Die Behandlung von Krebserkrankungen wurde in den letzten Jahren von zwei großen Trends beeinflusst. Statt zytotoxischer Therapien, wurden zielgerichtete monoklonale Antikörper entwickelt. Zudem verstärkten sich die Bemühungen in der Entwicklung prädiktiver Biomarker, die die Stratifizierung von Patienten vor der Behandlung ermöglichen. Obwohl hunderte von zielgerichteten Krebsmedikamenten entwickelt wurden, erreichten nur wenige davon eine Zulassung. Grund hierfür ist die noch hohe Ausfallrate bei der „Übersetzung“ von vielversprechenden präklinischen Daten, die mit Krebs-Zelllinien und Xenograft-Modellen von Krebs-Zelllinien erlangt wurden, in positive klinische Phase II- und Phase III-Daten. Das Ziel der Forschung ist es, neue zielgerichtete Therapien und gleichzeitig prädiktive Marker, mit Hilfe von verbesserten präklinischen Tumormodellen zu entwickeln. Ein Panel von 133 Xenograftmodellen aller vier UICC-Stadien wurde etabliert. Zur Überprüfung dieses Modells wurde die Wirksamkeit von Cetuximab, Bevacizumab und Oxaliplatin getestet. Für dieses Experiment benutzten wir 67 Xenograft-Modelle, die aus chemonaiven CRC-Patienten entwickelt wurden. Die Behandlung mit einer Cetuximab-Monotherapie ergab eine objektive Ansprechrate von 27%. Dank dieser hohen Ansprechrate, konnten wir das verfügbare Tumorgewebe zur Vorhersage der Reaktion auf die Anti-EGFR-Antikörper in den Xenograft-Modellen verwenden. Wir untersuchten die Genauigkeit von Mutations-Markern (KRAS, BRAF und PIK3CA) kombiniert mit RNA-Expressionsdaten von Amphiregulin und Epiregulin. Weiterhin wurden neue prädiktive Marker-Kombinationen, basierend auf einer mRNA- und microRNA- Expressionsanalyse, ermittelt. Aufgrund der erfolgreichen Nachbildung der klinischen Situation in unserem Panel von Xenograft-Modellen, zeigt dieser Modellansatz vielversprechendes Potenzial für eine zukünftige Anwendung in der Erprobung neuartiger Krebsmedikamente und der Entwicklung von prädiktiven Biomarkern. / Over the last ten years two major trends have influenced drug development. Instead of cytotoxic therapies a variety of targeted monoclonal antibodies have been developed. In parallel, higher attention has been paid to the identification and validation of predictive markers, which allow the stratification of patients prior to the treatment. Hundreds of targeted cancer drugs have been developed, but only a few have been approved. Despite these two trends, there is still a high rate of failure in translating promising preclinical data obtained with cancer cell lines and xenograft models derived from cancer cell lines into positive clinical phase II and phase III data. The goal of the scientific community is to develop novel targeted therapies and predictive biomarkers using better preclinical tumour models. To bridge the gap between preclinical and clinical development a panel of 133 patients-derived CRC xenografts of all four UICC stages was established. An efficacy of cetuximab, bevacizumab and oxaliplatin was tested in the subset of 67 models. In the treatment experiment with cetuximab monotherapy an objective response rate of 27% was obtained. This high response rate allowed the use of the tumour tissues for evaluating molecular markers for predicting response to the anti-EGFR antibody in the xenograft models. The accuracy of three mutation markers including KRAS, BRAF and PIK3CA was investigated in combination with RNA expression levels of two EGFR ligands – amphiregulin and epiregulin. Novel predictive markers panels based on gene expression profiling of mRNA and microRNA were also tested and compared with the established biomarkers. Successful reconstruction of the clinical situation in the panel of xenograft models proves their potential for future use in testing of novel anti-cancer drugs. Moreover, their broad molecular characterization allows the simultaneous development of predictive biomarkers along with the testing of novel cancer drugs.

