探花精选

Rainer Heuchel

Rainer Heuchel

Principal Researcher | Docent
Visiting address: H盲lsov盲gen, Enheten f枚r kirurgi C1:77, 14186 Stockholm
Postal address: H9 Klinisk vetenskap, intervention och teknik, H9 CLINTEC Kirurgi och onkologi, 141 52 Huddinge
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About me

  • Rainer Heuchel has done his PhD on transcriptional enhancers at the
    University of Zuerich/Switzterland under the supervision of Prof. Walter
    Schaffner. He then joined the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Reseach headed by
    Carl-Henrik Heldin where his research focussed on PDGF- and TGF-beta
    signaling using genetically engineered mouse models. In 2008 he joined Prof.
    Matthias L枚hr at 探花精选 where he heads the pancreas research
    lab. In December 2021, he became associate professor in cell and molecular
    biology.
    *Teaching interest*
    Cancer biology, molecular biology, animal models of human diseases.

Research

  • *Research interests*
    Inflammatory and cancerous diseases of the pancreas.
    Acute and chronic pancreatitis are very difficult to treat diseases. Chronic
    pancreatitis has also been identified as a risk factor for the development of
    pancreatic cancer. We use different mouse models recapitulating these two
    forms of human pancreatitis in order to better understand the basic biology
    of these diseases and to identify new targets for drug and treatment
    development.
    According to the Cancerfonds Rapporten 2012, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
    (PDAC) has raised from the fifth to the fourth most frequent cause of death
    by cancer in Sweden, although it is not even among the 10 most common forms
    of cancer. The fact that PDAC has changed place with breast cancer is,
    however, not due to an increase in PDAC incidence, but is based on the
    improvements made in the treatment of breast cancer. This indicates the
    dilemma of PDAC, in that there is no diagnostic biomarker, the diagnosis is
    late and the tumor, once identified is almost completely resistant towards
    conventional chemo- and radiation therapy. The increased therapy resistance
    is mainly due to the enormous fibrotic response (desmoplasia), seen as
    excessive collagen disposition (comparable to scar tissue), induced by the
    stromal cells. Therefore the stroma of an "average" PDAC is consisting to at
    least 50% of tumor stroma (mainly activated stellate cells, macrophages
    etc.), which is hindering the access of potential anti-cancer drugs to the
    actual cancer cells.
    Many drugs have been developed, which fight cancer cells successfully in
    2-dimensional cell culture and xenograft experiments (subcutaneous injection
    of cancer cells) in nude mice. These approaches have the critical
    disadvantages that they do not take into account the collagen-rich stroma
    (2-D culture and xenograft), the lack of a functioning immune system (nude
    mice) and the wrong placing of the tumor (subcutaneous vs. into the
    pancreas). In order to circumvent these systematic problems we have developed
    3-dimensional stroma-containing cancer cell cultures (avascular minitumors),
    which are able to identify those drugs, which only work in 2-D culture and
    thus have very little chance to ever work in a patient. Drugs with proven
    anti-cancer potential in our 3-D setup are then tested in genetically defined
    mouse tumor models, which not only mimic the preneoplastic development of
    human PDAC, but are characterized by the same collagen-rich stroma. These
    astonishing similarities between mouse and man are most probably based on the
    fact that the mouse PDAC is induced by the same genes (KRAS, TP53) that have
    been found mutated in the majority of patients. Besides drug/therapy testing,
    we use the pre-clinical mouse models also to 1) identify new biomarkers and
    drug targets, 2) identify and chararcterize cancer stem cells and to 3)
    characterize the impact of additional mutations in tumor development and
    metastasis formation.
    In conclusion, we have set up a progressive filter strategy for anti-PDAC
    drugs (2D to 3D in vitro systems followed floowoed by genetically engineered
    mouse models) which will significantly reduce the number of mice required in
    drug testing and hopefully increase the efficacy of drugs entering human
    phase-I clinical trials for PDAC.

