Research Focus
Our main research is focused on:
- Tumor immunology
- Cancer immunotherapy
- Oncolytic influenza A virus
- Inflammatory bowel diseases
In particular we are investigating the role of therapy-induced (i.e.chemotherapy, radiotherapy) biological changes in the tumor-immune microenvironment (TIME) of human solid malignancies, such as colorectal cancer (CRC) or colorectal liver metastases (CLM), in a human-translational setting. The research aims are to examine the induction and consequences of a therapy-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response, immunogenic cell death (ICD), type I and type II interferon (IFN) induction on tumor-infiltrating immune cells with clinical outcome. Our goal is to develop novel concepts of cancer immunotherapy, using a rational combined treatment approach.
Having an expertise in genetic engineering of influenza A virus, we developed the first oncolytic influenza A virus. Currently our aim is to further optimize its viral vectors and production to facilitate a routine clinical application.
Team
a.o. Univ.Prof. Dr. Michael Bergmann
Principial Investigator/Clinician
Johannes Längle MD, PhD
Clinician
Victoria STARY, MD
Clinican
Brigitte Wolf, PhD
postdoctoral fellow
Markus Fabits, PhD
postdoctoral fellow
Julijan Kabiljo, MD
predoctoral fellow
Daphni Ammon, MD
predoctoral fellow
Rebecca Zirnbauer, MD
predoctoral fellow
Lukas Watzke MD
predoctoral fellow
Carolina Klicka
Technical Assistant
Péter Hofner, PhD – Medical Student
Noam Hartman – Medical Student
Jakob Homola, BSc – Master Student
Sophie Prodinger, BSc – Master Student
Anna Theophil, MSc –Technical Asistent/Master Student
Annalena Renner – Technical Asistent/Master Student
Publications
Functional Precision Medicine Provides Clinical Benefit in Advanced Aggressive Hematological Cancers and Identifies Exceptional Responders. Kornauth C, Pemovska T, Vladimer GI, Bayer G, Bergmann M, Eder S, Eichner R, Erl M, Esterbauer H, Exner R, Felsleitner-Hauer V, Forte M, Gaiger A, Geissler K, Greinix HT, Gstöttner W, Hacker M, Hartmann BL, Hauswirth AW, Heinemann T, Heintel D, Hoda MA, Hopfinger G, Jaeger U, Kazianka L, Kenner L, Kiesewetter B, Krall N, Krajnik G, Kubicek S, Le T, Lubowitzki S, Mayerhoefer ME, Menschel E, Merkel O, Miura K, Müllauer L, Neumeister P, Noesslinger T, Ocko K, Öhler L, Panny M, Pichler A, Porpaczy E, Prager GW, Raderer M, Ristl R, Ruckser R, Salamon J, Schiefer AI, Schmolke AS, Schwarzinger I, Selzer E, Sillaber C, Skrabs C, Sperr WR, Srndic I, Thalhammer R, Valent P, van der Kouwe E, Vanura K, Vogt S, Waldstein C, Wolf D, Zielinski CC, Zojer N, Simonitsch-Klupp I, Superti-Furga G, Snijder B, Staber PB. Cancer Discov. 2021 Oct 11:candisc.0538.2021. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-21-0538 Available at: https://doi.org/10.1158/2159-8290.CD-21-0538[JL1] ;
Telocytes in the human ascending aorta: Characterization and exosome-related KLF-4/VEGF-A expression. Aschacher T, Schmidt K, Aschacher O, Eichmair E, Baranyi U, Winkler B, Grabenwoeger M, Spittler A, Enzmann F, Messner B, Riebandt J, Laufer G, Bergmann M, Ehrlich M. J Cell Mol Med. 2021 Oct;25(20):9697-9709. doi: 10.1111/jcmm.16919 Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/jcmm.16919
Estimation of exogenous drivers to predict COVID-19 pandemic using a method from nonlinear control theory. Hametner C, Kozek M, Böhler L, Wasserburger A, Du ZP, Kölbl R, Bergmann M, Bachleitner-Hofmann T, Jakubek S. Nonlinear Dyn. 2021 Sep 6:1-15. doi: 10.1007/s11071-021-06811-7 Available at:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11071-021-06811-7
Stromal fibroblasts shape the myeloid phenotype in normal colon and colorectal cancer and induce CD163 and CCL2 expression in macrophages. Stadler M, Pudelko K, Biermeier A, Walterskirchen N, Gaigneaux A, Weindorfer C, Harrer N, Klett H, Hengstschläger M, Schüler J, Sommergruber W, Oehler R, Bergmann M, Letellier E, Dolznig H. Cancer Lett. 2021 Nov 1;520:184-200. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.07.006 Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canlet.2021.07.006