Nicht-kleinzelliger Lungenkrebs (NSCLC) hat bis heute einen hohen medizinischen Bedarf an effektiveren Therapien. Inhibitoren der Bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) Familie wie JQ1 wirken in verschiedenen Krebsarten, einschließlich Lungenkrebs. Während ihre Aktivität auf die Expression von Onkogenen wie c-Myc in vielen Studien untersucht wurde, bleibt der Effekt von BET-Inhibition auf den Apoptose Signalweg weitgehend unbekannt. In dieser Arbeit wurde die Aktivität von BET-Inhibitoren auf den Zellzyklus und auf Komponenten der Apoptose-Antwort der Zelle untersucht. Genomweite Transkriptionsanalysen haben zusammen mit Chromatin Immunpräzipitation und anschließender Sequenzierung geholfen das MYC Gen und dessen assoziierte Super-enhancer als primäres Ziel des BET-Inhibitors JQ1 zu identifizieren. Mittels einer Gruppe von NSCLC Modellen belegt diese Arbeit, dass Zelllinien die auf die BET-Inhibitoren reagieren in Apoptose gehen und eine Reduktion der S-Phasen Population zusammen mit gleichzeitiger de-regulation der c-Myc Expression aufwiesen. Andererseits konnte die ektopische Überexpression von c-Myc der anti-proliferativen Wirkung entgegenwirken. Die Auswirkung von BET-Inhibition auf die Expression von 370 Genen, die in der Apoptose Regulation involviert sind, wurde in sensitiven und resistenten Zellen verglichen und dabei wurde die starke BET-Abhängigkeit der Expression von zwei Schlüsselgenen der Apoptose FLIP und XIAP festgestellt. Die Kombination von JQ1 mit dem tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) oder dem Chemotherapeutikums Cisplatin die verstärke die Induktion von Apoptose in sowohl BET-Inhibitor sensitiven als auch in resistenten Zellen. Des Weiteren zeigte die Kombination einen verbesserten Antitumor-Effekte in A549 tumortragenden Mäusen. Insgesamt zeigen diese Ergebnisse, dass die Identifizierung von BET-abhängigen Genen unterstützend für die Wahl von therapeutischen Kombinationspartnern in der Krebsbehandlung sein kann. / Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has a high medical need for more effective therapies. Small molecule inhibitors of the bromodomain and extra terminal domain (BET) family such as JQ1 are active in different cancer types, including lung cancer. While their activity on oncogene expression such as c-Myc has been addressed by many studies, the effects of BET inhibition on the apoptotic pathway remain largely unknown. This work evaluates the activity of BET bromodomain inhibitors on cell cycle distribution and on components of the apoptotic response. Genome-wide transcriptional analyses together with chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing helped to identify the MYC gene and associated super-enhancers as a primary target of JQ1. Using a panel KRAS-mutated NSCLC models, it was found that cell lines responsive to BET inhibitors underwent apoptosis and reduced their S-phase population, concomitant with down-regulation of c-Myc expression. Conversely, ectopic c-Myc overexpression rescued the anti-proliferative effect of JQ1. The effects of BET inhibition on the expression of 370 genes involved in apoptosis were compared in sensitive and resistant cells and the expression of the two key apoptosis regulators FLIP and XIAP was found to be highly BET-dependent. Consistent with this, combination treatment of JQ1 with the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) or the pro-apoptotic chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin enhanced induction of apoptosis in both BET inhibitor sensitive and resistant cells. Furthermore the combination of JQ1 with cisplatin led to significantly improved anti-tumor efficacy in A549 tumor-bearing mice. Altogether these results show that the identification of BET-dependent genes provides guidance for the choice of drug combinations in cancer treatment.

