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2013:
15-05-2013, 19:00
Seminar Dr. Guenter Schwamberger: „Cancer defense by the immune system
- Prevention und therapy"
On invitation of Kiwanis Club Salzburg Igonta
Gasthof Krimpelstätter, Muellner Hauptstr. 31, 5020 Salzburg,
Austria [Map]
Photos: Mag. Peter Hertl
2014:
20-02-2014, 19:00
Seminar Dr. Guenter Schwamberger: „Cancer defense
by the immune system – New perspectives for prevention und therapy"
On invitation of Kiwanis Club Salzburg 1
Hotel-Gasthof Kohlpeter,
Lieferinger Hauptstr. 23, 5020 Salzburg, Austria [Map]
June 2014
Our video-microscopy system
went into service at the beginning of the year and now for the first time enables us to trace the destruction of cancer cells by activated
macrophages and MTC 170 via time-lapse videos. While work is still in progress, the footage recorded so far already yielded some unexpected
insights into the cellular processes of endogenous cancer defense. After screening and evaluation of the wealth of footage material
accumulated, the respective videos will be available on our website.
In this regard, we would like to express our gratitude to Mag.
Christian Behensky for preparing special parts for our video-microscopy system in his private workshop free of charge and his versatile
technical support.
Furthermore, in collaboration with the research group of Prof. Dr. Hubert Kerschbaum at the Department of Cell Biology at the University of Salzburg, we have started to investigate the antitumor activity of microglia cells, the macrophages of the central nervous system. Our first results demonstrate a marked capacity of activated microglia cells to destroy cancer cells. The data obtained so far suggest that MTC 170 also plays a key role in this process. This is all the more important, as microglia cells constitute almost the only form of immune defense against cancer cells in the central nervous system. Thus, we hope that our studies may pave a way to novel therapeutic strategies for brain tumors and metastases.
Microscopic picture of the destruction of cancer cells
by activated microglia cells.
Left: Clusters of growing cancer cells (T) next to unstimulated microglia cells (M). Right: Essentially
complete destruction of cancer cells by activated microglia cells.
(© G. Schwamberger)
Finally, thanks to generous donations,
these last months we have accomplished an important structural goal for our further research activities. We now have a computer-controlled
FPLC-system for analysis and purification of biomolecules, which constitutes an indispensable prerequisite for our scientific key
project, the further molecular charcterization of MTC 170.
In this regard, we would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Nikolaus Bresgen
and Prof. Dr. Peter Eckl at the Department of Cell Biology at the University of Salzburg for technical support. Furthermore, we would
also like to thank Ivan Vins of DataApex for his help in integrating our existing devices into the control software Clarity and DataApex
for the special discount granted.
March 2013
Thanks to our supporters, during the last few months, we were able to establish a system
for video-microscopy of living cells, which for the first time allows us to trace the destruction of cancer cells by activated macrophages
and MTC 170 via time-lapse videos. By this, we hope to gain further insights into the cellular processes of endogenous cancer defense.
In addition, we would like to use these fascinating pictures for promoting our research activities. The videos will be available on
our website.
In this regard, we would particularly like to thank Ed Simmons of ESImaging,
July 2014
After successful setup of our research infrastructure, Dr. Schwamberger now has
has resigned from his function as chairman to accept the postion of our scientific director in order to devote his future activies
primarily to conducting research. He is followed by Dr. Eveline Zirknitzer as chairwoman.
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