Articles

  • Article: BIOMEDICINES. 2023;11(11):3061
    Aval NA; Lahchaichi E; Tudoran O; Fayazbakhsh F; Heuchel R; Lohr M; Pettersson T; Russom A
  • Journal article: PANCREATOLOGY. 2023;23:e140-e141
    G眉ndel B; Heuchel R; Liu X; L枚hr M
  • Journal article: PANCREATOLOGY. 2023;23:e140
    G眉ndel B; Heuchel R; L枚hr M
  • Article: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS. 2023;14(1):5024
    Moro CF; Geyer N; Harrizi S; Hamidi Y; Soderqvist S; Kuznyecov D; Tidholm Qvist E; Salmonson Schaad M; Hermann L; Lindberg A; Heuchel RL; Martin-Bernabe A; Dhanjal S; Navis AC; Villard C; del Valle AC; Bozoky L; Sparrelid E; Dirix L; Strell C; Ostman A; Schmierer B; Vermeulen PB; Engstrand J; Bozoky B; Gerling M
  • Article: CANCER RESEARCH. 2023;83(10):1628-1645
    He F; Tay AHM; Calandigary A; Malki E; Suzuki S; Liu T; Wang Q; Fernandez-Moro C; Kaisso M; Olofsson-Sahl P; Melssen M; Sze SK; Bjornstedt M; Lohr MJ; Karlsson MCI; Heuchel R; Sarhan D
  • Article: ISCIENCE. 2022;25(11):105317
    Sarhan D; Eisinger S; He F; Bergsland M; Pelicano C; Driescher C; Westberg K; Benitez II; Humoud R; Palano G; Li S; Carannante V; Muhr J; Onfelt B; Schlisio S; Ravetch JV; Heuchel R; Lohr MJ; Karlsson MCI
  • Journal article: PANCREATOLOGY. 2022;22:e81
    Liu X; G眉ndel B; Engelsberger V; L枚hr M; Heuchel R
  • Journal article: PANCREATOLOGY. 2022;22:e70
    G眉ndel B; Heuchel R; G眉ndel A; Liu X
  • Article: NEOPLASIA. 2021;23(12):1300-1306
    Bozoky B; Moro CF; Strell C; Geyer N; Heuchel RL; Lohr JM; Ernberg I; Szekely L; Gerling M; Bozoky B
  • Article: PANCREAS. 2021;50(10):1427-1434
    Li X; Nania S; Kleiter I; L枚hr J-M; Heuchel RL
  • Article: CANCERS. 2021;13(21):5338
    Li J; Wu X; Schiffmann L; MacVicar T; Zhou C; Wang Z; Li D; Camacho OV; Heuchel R; Odenthal M; Hillmer A; Quaas A; Zhao Y; Bruns CJ; Popp FC
  • Journal article: PANCREATOLOGY. 2021;21:s72
    Liu X; G眉ndel B; Li X; Liu J; Wright A; L枚hr M; Arvidsson G; Heuchel R
  • Article: TRANSLATIONAL ONCOLOGY. 2021;14(7):101107
    Liu X; Gundel B; Li X; Liu J; Wright A; Lohr M; Arvidsson G; Heuchel R
  • Article: ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES. 2020;12(48):53665-53681
    Zhao Y; Ye F; Brismar TB; Li X; He R; Heuchel R; El-Sayed R; Feliu N; Zheng W; Oerther S; Dutta J; Parak WJ; Muhammed M; Hassan M
  • Journal article: PANCREATOLOGY. 2020;20:s129
    Liu X; Arvidsson G; Li X; Liu J; Wright A; L枚hr M; Heuchel R
  • Article: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 2020;10(1):17444
    Gorchs L; Ahmed S; Mayer C; Knauf A; Moro CF; Svensson M; Heuchel R; Rangelova E; Bergman P; Kaipe H
  • Article: BMC CANCER. 2020;20(1):475
    Norberg KJ; Liu X; Moro CF; Strell C; Nania S; Bluemel M; Balboni A; Bozoky B; Heuchel RL; Loehr JM
  • Article: PANCREATOLOGY. 2019;19(7):963-970
    Held T; Verbeke CS; Strobel O; Rutkowski W; Villard C; Moro CF; Del Chiaro M; Buechler M; Heuchel R; Lohr M
  • Article: FEBS OPEN BIO. 2019;9(10):1756-1768
    Li X; Clappier C; Kleiter I; Heuchel R
  • Journal article: PANCREATOLOGY. 2019;19:s80
    Liu X; Arvidsson G; Li X; Liu J; Wright A; L枚hr J-M; Heuchel R
  • Show more