INTRODUÇÃO: Os múltiplos passos da carcinogênese do câncer de cólon envolvem a existência de subpopulações de células tronco tumorais (CSC), responsáveis pela transformação, crescimento e proliferação das células tumorais. As proteínas CD44 e CD166 são marcadores de CSC associados a sinalização celular, adesão, migração, metástase e resposta linfocitária. Alguns fatores podem modular a expressão CSC como a mutação KRAS. OBJETIVO: correlacionar a expressão dos marcadores CD44 e CD166 em carcinoma de cólon metastático e status do oncogene KRAS (selvagem/mutado) com as características clínico-patológicas e desfecho do paciente ao final do seguimento. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Foram coletadas 58 amostras de tecido tumoral de pacientes com neoplasia de cólon metastático, tratados com CapeOx no Serviço de Oncologia Clínica do HCFMRPUSP de 2003 a 2012. Foram coletadas informações do prontuário sobre status do gene KRAS, características clínico-patológicas e desfecho clínico, sendo também realizada imunohistoquímica para marcação CD44 e CD166 através da técnica de TMA. Utilizado software SPSS 17 para análise estatística e considerado valor de p<0,050 para significância dos dados. RESULTADOS: A expressão de CD44 e CD166 foi positiva em 41,4% e 43%, respectivamente, e o status KRAS mutado em 48,3%. No subgrupo kAs selvagem e nos idosos (>65 anos), houve associação entre CD44 e CD166, p=0,042 e p=0,001, respectivamente. Pacientes CD166 negativo tiveram 3 vezes mais chances de progressão de doença (p=0,02) do que CD166 positivo. Pacientes Kras mutado e CD166 negativo tiveram 8 vezes risco de progressão (p<0,01). Pacientes CD44 positivo tiveram 4 e 5 vezes mais chances de evoluir com metástases hepática e pulmonar (p<0,01) em relação aos CD44 negativo. Pacientes com a combinação KRAS mutado e CD44 positivo tiveram 7 vezes mais chance de evoluir com metástase pulmonar (p=0,02) em relação a pacientes KRAS selvagem e CD44 negativo. DISCUSSÃO: Na amostra estudada observamos a influência das expressões dos marcadores de CSC e suas combinações com o status de mutação do gene KRAS, de modo que pacientes com CD166 negativo no tumor primário apresentam um desfecho de maior recorrência e o CD44 positivo favorece a evolução para metástases pulmonar e hepática. A mutação do gene KRAS atua modulando a via do EGF influenciando o comportamento biologico do tumor e os desfechos (recidiva e metastases) diretamente relacionados com a expressão dos marcadores de CSC no cancer de colon metastatico. CONCLUSÃO: Este estudo demonstrou interação entre a expressão imuno-histoquímica dos marcadores CSC de cólon (CD166 e CD44) e o status KRAS, podendo carcterizar subgrupos de pacientes com maiores chances de evolução desfavorável e assim propor um modelo de tratamento e seguimento mais individualizado. / BACKGROUND: Colon cancer carcinogenesis has been recently correlated with specific cancer stem cell (CSC) subpopulations which are associated with transformation, growth and spread process of tumor cells. CD44 and CD166 are CSC markers correlated with cell signalization, adhesion, migration, metastasis, and lymphocyte response. Some factors as KRAS mutation could modulate CSC. OBJECTIVE: Analyze CD44 and CD166 expressions in metastatic colon carcinoma and its correlation with KRAS status, clinicopathological features, disease recurrence and patient survival. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Tissues were obtained from 58 patients with confirmed metastatic colon cancer, treated with CapeOx at FMRP-USP from 2003 to 2012. Clinical and outcomes informations and KRAS gene status were obtained from medical records. KRAS status was analyzed with RT-PCR. CD44 and CD166 were analyzed with TMA immunohistochemistry. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 17.0. A p-value <0,050 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: CD44 and CD166 expressions were positive in 41,4% and 43%, respectively, and KRAS status was mutate in 48,3%. Wild-type KRAS in elderly patients had statistical association between CD44 and CD166, p=0,042 and p=0,001, respectively. Patients with CD166 negative had 3 fold increase in progression disease (p<0,01). Patients with CD44 positive had 4 and 5 fold increase in liver and lung metastasis (p<0,01), respectively. Patients with combined mutated KRAS and CD44 positive had 7 fold increase in lung metastasis (p=0,02) compared with wildtype KRAS and CD44 negative. DISCUSSION: In this study, the influence of markers expression of colon CSC (CD44 and CD166) and its combinations with status KRAS were proven. Patients with CD166 negative in primary colon tumor are more likely to present higher recurrence and, CD44 positive have a higher chance to develop lung and liver metastasis. KRAS mutation contributed, associated with studied CSC expressions, to cancer biological behavior and agressivness. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated interaction between imunohistochemical expression of colonic CSC markers (CD166 and CD44) and KRAS gene status. Subgroups of patients with worse outcomes could be identified and this biological information contributed to personalized treatments and follow ups that should be proposed for these patients.

No description available.