Surgical Complexity and Outcome During the Implementation Phase of a Robotic Colorectal Surgery Program-A Retrospective Cohort Study. Müller C, Laengle J, Riss S, Bergmann M, Bachleitner-Hofmann T. Front Oncol. 2021 Feb 16;10:603216. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2020.603216 Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2020.603216
Systematic review of the immunological landscape of Wilms tumors. Palmisani F, Kovar H, Kager L, Amann G, Metzelder M, Bergmann M. Mol Ther Oncolytics. 2021 Jul 13;22:454-467. doi: 10.1016/j.omto.2021.06.016. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.omto.2021.06.016
Circulating Folate and Folic Acid Concentrations: Associations With Colorectal Cancer Recurrence and Survival. Geijsen AJMR, Ulvik A, Gigic B, Kok DE, van Duijnhoven FJB, Holowatyj AN, Brezina S, van Roekel EH, Baierl A, Bergmann M, Böhm J, Bours MJL, Brenner H, Breukink SO, Bronner MP, Chang-Claude J, de Wilt JHW, Grady WM, Grünberger T, Gumpenberger T, Herpel E, Hoffmeister M, Huang LC, Jedrzkiewicz JD, Keulen ETP, Kiblawi R, Kölsch T, Koole JL, Kosma K, Kouwenhoven EA, Kruyt FM, Kvalheim G, Li CI, Lin T, Ose J, Pickron TB, Scaife CL, Schirmacher P, Schneider MA, Schrotz-King P, Singer MC, Swanson ER, van Duijvendijk P, van Halteren HK, van Zutphen M, Vickers K, Vogelaar FJ, Wesselink E, Habermann N, Ulrich AB, Ueland PM, Weijenberg MP, Gsur A, Ulrich CM, Kampman E. JNCI Cancer Spectr. 2020 Jul 7;4(5):pkaa051. doi: 10.1093/jncics/pkaa051 https://doi.org/10.1093/jncics/pkaa051
The Immune Phenotype of Isolated Lymphoid Structures in Non-Tumorous Colon Mucosa Encrypts the Information on Pathobiology of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. Mungenast F, Meshcheryakova A, Beer A, Salzmann M, Tamandl D, Gruenberger T, Pietschmann P, Koperek O, Birner P, Kirsch I, Robins H, Mittlboeck M, Jaritz M, Bergmann M, Zimmermann P, Mechtcheriakova D. Cancers (Basel). 2020 Oct 25;12(11):3117. doi: 10.3390/cancers12113117. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers12113117
Short-course radiotherapy promotes pro-inflammatory macrophages via extracellular vesicles in human rectal cancer. Stary V, Wolf B, Unterleuthner D, List J, Talic M, Laengle J, Beer A, Strobl J, Stary G, Dolznig H, Bergmann M. J Immunother Cancer. 2020 Aug;8(2):e000667. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2020-000667. https://doi.org/10.1136/jitc-2020-000667
Sixth Immunotherapy of Cancer conference (ITOC): advances and perspectives-a meeting report. Pinto C, Bergmann M, Briukhovetska D, Nuessler V, Sznol M, von Bergwelt-Baildon M, Kobold S MD. J Immunother Cancer. 2020 Feb;8(1):e000268. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2019-000268. https://doi.org/10.1136/jitc-2019-000268
Histone deacetylase inhibitors valproic acid and vorinostat enhance trastuzumab-mediated antibody-dependent cell-mediated phagocytosis. Laengle J, Kabiljo J, Hunter L, Homola J, Prodinger S, Egger G, Bergmann M. J Immunother Cancer. 2020 Jan;8(1):e000195. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2019-000195. https://doi.org/10.1136/jitc-2019-000195
Long interspersed element-1 ribonucleoprotein particles protect telomeric ends in alternative lengthening of telomeres dependent cells. Aschacher T, Wolf B, Aschacher O, Enzmann F, Laszlo V, Messner B, Türkcan A, Weis S, Spiegl-Kreinecker S, Holzmann K, Laufer G, Ehrlich M, Bergmann M. Neoplasia. 2020 Feb;22(2):61-75. doi: 10.1016/j.neo.2019.11.002. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neo.2019.11.002
Landscape and Dynamics of Single Immune Cells in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Zhang Q, He Y, Luo N, Patel SJ, Han Y, Gao R, Modak M, Carotta S, Haslinger C, Kind D, Peet GW, Zhong G, Lu S, Zhu W, Mao Y, Xiao M, Bergmann M, Hu X, Kerkar SP, Vogt AB, Pflanz S, Liu K, Peng J, Ren X, Zhang Z. Cell. 2019 Oct 31;179(4):829-845.e20. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.10.003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2019.10.003
