Wolfgang Mikulits, Ao.Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr.
Coordinator of Research Focus "Tumor Progression and Metastasis"
Group Leader
E-Mail: wolfgang.mikulits [at] meduniwien [dot] ac [dot] at
Phone: +43 (0)1 40160 - 57527
Fax: +43 (0)1 40160 - 957519
Research Focus
The spread of cells from the primary cancer to distant organs is the most fearsome aspect of cancer. This process of cancer progression denoted as metastasis has exceptional clinical relevance and represents the major reason for the death of cancer patients. Upon the progression of carcinoma, changes in cell plasticity by the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) are of particular significance for local cell invasion, immune cell interactions, entry into vessels and chemoresistance. We focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying the EMT of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) which is the major subtype of aggressive liver cancer. The use of hypothesis-driven EMT models translated into pre-clinical and clinical settings allow the identification and functional characterization of promising EMT regulatory molecules amenable to diagnostic/prognostic assessment and therapeutic Intervention.
Financial support:
Austrian Science Fund (FWF) doc.funds program DOC 59-B33, FWF P31720, FWF P25356, FWF P20905, FWF T597-B13, FWF P19598, SFB F2806, FWF 15435, EU-FP7 HEALTH-F4-2008-202047, EU-FP7-PEOPLE-2012-ITN “IT-LIVER” Nr. 316549, Oesterreichische Nationalbank - Anniversary Fund, Herzfelder’sche Family Foundation, Hochschuljubiläumsfonds der Stadt Wien, OEAD Austria - Czech Republic, OEAD Austria - Spain.
Group Members
Videos
Selected Publications
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
Dynamics of Axl Receptor Shedding in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Its Implication for Theranostics.
Holstein E, Binder M, Mikulits W.
Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Dec 18;19(12). pii: E4111. doi.org/10.3390/ijms19124111
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
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