In a multidisciplinary and international research group, we are studying apoptosis signaling in cancers to identify and evaluate key molecules that regulate apoptosis in cancer cells. We aim at translating our knowledge into the development of new cancer therapeutics and novel prognostic biomarkers with a focus on malignant brain tumors. Our projects are integrated in several regional, national and international research networks:

• DFG-funded clinical research group KFO167
• BMBF network “Targeting apoptosis for cancer therapy”
• Marie Curie Research Training Network "ApopTrain"
• FP7 Large-scale integrating project "APO-SYS"
• BMBF network "Translational Sarcoma Research Network"
• Inter University Attraction Pole 6/18
• DAAD/INCA Joint Transnational Programme on Cancer
• collaborative research center SFB497
• collaborative research center SFB518
• German Cancer Aid Network on Apoptosis

• German Research Foundation (DFG)
• German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF)
• European Union (FP6 and FP7)
• German Cancer Aid
• Else-Kröner-Fresenius Foundation
• Wilhelm-Sander Foundation
• Kind-Philipp Foundation
• Novartis Foundation for Therapeutic Research
• Landesstiftung Baden-Württemberg Foundation
• Belgian Science Policy
• German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

1. Loeder S, Drensek A, Jeremias I, Debatin KM, Fulda S. Small molecule XIAP inhibitors prime childhood acute leukemia cells for CD95-induced apoptosis. Int. J. Cancer, 126, 2216-2228, 2010.
2. Loeder S, Zenz T, Schnaiter A, Mertens D, Winkler D, Döhner H, Debatin KM, Stilgenbauer S, Fulda S. A novel paradigm to trigger apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Cancer Res., 69, 8977-8986, 2009.
3. Karl S, Pritschow Y, Volcic M, Häcker, S, Baumann B, Wiesmüller L, Debatin KM, Fulda S. Identification of a novel pro-apopotic function of NF-κB in the DNA damage response. J. Cell. Mol. Med., 13, 4239-4259, 2009.
4. Vellanki SH, Grabrucker A, Liebau S, Proepper C, Eramo A, Braun V, Boeckers T, Debatin KM, Fulda S. Small molecule XIAP inhibitors enhance Gamma-irradiation-induced apoptosis in glioblastoma. Neoplasia, 11, 743-752, 2009.
5. Westhoff MA, Kandenwein JA, Karl S, Vellanki SH, Braun V, Eramo A, Antoniadis G, Debatin KM, Fulda S. The pyridinylfuranopyrimidine inhibitor PI-103 chemosensitizes glioblastoma cells for apoptosis by inhibiting DNA repair. Oncogene, 28, 3586-9627, 2009.
6. Häcker S, Dittrich A, Mohr A, Schweitzer T, Rutkowski S, Krauss J, Debatin KM, Fulda S. Histone deacetylase inhibitors cooperate with IFNgamma to restore caspase-8 expression and overcome TRAIL resistance in cancers with silencing of caspase-8. Oncogene, 28, 3097-3110, 2009.
7. Fakler M, Loeder, S, Vogler M, Jeremias I, Debatin KM, Fulda S. Small molecule XIAP inhibitors prime childhood acute leukemia cells for TRAIL-induced apoptosis and overcome Bcl-2-mediated resistance. Blood, 113, 1710-22, 2009.
8. Vogler M, Walczak H, Stadel D, Haas T, Genze F, Jovanovic M, Bhanot U, Hasel C, Möller P, Gschwend J, Simmet T, Debatin KM, Fulda S. Small molecule XIAP inhibitors enhance TRAIL-induced apoptosis and antitumor activity in preclinical models of pancreatic carcinoma. Cancer Res., 69, 2425-34, 2009.
9. Kasperczyk H, Baumann B, Debatin KM, Fulda S. Characterization of sonic hedgehog as a novel NF-kB target gene that promotes NF-kB-mediated apoptosis resistance and tumor growth in vivo. FASEB J., 23, 21-33, 2009.
10. Vogler M, Walczak H, Stadel D, Genze F, Haas T, Jovanovic M, Bhanot U, Hasel C, Möller P, Gschwend J, Simmet T, Debatin K-M, Fulda S. Targeting XIAP bypasses Bcl-2-mediated resistance to TRAIL and cooperates with TRAIL to suppress pancreatic cancer growth in vitro and in vivo. Cancer Res., 68, 7956-65, 2008.
11. Opel D, Westhoff MA, Bender A, Braun V, Debatin KM, Fulda S. PI3K inhibition broadly sensitizes glioblastoma cells for death receptor- and drug-induced apoptosis. Cancer Res., 68, 6271-80, 2008.
12. Westhoff MA, Zhou S, Bachem, M, Debatin KM, Fulda S. Identification of a novel switch in the dominant forms of cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance in glioblastoma cells. Oncogene, 27, 5169-81, 2008.
13. Giagkousiklidis S, Vellanki SH, Debatin KM, Fulda S. Sensitization of pancreatic carcinoma cells for gamma-irradiation-induced apoptosis by XIAP inhibition. Oncogene, 26, 7006-16, 2007.
14. Opel D, Poremba, C., Simon T, Debatin KM, Fulda S. Activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway predicts poor outcome in neuroblastoma. Cancer Res., 67, 735-45, 2007.
15. LaFerla-Brühl, K., Westhoff, M.A., Kasperczyk, H., Zwacka, R.M., Debatin, K. M, Fulda, S. NF-kappaB-independent sensitization of glioblastoma cells for TRAIL-induced apoptosis by proteasome inhibition. Oncogene, 26, 571-82, 2007.
16. Vogler, M., Dürr, K., Jovanovic M, Debatin, K. M, Fulda, S. Regulation of TRAIL-induced apoptosis by XIAP in pancreatic carcinoma cells. Oncogene, 26, 248-57, 2007.
17. Vogler, M., Giagkousiklidis, S., Genze, F., Gschwend, J., Debatin, K. M, Fulda, S. Inhibition of clonogenic tumor growth: a novel function of Smac contributing to its antitumor activity. Oncogene, 24, 7190-202, 2005.
18. Kasperczyk, H., LaFerla-Brühl, K., Westhoff, M.A., Behrend, L., Zwacka, R.M., Debatin, K. M, Fulda, S. Betulinic acid as new activator of NF-kappaB: Molecular mechanisms and implications for cancer therapy. Oncogene, 24, 6945-56, 2005.
19. Giagkousiklidis, S., Vogler, M., Kasperczyk, H., Westhoff, M.A., Debatin, K. M, Fulda, S. Sensitization for gamma-irradiation-induced apoptosis by Smac. Cancer Res., 65, 10502-10513, 2005.
20. Fulda, S., Wick, W., Weller, M., Debatin, K.-M. Smac agonists sensitize for Apo2L/TRAIL- or anticancer drug-induced apoptosis and induce regression of malignant glioma in vivo. Nat. Med., 8, 808-815, 2002.

• International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine Ulm
• DFG Clinical Research Group KFO 167
• Marie Curie Research Training Network "ApopTrain"
• FP7 Large-scale integrating project "APO-SYS"
• BMBF Network "Targeting apoptosis for cancer therapy"
  
• BMBF Network "Translational Sarcoma Research Network"
• DAAD/INCA Consortium
• Inter University Attraction Pole (Belgian Science Policy)