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Mikulits Lab

  1. Center for Cancer Research
  2. Research Focuses
  3. Tumor Progression and Metastasis
  4. Wolfgang Mikulits

Wolfgang Mikulits, Ao.Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr.

Research Focus

The spread of cells from the primary cancer to distant organs - known as metastasis - is the most lethal aspect of cancer. The metastatic process has exceptional clinical relevance and represents the leading cause of cancer-related mortality.

We focus on aggressive liver cancer subtypes and the molecular mechanisms that drive disease progression. In particular, we investigate cancer cell plasticity, which plays a critical role in local invasion, interactions with immune cells within the tumor microenvironment, and therapy resistance.

A major focus of our research is to study the roles of the receptor tyrosine kinase AXL and TGF-β signaling in liver cancer. Both pathways crucially regulate cancer cell behavior and the tumor microenvironment, thereby promoting disease progression.

Using hypothesis-driven experimental models with translational relevance, spanning preclinical and clinical settings, we identify and functionally characterize novel molecular targets for diagnostic and prognostic assessment as well as for therapeutic intervention in liver cancer.

Study the role of the AXL and TGF-β signaling pathways
Figure: Study the role of the AXL and TGF-β signaling pathways in tumor cell invasion, immune surveillance and treatment resistance in liver cancer.

Selected Publications

Intrinsic and Extrinsic Control of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by TAM Receptors.
Hedrich V, Breitenecker K, Djerlek L, Ortmayr G, Mikulits W.
Cancers. 2021 Oct 29;13(21):5448. doi: 10.3390/cancers13215448.

Transforming Growth Factor-β and Axl Induce CXCL5 and Neutrophil Recruitment in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
Haider C, Hnat J, Wagner R, Huber H, Timelthaler G, Grubinger M, Coulouarn C, Schreiner W, Schlangen K, Sieghart W, Peck-Radosavljevic M, Mikulits W.
Hepatology. 2019 Jan;69(1):222-236. doi: 10.1002/hep.30166

Soluble Axl is an accurate biomarker of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma development: results from a large scale multicenter analysis.
Dengler M, Staufer K, Huber H, Stauber R, Bantel H, Weiss KH, Starlinger P, Pock H, Klöters-Plachky P, Gotthardt DN, Rauch P, Lackner C, Stift J, Brostjan C, Gruenberger T, Kumada T, Toyoda H, Tada T, Weiss TS, Trauner M, Mikulits W.
Oncotarget. 2017 Jul 11;8(28):46234-46248. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.17598

The PDGFRα-laminin B1-keratin 19 cascade drives tumor progression at the invasive front of human hepatocellular carcinoma.
Govaere O, Petz M, Wouters J, Vandewynckel YP, Scott EJ, Topal B, Nevens F, Verslype C, Anstee QM, Van Vlierberghe H, Mikulits W, Roskams T.
Oncogene. 2017 Nov 23;36(47):6605-6616. doi: 10.1038/onc.2017.260.

Role of epithelial to mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Giannelli G, Koudelkova P, Dituri F, Mikulits W.
J Hepatol. 2016 Oct;65(4):798-808. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2016.05.007

Axl activates autocrine transforming growth factor-β signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Reichl P, Dengler M, van Zijl F, Huber H, Führlinger G, Reichel C, Sieghart W, Peck-Radosavljevic M, Grubinger M, Mikulits W.
Hepatology. 2015 Mar;61(3):930-41. doi: 10.1002/hep.27492

PDGF enhances IRES-mediated translation of Laminin B1 by cytoplasmic accumulation of La during epithelial to mesenchymal transition.
Petz M, Them NC, Huber H, Mikulits W.
Nucleic Acids Res. 2012 Oct;40(19):9738-49. doi: 10.1093/nar/gks760.

All Publications

PubmedDatabase

Vorstellung Wolfgang Mikulits, Michael Grusch

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