Inactivation of mTORC2 in macrophages is a signature of colorectal cancer that promotes tumorigenesis. Katholnig K, Schütz B, Fritsch SD, Schörghofer D, Linke M, Sukhbaatar N, Matschinger JM, Unterleuthner D, Hirtl M, Lang M, Herac M, Spittler A, Bergthaler A, Schabbauer G, Bergmann M, Dolznig H, Hengstschläger M, Magnuson MA, Mikula M, Weichhart T. JCI Insight. 2019 Oct 17;4(20). pii: 124164. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.124164. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.124164
Impact of Fibroblast-Derived SPARC on Invasiveness of Colorectal Cancer Cells. Drev D, Harpain F, Beer A, Stift A, Gruber ES, Klimpfinger M, Thalhammer S, Reti A, Kenner L, Bergmann M, Marian B. Cancers (Basel). 2019 Sep 24;11(10). pii: E1421. doi: 10.3390/cancers11101421.https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers11101421
Advancing Biomarker Development Through Convergent Engagement: Summary Report of the 2nd International Danube Symposium on Biomarker Development, Molecular Imaging and Applied Diagnostics; March 14-16, 2018; Vienna, Austria. Lim MS, Beyer T, Babayan A, Bergmann M, Brehme M, Buyx A, Czernin J, Egger G, Elenitoba-Johnson KSJ, Gückel B, Jačan A, Haslacher H, Hicks RJ, Kenner L, Langanke M, Mitterhauser M, Pichler BJ, Salih HR, Schibli R, Schulz S, Simecek J, Simon J, Soares MO, Stelzl U, Wadsak W, Zatloukal K, Zeitlinger M, Hacker M. Mol Imaging Biol. 2019 May 2. doi: 10.1007/s11307-019-01361-2. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-019-01361-2
Plasma metabolites associated with colorectal cancer: A discovery-replication strategy. Geijsen AJMR, Brezina S, Keski-Rahkonen P, Baierl A, Bachleitner-Hofmann T, Bergmann MM, Boehm J, Brenner H, Chang-Claude J, van Duijnhoven FJB, Gigic B, Gumpenberger T, Hofer P, Hoffmeister M, Holowatyj AN, Karner-Hanusch J, Kok DE, Leeb G, Ulvik A, Robinot N, Ose J, Stift A, Schrotz-King P, Ulrich AB, Ueland PM, Kampman E, Scalbert A, Habermann N, Gsur A, Ulrich CM. Int J Cancer. 2019 Jan 21. doi: 10.1002/ijc.32146. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.32146
Reshaping a multimode laser beam into a constructed Gaussian beam for generating a thin light sheet. Saghafi S, Haghi-Danaloo N, Becker K, Sabdyusheva I, Foroughipour M, Hahn C, Pende M, Wanis M, Bergmann M, Stift J, Hegedus B, Dome B, Dodt HU. J Biophotonics. 2018 Jun;11(6):e201700213. doi: 10.1002/jbio.201700213. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbio.201700213
Immunological differences between colorectal cancer and normal mucosa uncover a prognostically relevant immune cell profile. Strasser K, Birnleitner H, Beer A, Pils D, Gerner MC, Schmetterer KG, Bachleitner-Hofmann T, Stift A, Bergmann M, Oehler R. Oncoimmunology. 2018 Nov 5;8(2):e1537693. doi: 10.1080/2162402X.2018. https://doi.org/10.1080/2162402X.2018.1537693
FGF8 induces therapy resistance in neoadjuvantly radiated rectal cancer. Harpain F, Ahmed MA, Hudec X, Timelthaler G, Jomrich G, Müllauer L, Selzer E, Dörr W, Bergmann M, Holzmann K, Grasl-Kraupp B, Grusch M, Berger W, Marian B, Silberhumer GR. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2018 Oct 1. doi: 10.1007/s00432-018-2757-7. : https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-018-2757-7
Circulating Free Methylated Tumor DNA Markers for Sensitive Assessment of Tumor Burden and Early Response Monitoring in Patients Receiving Systemic Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis. Bhangu JS, Beer A, Mittlböck M, Tamandl D, Pulverer W, Taghizadeh H, Stremitzer S, Kaczirek K, Gruenberger T, Gnant M, Bergmann M, Mannhalter C, Weinhäusel A, Oehler R, Bachleitner-Hofmann T. Ann Surg. 2018 Aug 3. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000002901. https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0000000000002901