KRAS is a gene that plays a very important role in the initiation and development of several types of cancer. In particular, 90% of human pancreatic cancers are due to KRAS mutations. KRAS is difficult to target directly and a promising therapeutic path is its indirect inactivation by targeting one of its Synthetic Lethal Partners (SLPs). A gene G is a Synthetic Lethal Partner of KRAS if the simultaneous perturbation of KRAS and G leads to cell death. In the past, efforts to identify KRAS SLPs with high-throughput RNAi screens have been performed. These studies have reported only few top-ranked SLPs. To our knowledge, these screens have never been considered in combination for further examination. This thesis employs integrative analysis of the published screens, utilizing additional, independent data aiming at the detection of more robust therapeutic targets. To this aim, RankSLP, a novel statistical analysis approach was implemented, which for the first time i) consistently integrates existing KRAS-specific RNAi screens, ii) consistently integrates and normalizes the results of various ranking methods, iii) evaluates its findings with the use of external data and iv) explores the effects of random data inclusion. This analysis was able to predict novel SLPs of KRAS and confirm some of the existing ones.

INTRODUÇÃO: Os múltiplos passos da carcinogênese do câncer de cólon envolvem a existência de subpopulações de células tronco tumorais (CSC), responsáveis pela transformação, crescimento e proliferação das células tumorais. As proteínas CD44 e CD166 são marcadores de CSC associados a sinalização celular, adesão, migração, metástase e resposta linfocitária. Alguns fatores podem modular a expressão CSC como a mutação KRAS. OBJETIVO: correlacionar a expressão dos marcadores CD44 e CD166 em carcinoma de cólon metastático e status do oncogene KRAS (selvagem/mutado) com as características clínico-patológicas e desfecho do paciente ao final do seguimento. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Foram coletadas 58 amostras de tecido tumoral de pacientes com neoplasia de cólon metastático, tratados com CapeOx no Serviço de Oncologia Clínica do HCFMRPUSP de 2003 a 2012. Foram coletadas informações do prontuário sobre status do gene KRAS, características clínico-patológicas e desfecho clínico, sendo também realizada imunohistoquímica para marcação CD44 e CD166 através da técnica de TMA. Utilizado software SPSS 17 para análise estatística e considerado valor de p<0,050 para significância dos dados. RESULTADOS: A expressão de CD44 e CD166 foi positiva em 41,4% e 43%, respectivamente, e o status KRAS mutado em 48,3%. No subgrupo kAs selvagem e nos idosos (>65 anos), houve associação entre CD44 e CD166, p=0,042 e p=0,001, respectivamente. Pacientes CD166 negativo tiveram 3 vezes mais chances de progressão de doença (p=0,02) do que CD166 positivo. Pacientes Kras mutado e CD166 negativo tiveram 8 vezes risco de progressão (p<0,01). Pacientes CD44 positivo tiveram 4 e 5 vezes mais chances de evoluir com metástases hepática e pulmonar (p<0,01) em relação aos CD44 negativo. Pacientes com a combinação KRAS mutado e CD44 positivo tiveram 7 vezes mais chance de evoluir com metástase pulmonar (p=0,02) em relação a pacientes KRAS selvagem e CD44 negativo. DISCUSSÃO: Na amostra estudada observamos a influência das expressões dos marcadores de CSC e suas combinações com o status de mutação do gene KRAS, de modo que pacientes com CD166 negativo no tumor primário apresentam um desfecho de maior recorrência e o CD44 positivo favorece a evolução para metástases pulmonar e hepática. A mutação do gene KRAS atua modulando a via do EGF influenciando o comportamento biologico do tumor e os desfechos (recidiva e metastases) diretamente relacionados com a expressão dos marcadores de CSC no cancer de colon metastatico. CONCLUSÃO: Este estudo demonstrou interação entre a expressão imuno-histoquímica dos marcadores CSC de cólon (CD166 e CD44) e o status KRAS, podendo carcterizar subgrupos de pacientes com maiores chances de evolução desfavorável e assim propor um modelo de tratamento e seguimento mais individualizado. / BACKGROUND: Colon cancer carcinogenesis has been recently correlated with specific cancer stem cell (CSC) subpopulations which are associated with transformation, growth and spread process of tumor cells. CD44 and CD166 are CSC markers correlated with cell signalization, adhesion, migration, metastasis, and lymphocyte response. Some factors as KRAS mutation could modulate CSC. OBJECTIVE: Analyze CD44 and CD166 expressions in metastatic colon carcinoma and its correlation with KRAS status, clinicopathological features, disease recurrence and patient survival. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Tissues were obtained from 58 patients with confirmed metastatic colon cancer, treated with CapeOx at FMRP-USP from 2003 to 2012. Clinical and outcomes informations and KRAS gene status were obtained from medical records. KRAS status was analyzed with RT-PCR. CD44 and CD166 were analyzed with TMA immunohistochemistry. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 17.0. A p-value <0,050 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: CD44 and CD166 expressions were positive in 41,4% and 43%, respectively, and KRAS status was mutate in 48,3%. Wild-type KRAS in elderly patients had statistical association between CD44 and CD166, p=0,042 and p=0,001, respectively. Patients with CD166 negative had 3 fold increase in progression disease (p<0,01). Patients with CD44 positive had 4 and 5 fold increase in liver and lung metastasis (p<0,01), respectively. Patients with combined mutated KRAS and CD44 positive had 7 fold increase in lung metastasis (p=0,02) compared with wildtype KRAS and CD44 negative. DISCUSSION: In this study, the influence of markers expression of colon CSC (CD44 and CD166) and its combinations with status KRAS were proven. Patients with CD166 negative in primary colon tumor are more likely to present higher recurrence and, CD44 positive have a higher chance to develop lung and liver metastasis. KRAS mutation contributed, associated with studied CSC expressions, to cancer biological behavior and agressivness. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated interaction between imunohistochemical expression of colonic CSC markers (CD166 and CD44) and KRAS gene status. Subgroups of patients with worse outcomes could be identified and this biological information contributed to personalized treatments and follow ups that should be proposed for these patients.

