Based Treatments Trigger a Pro-inflammatory Cascade and a Distinctive Immunopeptidome in Glioblastoma. Mol Ther Oncolytics 12:147-161

Amaral T, Tampouri I, Eigentler T, Keim U, Klumpp B, Heinrich V, Zips D, Paulsen F, Gepfner-Tuma I, Skardelly M, Tatagiba M, Tabatabai G, Garbe C, Forschner A (2019) Immunotherapy plus surgery/radiosurgery is associated with favorable survival in patients with melanoma brain metastasis. Immunotherapy 11(4):297-309

Hilf N, Kuttruff-Coqui S, Frenzel K, Bukur V, Stevanović S, Gouttefangeas C, Platten M, Tabatabai G, Dutoit V, van der Burg SH, Thor Straten P, Martínez-Ricarte F, Ponsati B, Okada H, Lassen U, Admon A, Ottensmeier CH, Ulges A, Kreiter S, von Deimling A, Skardelly M, Migliorini D, Kroep JR, Idorn M, Rodon J, Piró J, Poulsen HS, Shraibman B, McCann K, Mendrzyk R, Löwer M, Stieglbauer M, Britten CM, Capper D, Welters MJP, Sahuquillo J, Kiesel K, Derhovanessian E, Rusch E, Bunse L, Song C, Heesch S, Wagner C, Kemmer-Brück A, Ludwig J, Castle JC, Schoor O, Tadmor AD, Green E, Fritsche J, Meyer M, Pawlowski N, Dorner S, Hoffgaard F, Rössler B, Maurer D, Weinschenk T, Reinhardt C, Huber C, Rammensee HG, Singh-Jasuja H, Sahin U, Dietrich PY, Wick W (2019) Actively personalized vaccination trial for newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Nature 565(7738):240-245

Brastianos PK, Galanis E, Butowski N, Chan JW, Dunn IF, Goldbrunner R, Herold-Mende C, Ippen FM, Mawrin C, McDermott MW, Sloan A, Snyder J, Tabatabai G, Tatagiba M, Tonn JC, Wen PY, Aldape K, Nassiri F, Zadeh G, Jenkinson MD, Raleigh DR; International Consortium on Meningiomas (2019) Advances in multidisciplinary therapy for meningiomas. Neuro Oncol 21(Suppl 1):i18-i31

Wirsching HG, Tabatabai G, Roelcke U, Hottinger AF, Jörger F, Schmid A, Plasswilm L, Schrimpf D, Mancao C, Capper D, Conen K, Hundsberger T, Caparrotti F, von Moos R, Riklin C, Felsberg J, Roth P, Jones DTW, Pfister S, Rushing EJ, Abrey L, Reifenberger G, Held L, von Deimling A, Ochsenbein A, Weller M (2018) Bevacizumab plus hypofractionated radiotherapy versus radiotherapy alone in elderly patients with glioblastoma: the randomized, open-label, phase II ARTE trial. Ann Oncol 29(6):1423-1430

Skardelly M, Dangel E, Gohde J, Noell S, Behling F, Lepski G, Borchers C, Koch M, Schittenhelm J, Bisdas S, Naumann A, Paulsen F, Zips D, von Hehn U, Ritz R, Tatagiba MS, Tabatabai G (2017). Prolonged Temozolomide Maintenance Therapy in Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma. Oncologist 22(5):570-575

Niessner H, Schmitz J, Tabatabai G, Schmid AM, Calaminus C, Sinnberg T, Weide B, Eigentler TK, Garbe C, Schittek B, Quintanilla-Fend L, Bender B, Mai M, Praetorius C, Beissert S, Schackert G, Muders MH, Meinhardt M, Baretton GB, Dummer R, Flaherty K, Pichler BJ, Kulms D, Westphal D, Meier F (2016) PI3K Pathway Inhibition Achieves Potent Antitumor Activity in Melanoma Brain Metastases In Vitro and In Vivo. Clin Cancer Res 22(23):5818-5828.