All other publications

  • Review: INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES. 2023;29(4):647-660
    Schuler C; Foti F; Perren L; Mamie C; Weder B; Stokmaier M; de Valliere C; Heuchel R; Ruiz PA; Rogler G; Hausmann M
  • Editorial comment: SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND TARGETED THERAPY. 2022;7(1):364
    Moustakas A; Lohr JM; Heuchel RL
  • Conference publication: 2022;00:912-914
    Iseri E; Kaya K; Heuchel R; van der Wijngaart W
  • Preprint: SSRN ELECTRONIC JOURNAL. 2022
    Sarhan D; Eisinger S; Pelicano C; Fei H; Driescher C; Westberg K; Benitez II; Humoud R; Palano G; Li S; Carannante V; 脰nfelt B; Schlisio S; Ravetch JV; Heuchel R; L枚hr MJ; Karlsson MCI
  • Meeting abstract: JOURNAL FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER. 2021;9:A927
    Sarhan D; He F; Calandigary A; Malki E; Moro CF; Kaisso M; Olofsson-Sahl P; Melssen M; Lohr M; Karlsson M; Heuchel R
  • Review: FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY. 2021;9:741162
    Guendel B; Liu X; Loehr M; Heuchel R
  • Meeting abstract: ANNALS OF ONCOLOGY. 2018;29:vi31
    Kordes M; Lohr M; Malgerud L; Kaduthanam S; Frodin J-E; Karimi M; Yachnin J; Moro CF; Ghazi S; Heuchel R; Wirta V; Huelsewig C; Stecker K; Del Chiaro M; Ostman A; Engstrand L; Brock S; Gustafsson-Liljefors M
  • Meeting abstract: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY. 2018;36(15):e16214
    Loehr M; Kordes M; Malgerud L; Kaduthanam S; Frodin JE; Karimi M; Yachnin J; Moro CF; Ghazi S; Heuchel RL; Wirta V; Huelsewig C; Stecker K; Del Chiaro M; Ostman A; Lars E; Brock S; Gustavsson-Liljefors M
  • Review: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 2017;56:140-154
    Valentini D; Rao M; Rane L; Rahman S; Axelsson-Robertson R; Heuchel R; Lohr M; Hoft D; Brighenti S; Zumla A; Maeurer M
  • Corrigendum: PLOS ONE. 2017;12(1):e0171283
    Moro CF; Fernandez-Woodbridge A; D'souza MA; Zhang Q; Bozoky B; Vasan SK; Catalano P; Heuchel R; Shtembari S; Del Chiaro M; Danielsson O; Bjornstedt M; Lohr JM; Isaksson B; Verbeke C; Bozoky B
  • Review: CANCERS. 2014;6(4):2137-2154
    Schober M; Jesenofsky R; Faissner R; Weidenauer C; Hagmann W; Michl P; Heuchel RL; Haas SL; Lohr J-M
  • Corrigendum: CELL STEM CELL. 2012;10(1):104
    Lonardo E; Hermann PC; Mueller M-T; Huber S; Balic A; Miranda-Lorenzo I; Zagorac S; Alcala S; Rodriguez-Arabaolaza I; Carlos Ramirez J; Torres-Ruiz R; Garcia E; Hidaldo M; Alvaro Cebrian D; Heuchel R; Loehr M; Berger F; Bartenstein P; Aicher A; Heeschen C
  • Published conference paper: JOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE. 2008;12(5B):2130-2144
    Hamzavi J; Ehnert S; Godoy P; Ciuclan L; Weng H; Mertens PR; Heuchel R; Dooley S
  • Corrigendum: ARTERIOSCLEROSIS THROMBOSIS AND VASCULAR BIOLOGY. 2008;28(2):E11
    Magnusson PU; Looman C; Agren A; Wu Y; Claesson-Welsh L; Heuchel RL

Grants

  • Desmoplastic stroma (fibrotic connective tissue) is the common denominator of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and chronic pancreatitis.
    Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2018
  • Desmoplastic stroma (fibrotic connective tissue) is the common denominator of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and chronic pancreatitis.
    Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2017
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2013 - 31 December 2015

Employments

  • Principal Researcher, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, 探花精选, 2022-

Degrees and Education

  • Docent, 探花精选, 2021

Supervisor

  • Xiahui Jia
  • Jessica Norberg

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