The aim of this thesis is to implement a qualitative analysis on interpretive trails, which are also considered part of local heritage interpretation. This analysis verifies if the authors of panels used recommendations published in two known methodologies during their preparation phase. This research is applied on eighteen interpretive trails in the protected landscape area of Český kras. In the practical part of this thesis, each interpretive trail has been evaluated by applying nine criteria. The outcome of the thesis is an evaluation of visuals and content composed on the interpretive trail panels for the purpose of attractive communication. The most significant deficiencies of the panels of interpretive trails in the protected landscape area of Český kras are quality of graphical design, whether the text communicates with the reader and if the text does not require linear reading. On the other hand, the most important strengths of interpretive trail panels are that the visual elements are always well connected to the content of the text on the panel and the text is easily read without specialised terms. The interpretive trail that has reached the best evaluation in the qualitative analysis is Vodácká NS Berounka. On the other hand, the trails with the lowest scores were NS Památné stromy Karlštejnska and NS Klonk-Suchomasty.

Designed children´s sanatorium is situated on the cadastral area of Ostrova u Macochy town, in the protected area of Moravsky Kras. The architecture of this building fits in the surroundings of the landscape and respects its features. The building main attributes are its south-facing slope, the compositional construction from prefabricated reinforced concrete structure and perimeter sandwich structure, as well as the massive insulation. Thanks to these characteristics, it is classified as energy-efficient building. These eight buildings, interconnected by the massive colonnade in its middle axis, force the user to take advantage of all its energy-efficient advantages.

Somatische Mutationen sind eine Hauptursache für die Entstehung von Krebs. Allerdings tragen nicht alle Mutationen gleichermaßen zur Tumorentstehung bei. Ein wichtiges Ziel der personalisierten Medizin ist es daher, die für das Wachstum und Überleben des Tumors wesentlichen (sogenannte „Treiber“-Mutationen) von den zahlreichen biologisch neutralen Mutationen (sogenannte „Passagier“-Mutationen) zu unterscheiden. In der vorliegenden Studie etablierte ich einen CRISPR-basierten, genetischen Screen mit dessen Hilfe die funktionelle Rolle von Mutationen bei Krebs untersucht werden kann. Ich konnte nachweißen, dass diese mutationsselektive Strategie geeignet ist, um neue Krebstreibermutationen in der Kolorektalkarzinom- Zelllinie RKO zu identifizieren. Dazu verwendete ich 100 unterschiedliche sgRNAs, welche jeweils eine Krebsmutationssequenz spezifisch schneiden während die Wildtyp-Sequenz nicht verändert wird. Als Kontrolle nutzte ich die Kolorektalkarzinom- Zelllinie HCT116, welche die Zielmutationen nicht trägt. Interessanterweise ergab die Datenanalyse, dass zwei sgRNAs, welche die gleiche Mutation (UTP14A: S99del) schneiden, besonders rasch und ausschließlich in RKO-Zellen verloren gingen. Im Einklang mit den Screening-Ergebnissen führte die individuelle Infektion der Zellen mit diesen sgRNAs zu einem selektiven Verlust in RKO-, nicht aber HCT-Zellen, wodurch UTP14A: S99del als mutmaßliche Treiber-Mutation in RKO-Zellen identifiziert werden konnte. Die weitere Validierung und Charakterisierung dieser mutmaßlichen Treiber-Mutation wird diskutiert. Insgesamt zeigt dieser Ansatz, dass ein solches CRISPR-basiertes System ein leistungsfähiges Werkzeug auch für umfangreichere Untersuchungen von Krebsmutationen