Suchorska B, Weller M, Tabatabai G, Senft C, Hau P, Sabel MC, Herrlinger U, Ketter R, Schlegel U, Marosi C, Reifenberger G, Wick W, Tonn JC, Wirsching HG (2016) Complete resection of contrast-enhancing tumor volume is associated with improved survival in recurrent glioblastoma-results from the DIRECTOR trial. Neuro Oncol 18(4):549-56

Skardelly M, Brendle E, Noell S, Behling F, Wuttke TV, Schittenhelm J, Bisdas S, Meisner C, Rona S, Tatagiba MS, Tabatabai G (2015) Predictors of preoperative and early postoperative seizures in patients with intra-axial primary and metastatic brain tumors: A retrospective observational single center study. Ann Neurol 78(6):917-28

Wirsching HG, Tritschler I, Palla A, Renner C, Weller M, Tabatabai G (2014) The management of lomustine overdose in malignant glioma patients. Neurooncol Pract 1(4):178-183

Weller M, Tabatabai G, Kästner B, Felsberg J, Steinbach JP, Wick A, Schnell O, Hau P, Herrlinger U, Sabel MC, Wirsching HG, Ketter R, Bähr O, Platten M, Tonn JC, Schlegel U, Marosi C, Goldbrunner R, Stupp R, Homicsko K, Pichler J, Nikkhah G, Meixensberger J, Vajkoczy P, Kollias S, Hüsing J, Reifenberger G, Wick W; DIRECTOR Study Group (2015) MGMT Promoter Methylation Is a Strong Prognostic Biomarker for Benefit from Dose-Intensified Temozolomide Rechallenge in Progressive Glioblastoma: The DIRECTOR Trial. Clin Cancer Res 21(9):2057-64

Wirsching HG, Krishnan S, Florea AM, Frei K, Krayenbühl N, Hasenbach K, Reifenberger G, Weller M, Tabatabai G (2014) Thymosin β 4 gene silencing decreases stemness and invasiveness in glioblastoma. Brain 137(Pt 2):433-48.

Hasenbach K, Wiehr S, Herrmann C, Mannheim J, Cay F, von Kürthy G, Bolmont T, Grathwohl SA, Weller M, Lengerke C, Pichler BJ, Tabatabai G (2012) Monitoring the glioma tropism of bone marrow-derived progenitor cells by 2-photon laser scanning microscopy and positron emission tomography. Neuro Oncol 14(4):471-81

Schraivogel D, Weinmann L, Beier D, Tabatabai G, Eichner A, Zhu JY, Anton M, Sixt M, Weller M, Beier CP, Meister G (2011) CAMTA1 is a novel tumour suppressor regulated by miR-9/9* in glioblastoma stem cells. EMBO J 30(20):4309-22

Research Group Dr. rer. nat. Daniel Merk

Tsiami F, Lago C, Pozza N, Piccioni F, Zhao X, Lülsberg F, Root DE, Tiberi L, Kool M, Schittenhelm J, Bandopadhayay P, Segal RA, Tabatabai G, Merk DJ. Genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screens identify DNMT1 as a druggable dependency in sonic hedgehog medulloblastoma. Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2024 Aug 7;12(1):125. doi: 10.1186/s40478-024-01831-x. PMID: 39107797; PMCID: PMC11304869.

Merk DJ, Zhou P, Cohen SM, Pazyra-Murphy MF, Hwang GH, Rehm KJ, Alfaro J, Reid CM, Zhao X, Park E, Xu PX, Chan JA, Eck MJ, Nazemi KJ, Harwell CC, Segal RA (2020) The Eya1 Phosphatase Mediates Shh-Driven Symmetric Cell Division of Cerebellar Granule Cell Precursors. Developmental Neuroscience 42:170-86

Pak E, MacKenzie EL, Zhao X, Pazyra-Murphy MF, Park PMC, Wu L, Shaw DL, Addleson EC, Cayer SS, Lopez BG, Agar NYR, Rubin LL, Qi J, Merk DJ, Segal RA (2019) A large-scale drug screen identifies selective inhibitors of class I HDACs as a potential therapeutic option for SHH medulloblastoma. Neuro-Oncology 21:1150-63