DNA damage predicts prognosis and treatment response in colorectal liver metastases superior to immunogenic cell death and T cells. Laengle J, Stift J, Bilecz A, Wolf B, Beer A, Hegedus B, Stremitzer S, Starlinger P, Tamandl D, Pils D, Bergmann M. Theranostics. 2018 May 10;8(12):3198-3213. doi: 10.7150/thno.24699. https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.24699
Preclinical In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of [18F]FE@SUPPY for Cancer PET Imaging: Limitations of a Xenograft Model for Colorectal Cancer. Balber T, Singer J, Berroterán-Infante N, Dumanic M, Fetty L, Fazekas-Singer J, Vraka C, Nics L, Bergmann M, Pallitsch K, Spreitzer H, Wadsak W, Hacker M, Jensen-Jarolim E, Viernstein H, Mitterhauser M. Contrast Media Mol Imaging. 2018 Feb 13;2018:1269830. doi: 10.1155/2018/1269830. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/1269830
Leukocyte telomere length throughout the continuum of colorectal carcinogenesis. Zöchmeister C, Brezina S, Hofer P, Baierl A, Bergmann MM, Bachleitner-Hofmann T, Karner-Hanusch J, Stift A, Gerger A, Leeb G, Mach K, Rachakonda S, Kumar R, Gsur A. Oncotarget. 2018 Feb 7;9(17):13582-13592. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.24431. https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.24431
[18F]FEPPA: Improved Automated Radiosynthesis, Binding Affinity, and Preliminary in Vitro Evaluation in Colorectal Cancer. Berroterán-Infante N, Balber T, Fürlinger P, Bergmann M, Lanzenberger R, Hacker M, Mitterhauser M, Wadsak W. ACS Med Chem Lett. 2018 Feb 21;9(3):177-181. doi: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.7b00367. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.7b00367
Grants
2020-2022. Research Collaboration, Apogenix, Heidelberg
2022-2024 2020-2022 | WWTF https://www.wwtf.at/funding/programmes/ls/LS20-042/ Research Fund, Austrian Society of Surgical Oncology (ACO-ASSO) |
2020-2022 | Investigator Initiated Trial (CHINOREC), Bristol-Myers Squibb |
2020-2023 | Research Collaboration, Boehringer Ingelheim |
2019-2021 | Research fund, Ingrid Shaker Nessmann Cancer Research Association |
2018-2020 | |
2018-2020 | |
2017-2018 | |
2015-2019 | |
2015-2018 | |
2012-2014 | |
2011-2012 | |
2009-2011 | ALT Solutions GmbH |
2007-2010 | Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), European Commission, no. 44512 |
2005-2010 | Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), European Commission, no. 518281 |
2004-2007 | Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), European Commission, no. 512864 |
2003-2006 | Anniversary Fund of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB), no. 10269 |
2000-2003 | Anniversary Fund of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB), no. 8557 |
1997-2000 | Anniversary Fund of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB), no. 6944 |
Clinical studies
PETNEC
Programmed Death-ligand 1 Positron Emission Tomography Imaging During Neoadjuvant (Chemo)radiotherapy in Esophageal and Rectal Cancer (PETNEC): a Prospective Non-randomized Open-label Single-center Pilot Study
NCT Number: NCT04564482
Status: Active, not recruiting
Sponsor: Medical University of Vienna
johannes.laengle@meduniwien.ac.at
michael.bergmann@meduniwien.ac.at
iMAGINE
iMmunoscore Associated Decision GuIdance for adjuvant Chemotherapy and Physical Exercise in Stage III Colon Cancer (iMAGINE): a Prospective, Randomized, Open-label, Multicenter, Phase III Clinical Trial
NCT Number: NCT04488159
Status: Not yet recruiting
Sponsor: Medical University of Vienna
johannes.laengle@meduniwien.ac.at
michael.bergmann@meduniwien.ac.at
CHINOREC
Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy With Sequential Ipilimumab and Nivolumab in Rectal Cancer (CHINOREC): a Prospective Randomized, Open-label, Multicenter, Phase II Clinical Trial
NCT Number: NCT04124601
Status: Recruiting
Sponsor: Medical University of Vienna
johannes.laengle@meduniwien.ac.at
michael.bergmann@meduniwien.ac.at
a.o.Univ.Prof. Dr. Michael Bergmann
Head, Translational Tumor ImmunologyTel.: +43 (0)1 40400-73744
E-Mail: michael.bergmann@meduniwien.ac.at
Anna Spiegel Center of Translational Research, Level 5