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Director of the Institute of Neuropathology

Prof. Dr. med. Guido Reifenberger
Institute of Neuropathology
Heinrich-Heine-University
Moorenstraße 5
40225 Düsseldorf


Research Interest

The research group of G. Reifenberger is primarily interested in the identification and characterisation of genetic and epigenetic aberrations in primary brain tumors, in particular gliomas, meningiomas and medulloblastomas.

Molecular genetic analyses, including genome-wide profiling approaches at the genomic and transcriptomic levels are performed on primary human tumor tissues as well as cell lines and experimental mouse models. A particular focus is placed on the role of non-coding RNA and epigenetic alterations, including changes in DNA methylation and histone modifications in brain tumor pathogenesis. Moreover, the group is very much interested in the translation of novel laboratory findings into the molecular diagnostics of brain tumors and has contributed to the revised WHO classification of tumors of the central nervous system 2016.

To facilitate translational research involving the use of primary human brain tumor tissue specimens, one of  the world-wide largest brain tumor tissue banks has been established. The CNS tumor tissue bank Düsseldorf also houses the central glioma biobank of the German Glioma Network.

Specific Projects
  • Systems biology of glioma progression and therapy resistance (BMBF SysGlio Consortium)
  • Molecular characterization of long-term survival with glioblastoma (Brain Tumor Funders Collaborative, EORTC 1419 study)
  • Non-coding mutations in Cancer (DKTK joint funding project)
  • Collaborative project “Prevention of Brain Metastases“ (German Cancer Aid Priority Program Translational Oncology)
  • Collaborative project “Aggressive meningiomas“ (German Cancer Aid Priority Program Translational Oncology)
  • Collaborative project “Targeting the Sonic Hedgehog pathway in pediatric cancers“ (German Cancer Aid Priority Program Translational Oncology)
  • Role of long non-coding RNA in malignant gliomas (DFG project)
Selected Publications
  1. Reifenberger G, Wirsching HG, Knobbe-Thomsen CB, Weller M. Advances in the molecular genetics of gliomas - implications for classification and therapy. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2017;14:434-452. undefinedPubMed
  2. Zacher A, Kaulich K, Stepanow S, Wolter M, Köhrer K, Felsberg J, Malzkorn B, Reifenberger G. Molecular diagnostics of gliomas using next generation sequencing of a glioma-tailored gene panel. Brain Pathol. 2017 Mar;27(2):146-159 undefinedPubMed
  3. Louis DN, Perry A, Reifenberger G, von Deimling A, Figarella-Branger D, Cavenee WK, Ohgaki H, Wiestler OD, Kleihues P, Ellison DW. The 2016 World Health Organization Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System: a summary. Acta Neuropathol. 2016;131:803-20. undefinedPubMed
  4. Herrlinger U, Jones DT, Glas M, Hattingen E, Gramatzki D, Stuplich M, Felsberg J, Bähr O, Gielen GH, Simon M, Wiewrodt D, Schabet M, Hovestadt V, Capper D, Steinbach JP, von Deimling A, Lichter P, Pfister SM, Weller M, Reifenberger G. Gliomatosis cerebri: no evidence for a separate brain tumor entity. Acta Neuropathol. 2016:131: 309-319 undefinedPubMed
  5. Weller M, Weber RG, Willscher E, Riehmer V, Hentschel B, Kreuz M, Felsberg J, Beyer U, Löffler-Wirth H, Kaulich K, Steinbach JP, Hartmann C, Gramatzki D, Schramm J, Westphal M, Schackert G, Simon M, Martens T, Boström J, Hagel C, Sabel M, Krex D, Tonn JC, Wick W, Noell S, Schlegel U, Radlwimmer B, Pietsch T, Loeffler M, von Deimling A, Binder H, Reifenberger G. Molecular classification of diffuse cerebral WHO grade II/III gliomas using genome- and transcriptome-wide profiling improves stratification of prognostically distinct patient groups. Acta Neuropathol. 2015;129:679-93. undefinedPubMed
  6. Reifenberger G, Weber RG, Riehmer V, Kaulich K, Willscher E, Wirth H, Gietzelt J, Hentschel B, Westphal M, Simon M, Schackert G, Schramm J, Matschke J, Sabel MC, Gramatzki D, Felsberg J, Hartmann C, Steinbach JP, Schlegel U, Wick W, Radlwimmer B, Pietsch T, Tonn JC, von Deimling A, Binder H, Weller M, Loeffler M; German Glioma Network. Molecular characterization of long-term survivors of glioblastoma using genome- and transcriptome-wide profiling. Int J Cancer. 2014;135:1822-31. undefinedPubMed
  7. Fan QW, Cheng C, Gustafson WC, Charron E, Zipper P, Wong RA, Chen J, Lau J, Knobbe- Thomsen CB, Weller M, Jura N, Reifenberger G, Shokat KM, Weiss WA. EGFR phosphorylates tumor-derived EGFRvIII driving STAT3/5 and progression in glioblastoma. Cancer Cell. 24:438-49, 2013. undefinedPubMed
  8. Tönjes M, Barbus S, Park YJ, Wang W, Schlotter M, Lindroth AM, Pleier SV, Bai AH, Karra D, Piro RM, Felsberg J, Addington A, Lemke D, Weibrecht I, Hovestadt V, Rolli CG, Campos B, Turcan S, Sturm D, Witt H, Chan TA, Herold-Mende C, Kemkemer R, König R, Schmidt K, Hull WE, Pfister SM, Jugold M, Hutson SM, Plass C, Okun JG, Reifenberger G, Lichter P, Radlwimmer B. BCAT1 promotes cell proliferation through amino acid catabolism in gliomas carrying wild-type IDH1. Nat Med. 19:901-8, 2013. undefinedPubMed
  9. Wick W, Platten M, Meisner C, Felsberg J, Tabatabai G, Simon M, Nikkhah G, Papsdorf K, Steinbach JP, Sabel M, Combs SE, Vesper J, Braun C, Meixensberger J, Ketter R, Mayer-Steinacker R, Reifenberger G, Weller M; NOA-08 Study Group of Neuro-oncology Working Group (NOA) of German Cancer Society. Temozolomide chemotherapy alone versus radiotherapy alone for malignant astrocytoma in the elderly: the NOA-08 randomised, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2012;13:707-15. undefinedPubMed
  10. Knobbe, C. B., Reifenberger, J., Blaschke, B., Reifenberger, G. (2004). Hypermethylation and transcriptional downregulation of the carboxyl-terminal modulator protein gene in glioblastomas. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 96:483-486. undefinedPubMed
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