Merk DJ, Ohli J, Merk ND, Thatikonda V, Morrissy S, Schoof M, Schmid SN, Harrison L, Filser S, Ahlfeld J, Erkek S, Raithatha K, Andreska T, Weisshaar M, Launspach M, Neumann JE, Shakarami M, Plenker D, Marra MA, Li Y, Mungall AJ, Moore RA, Ma Y, Jones SJM, Lutz B, Ertl-Wagner B, Rossi A, Wagener R, Siebert R, Jung A, Eberhart CG, Lach B, Sendtner M, Pfister SM, Taylor MD, Chavez L, Kool M, Schuller U (2018) Opposing Effects of CREBBP Mutations Govern the Phenotype of Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome and Adult SHH Medulloblastoma. Developmental Cell 44:709-24 e6

Grammel D, Warmuth-Metz M, von Bueren AO, Kool M, Pietsch T, Kretzschmar HA, Rowitch DH, Rutkowski S, Pfister SM, Schuller U (2012) Sonic hedgehog-associated medulloblastoma arising from the cochlear nuclei of the brainstem. Acta Neuropathologica 123:601-14

Research Group Prof. apl. Dr. Mirjam Renovanz

Dörner L, Grosse L, Stange F, Hille H, Kurz S, Becker H, Volkmer S, Hippler M, Rieger D, Bombach P, Rieger J, Weinert L, Svensson L, Anders C, Cekin S, Paulsen F, Öner Ö, Ruhm K, Malek HS, Möller Y, Tatagiba M, Wallwiener M, Eckert N, Escher P, Pfeifer N, Forschner A, Bauer A, Zips D, Bitzer M, Malek N, Gani C, Tabatabai G, Renovanz M. App-based assessment of patient-reported outcomes in the Molecular Tumor Board in the Center for Personalized Medicine-(TRACE). Neurooncol Pract. 2024 Jan 20;11(3):336-346.

Binswanger J, Kohl C, Behling F, Noell S, Hirsch S, Hickmann AK, Tatagiba MS, Tabatabai G, Hippler M, Renovanz M. Neuro-oncological patients' and caregivers' psychosocial burden during the COVID-19 pandemic-A prospective study with qualitative content analysis. Psychooncology. 2021 Sep;30(9):1502-1513. doi: 10.1002/pon.5713. Epub 2021 May 5. PMID: 33938076.

Kalasauskas D, Keric N, Abu Ajaj S, von Cube L, Ringel F, Renovanz M. Distress and quality of life do not change over time in patients with operated and conservatively managed intracranial meningioma. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2021 Dec;163(12):3417-3424. doi: 10.1007/s00701-021-05004-w. Epub 2021 Oct 13. PMID: 34643803; PMCID: PMC8511617.

Voss H, Scholz-Kreisel P, Richter C, Ringel F, Singer S, Renovanz M (2021) Development of screening questions for doctor-patient consultation assessing the quality of life and psychosocial burden of glioma patients: an explorative study. Qual Life Res 30:1513-22

Goebel S, Knuth C, Damm M, Linden D, Coburger J, Ringel F, Tabatabai G, Mehdorn M, Renovanz M (2020) Towards the targeted assessment of relevant problems: Optimization of the distress Thermometer for adult neuro-oncological patients. Psychooncology 29:2057-66

Renovanz M, Hippler M, Voss M, Wehinger J, Kessler AF, Gempt J, Nadji-Ohl M, Weiss Lucas C, Rapp M, Misch M, Coburger J, Mehlitz M, Meixensberger J, Keric N, Tabatabai G, Blettner M, Schranz M, Singer S (2020) Glioma patients in outpatient care-optimization of psychosocial care in neuro-oncological patients (GLIOPT): Protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial. Trials 21:434

Renovanz M, Maurer D, Lahr H, Weimann E, Deininger M, Wirtz CR, Ringel F, Singer S, Coburger J (2018) Supportive Care Needs in Glioma Patients and Their Caregivers in Clinical Practice: Results of a Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study. Front Neurol 9:763

Renovanz M, Hechtner M, Kohlmann K, Janko M, Nadji-Ohl M, Singer S, Ringel F, Coburger J, Hickmann AK (2018) Compliance with patient-reported outcome assessment in glioma patients: predictors for drop out. Neurooncol Pract 5:129-38

Research Group Dr. rer. nat. Lisa Sevenich