Christina Blume
A5014252014- Glioma Diagnosis and Treatment
- Meningioma and schwannoma management
- Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
- Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics
- Chromatin Remodeling and Cancer
- Radiomics and Machine Learning in Medical Imaging
- Brain Metastases and Treatment
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- ATP Synthase and ATPases Research
- Head and Neck Surgical Oncology
- Plant and animal studies
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Genetic Syndromes and Imprinting
- Computational Drug Discovery Methods
- Ocular Oncology and Treatments
- Neurofibromatosis and Schwannoma Cases
- MicroRNA in disease regulation
- Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Advances
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects
- CAR-T cell therapy research
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Virus-based gene therapy research
- Nanopore and Nanochannel Transport Studies
German Cancer Research Center
2021-2025
Heidelberg University
2020-2025
University Hospital Heidelberg
2020-2025
Deutschen Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung
2024
Universitätsklinikum Erlangen
2020
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
2020
Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig
2009-2013
University of Bonn
2010
Meningiomas are the most frequent primary intracranial tumors. Patient outcome varies widely from benign to highly aggressive, ultimately fatal courses. Reliable identification of risk progression for individual patients is pivotal importance. However, only biomarkers aggressive tumors established (CDKN2A/B and TERT), whereas no molecularly based stratification exists broad spectrum with low- intermediate-risk meningioma.DNA methylation data copy-number information were generated 3,031...
Abstract Ependymomas encompass a heterogeneous group of central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms that occur along the entire neuroaxis. In recent years, extensive (epi-)genomic profiling efforts have identified several molecular groups ependymoma are characterized by distinct alterations and/or patterns. Based on unsupervised visualization large cohort genome-wide DNA methylation data, we highly pediatric-type tumors ( n = 40) forming cluster separate from all established CNS tumor types,...
Abstract Glioneuronal tumors are a heterogenous group of CNS neoplasms that can be challenging to accurately diagnose. Molecular methods highly useful in classifying these tumors—distinguishing precise classes from their histological mimics and identifying previously unrecognized types tumors. Using an unsupervised visualization approach DNA methylation data, we identified novel ( n = 20) formed cluster separate all established tumor types. analyses revealed ATRX alterations (in 16/16 cases...
Abstract Clear cell meningioma represents an uncommon variant of that typically affects children and young adults. Although enrichment loss-of-function mutations in the SMARCE1 gene has been reported for this subtype, comprehensive molecular investigations are lacking. Here we describe a molecularly distinct subset tumors ( n = 31), initially identified through genome-wide DNA methylation screening among cohort 3093 meningiomas, which most were diagnosed histologically as clear meningioma....
Abstract The diagnostic landscape of brain tumors integrates comprehensive molecular markers alongside traditional histopathological evaluation. DNA methylation and next-generation sequencing (NGS) have become a cornerstone in central nervous system (CNS) tumor classification. A limiting requirement for NGS profiling is sufficient quality quantity, which restrict its feasibility. Here we demonstrate NePSTA (neuropathology spatial transcriptomic analysis) morphological neuropathological...
Molecular data integration plays a central role in nervous system (CNS) tumor diagnostics but currently used assays pose limitations due to technical complexity, equipment and reagent costs, as well lengthy turnaround times. We previously reported the development of Rapid-CNS2, an adaptive-sampling-based nanopore sequencing workflow. Here we comprehensively validated further developed Rapid-CNS2 for intraoperative use. It now offers real-time methylation classification DNA copy number...
ABSTRACT A particular challenge hampering therapeutic advancements for high-risk sarcoma patients is the broad spectrum of molecularly distinct entities and corresponding lack suitable model systems to recapitulate study these diseases. To overcome this predicament, we developed a novel genetically-controlled, yet versatile mouse modeling platform allowing delivery different genetic lesions by electroporation (EPO) thigh muscle wildtype mice. This optimized EPO-GEMM (EPO-based genetically...
Abstract The 2021 WHO classification underscores the importance of molecular data integration in Central Nervous System (CNS) tumor diagnostics. However, currently used assays have disadvantages due to technical complexity, required equipment and reagent cost, as well lengthy turnaround times. In response these challenges, we introduce Rapid-CNS 2 MNP-Flex. , an adaptive sampling-based nanopore sequencing workflow, offers real-time methylation DNA copy-number information within a 30-minute...