darstellt. Parallel dazu setzte ich die CRISPR-Cas-Technologie ein, um bekannte und bisher nicht therapierbare Treiber-Mutationen, wie z.B. innerhalb der Ras-Onkogen-Familie, zu untersuchen. Bemerkenswert ist in diesem Zusammenhang, dass jeder dritte Krebspatient ein durch Mutationen aktiviertes KRAS exprimiert, welches damit das am häufigsten mutierte Onkogen in menschlichen Tumorzellen ist. Im Gegensatz zu anderen Molekülen des MAPK-Signalweges konnte KRAS bisher nicht mittels kleiner, inhibitorischer Moleküle inaktiviert werden. Unter diesen Voraussetzungen birgt ein genomischer, CRISPR-basierter Ansatz das Potenzial, eine dringend benötigte therapeutische Alternative zur KRAS-Inaktivierung zu liefern. Ich entwarf daher drei mutationsselektive sgRNAs abzielend auf die häufigsten KRAS-Mutationen. Obwohl diese Strategie geeignet war, um KRAS-mutierte Tumorzellen in 3 unterschiedlichen Krebszelllinien effizient und spezifisch zu entfernen, führte die langfristige Cas9-Expression zur Bildung von onkogenen, resistenten Klonen. Dieses Phänomen wird durch DNA-Doppelstrangbrüche und die nachfolgend einsetzende, endogene DNA-Reparaturmaschinerie begünstigt. Ich konnte zeigen, dass der Adenin-Basen-Editor im Gegensatz dazu nicht nur in der Lage ist, die KRAS-Mutation ohne Doppelstrangbruch zu inaktivieren, sondern diese auch zur Wildtyp-Sequenz reparieren kann. Mit Hilfe dieses Ansatzes erreichte ich insbesondere bei Vorliegen der G12D-Mutation, einen fast vollständigen Abbau der KRAS-korrigierten Zellen. Die Validierung in patienten-abgeleiteten KRAS-G12D-Organoiden bestätigte die effiziente Korrektur sowie die daraus resultierende erhöhte Sensitivität, wenn auch in einem geringeren Maße als in Zelllinien. Somit konnte in dieser Studie erstmals gezeigt werden, dass Basen-Editierung sowohl in Zelllinien als auch in Organoiden, welche aus Tumorzellen der Patienten stammen, erfolgreich eingesetzt werden kann. Darüber hinaus ist dieses System gut verträglich und induziert weder in Zelllinien noch in Organoiden bei Vorliegen des KRAS Wildtyps unerwünschte Nebeneffekte (sogenannte „Off-target-Effekte“). Langfristig kann die Anwendung von CRISPR-basierten- und Basen-Editierungs-technologien zum Ausschalten von KRAS-Mutationen nicht nur zu einem besseren Verständnis der RAS-Biologie führen, sondern zusammen mit neuen Verabreichungsformen und Technologien die Grundlage für eine dringend benötigte KRAS-Therapie bilden.

KRAS is a gene that plays a very important role in the initiation and development of several types of cancer. In particular, 90% of human pancreatic cancers are due to KRAS mutations. KRAS is difficult to target directly and a promising therapeutic path is its indirect inactivation by targeting one of its Synthetic Lethal Partners (SLPs). A gene G is a Synthetic Lethal Partner of KRAS if the simultaneous perturbation of KRAS and G leads to cell death. In the past, efforts to identify KRAS SLPs with high-throughput RNAi screens have been performed. These studies have reported only few top-ranked SLPs. To our knowledge, these screens have never been considered in combination for further examination. This thesis employs integrative analysis of the published screens, utilizing additional, independent data aiming at the detection of more robust therapeutic targets. To this aim, RankSLP, a novel statistical analysis approach was implemented, which for the first time i) consistently integrates existing KRAS-specific RNAi screens, ii) consistently integrates and normalizes the results of various ranking methods, iii) evaluates its findings with the use of external data and iv) explores the effects of random data inclusion. This analysis was able to predict novel SLPs of KRAS and confirm some of the existing ones.