Prizes And Awards
Brain Tumour Research Recognised
Every year, hundreds of children fall ill due to brain tumours. For these young patients, who often face a life of battling tumour-induced consequences and the long-term effects of aggressive treatments, custom-made treatment is of particular importance. The contributions by the German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ) regarding molecular genetics of brain tumours in children now were recognised by not only one but two awards.
The TRANSAID foundation for children with cancer gave the Fritz Lampert Award 2011 to Dr Stefan Pfister and Dr Andrey Korshunov. The two scientists discovered characteristic changes in the chromosomes in cases of ependymoma, the second-most frequent brain tumour in children. These individual differences allow for very detailed deductions regarding the course the disease will take. It is possible that the results could help in saving young patients from having to suffer some incriminating treatments.
Dr Hendrik Witt was honoured by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) this year. He received the AACR-GlaxoSmithKline Clinical Cancer Research Scholar Award endowed with 2,000 US Dollar. Every year, the AACR thus distinguishes young scientists for clinical research work. Witt has identified special epigenetic changes, so-called methylation patterns, in the DNA of pylocytic astrozytomas, the most frequently occuring brain tumour in children. The manner of methylation allows for prognoses as to how the cancer will develop.