The present study evaluated the degree of differentiation between closely-related species Blyth's leaf warbler complex (Phylloscopus reguloides s.l.) and white-tailed davisoni by molecular (cytochrome b 16S rRNA) bioacoustic markers (sonagraphic analysis songs). Molecular phylogenetic results corroborate recently suggested splittings two former taxa into three species, respectively. By contrast to previous opinion, territorial songs parallels genetic diversification in both groups. In P....
ABSTRACT Meningiomas are the most frequent primary intracranial tumors. They can follow a wide clinical spectrum from benign to highly aggressive course. No specific therapy exists for refractory cases or not amenable resection and radiotherapy. Identification of risk recurrence malignant transformation individual patients is challenging. However, promising molecular markers prognostic subgrouping by DNA methylation emerging. Still, biological underpinnings these diagnostic subgroups...
Abstract The WHO classification of CNS tumours 2021 recommends reporting a wide range molecular alterations for WHO-compatible diagnoses. Conventional workflows warrant considerable investment and long turnaround times limited by batching. Nanopore sequencing enables read sequencing, real-time targeting simultaneous base modification detection with compact devices. Rapid-CNS2- rapid, comprehensive adaptive sampling based pipeline time 5 days was previously described. ad-hoc methylation model...
Abstract BACKGROUND The WHO classification of CNS tumours 2021 recommends reporting a wide range molecular alterations for WHO-compatible diagnoses. Conventional diagnostic workflows warrant considerable investment and long turnaround times limited by batching. Nanopore sequencing enables read sequencing, real-time targeting simultaneous base modification detection with compact devices. Rapid-CNS2- rapid, comprehensive adaptive sampling based pipeline time 5 days was previously described....
Abstract BACKGROUND Due to the lack of consistent tumour-cell specific markers, diffuse brain invasion glioblastoma (GB) presents a significant diagnostic challenge, especially for specimens with low tumour cell fraction or scarce tissue. The only common alteration found in most GB is gain chromosome 7 and loss 10. emergence new technologies such as spatial single nucleus transcriptomics that allow detection copy number alterations (CNVs) may us push boundaries. MATERIAL AND METHODS We...
Abstract BACKGROUND Meningiomas arise from the leptomeninges of brain and spinal cord. Despite being most common intracranial tumor in adults, risk stratification remains challenging. Currently, tumors are graded based on histology as well molecular markers. In recent years, several epigenomic classification systems with a correlation to patient outcome have been proposed for meningiomas. However, these do not discriminate between effects microenvironment itself or consider distinct...
Abstract Due to their infiltrative growth, diffuse gliomas can pose a major challenge for neuropathologists. Lack of specific immunohistochemistry markers some like IDH-wildtype glioblastoma make it hard identify the tumour cell content or distinguish between and reactive gliosis. Other hurdles are high fractions DNA from healthy cells in molecular diagnostic analysis, scarce tissue, which result failed extraction. To overcome these limitations, we evaluated application spatial...
Abstract Background Therapy resistance and infiltration still pose major challenges in the treatment of glioma. In tumour border niche, an interaction between different healthy cell types malignant cells leads to therapy resistance, acquisition stem-cell like features, recurrence. However, studying is quite challenging due lack specific glioma markers. Although single datasets contain information about abundance types, they spatial arrangement at niche. Spatial transcriptomic approaches...
Abstract BACKGROUND Integrative brain tumour diagnostics indisputably requires comprehensive reporting of molecular markers. The 2021 WHO classification central nervous system (CNS) tumours substantially increased the set markers for routine evaluation, with greater significance to DNA methylation analysis in diagnostics. Limited by investment and batching, smaller labs clinics might suffer major delays delivering clinical decisions. To make precision accessible, we introduce an integrated...
Abstract Ependymomas encompass a heterogeneous group of central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms that occur along the entire neuroaxis. In recent years, extensive (epi-)genomic profiling efforts have identified several molecular groups ependymoma are characterized by distinct alterations and/or patterns. Based on unsupervised visualization large cohort genome-wide DNA methylation data, we highly pediatric-type tumors (n = 40) forming cluster separate from all established CNS tumor types, which...