Currently, multi leaf collimators (MLC) are established and state of the art in numerous devices for radiotherapy used for cancer treatment. However, the established MLC comprising 80 and more leafs require an enormous space at the level of the leaves for corresponding drive and controlling elements if realized with normal electric motors. Since space is very limited within the head of linear accelerators the invention proposes a new small and convenient driving/controlling device based on piezoelectricity, which is directly coupled to the leaves and their driving rods.

The multi-leaf collimator MLC for radiation therapy has leaves where the positions of the leaves are determined by measuring a magnetic field. This allows determining the leaf position with enhanced precision, and is at the same time robust to perturbations or disturbances. The magnetic sensor may comprise a magnetic encoder that varies in a predefined pattern along a lengthwise direction of the magnetic element, in particular according to a step function. The technology can be used for a new generation of especially compact and small MLC. The Hall effect sensor does not interfere with therapeutic beam and the contact-free measurements does not affected by friction or abrasive wear.

Current technologies for radiologically guided interventions leave the interventionalist with a high degree of uncertainty regarding the position of his instruments and the surrounding tissue/organs. We developed a true 4D imaging providing a full control in three spatial dimensions including temporal changes during interventions suitable for MRI and CT (single shot for lower radiation dose).

We developed a new concept for on-patient visualization of anatomical data acquired with an arbitrary modality (typically CT or MRI). The method is based on a mobile device consisting of a flat display and a Time-of-Flight (ToF) camera which can be moved along the patient to provide a view on internal anatomical structures via augmented reality. For this purpose, the pose of the mobile device, which represents the viewing direction of the user, is continuously estimated by registering (i.e., aligning) the ToF data acquired during the visualization process with the patient surface extracted from the 3D medical data set. During camera pose estimation, a custom-designed algorithm accounts for the camera specific localization errors.

Branched-Chain-Aminotransferase-1 (BCAT1) as diagnostic marker for tumors and mutations of Isocitrate-Dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1) and IDH2. Researchers at DKFZ developed an immunohistochemical assay to classify tumors based on differences in the metabolism of branched chain amino acids. In brain tumors the assay distinguishes tumors harboring mutations in either the IDH1 or IDH2 genes or both from tumors with wild type IDH1 and IDH2 genes. This way the IDH1 status and activity of branched chain amino acid metabolism can be determined using tissue slides. The specificity of the immunohistochemical lDH1 and IDH2 status analysis is significantly increased from about 92% in known methods to 100% in our method. The assay allows the fast and reliable diagnostic and prognostic classification of tumors based on the activity of branched chain amino acid metabolism.

Cardiac hypertrophy is characterized by a global increase in transcription and protein per cell. Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) is the main driver for transcription and is necessary for hypertrophy in cardiomyocytes. DKFZ scientists have shown that wogonin is a potent inhibitor of CDK9 with no or very low toxicity to normal tissues. Wogonin can be used for preventing cardiac hypertrophy.

The Wnt signaling pathway plays an important role in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation. Aberrant activation of the Wnt signaling pathway is known to promote uncontrolled cell growth and survival. Compound library screening and med-chem based structure activity improvement revealed potent Wnt signaling inhibitors that selectively affected carcinoma cell lines. In addition, further experiments proved these compounds to induce apoptosis.

The current technology demonstrates that treatment with ciprofloxacin leads to immunosuppression of T-cells isolated from patients with atopic dermatitis.

The invention proposes to use the travelling wave concept, but to couple high frequency waves only into an object to be investigated. However, in contrast to the prior art, the high frequency device enables to couple in RF waves targeted into a particular section of interest of the object. This offers the advantage that the excluded parts are not unnecessarily exposed to the RF waves and do not contribute to RF expo-sure limit calculations, which allows for a coupling in of a larger dose of the RF energy at a location where it is required. The hardware MRI device has a coaxial arrangement of tubular elements.

90% of sporadic colorectal carcinomas carry loss-of-function mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene, which encodes a scaffolding protein mediating constitutive destruction of the ?-catenin transcriptional co-activator in the absence of Wnt ligand. DKFZ inventors detected NKD1 and C10orf54 as biomarkers for identification of Wnt/?-catenin modulating compounds, such as small molecules, interfering RNAs, peptides and antibodies and thus can be used for the development of a kit or an assay for detection of such compounds. This kit or assay can additionally be used as a companion diagnostic resource to identify patients in need of a treatment that modulates the Wnt/?-catenin signaling pathway (e.g. targeted therapy).

The technology is a method for determining the in vivo localization of double-strand breaks in a host cell using a linear polynucleotide.

The TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) has been shown to be involved in apoptosis, cell survival, migration and proliferation. DKFZ inventors identified a multitude of genes encoding proteins that are associated with cell death induction by TRAIL. According to its individual function, inhibition or activation of the respective gene or gene product is assumed to have beneficial effects on cancer treatment. The technology can be used to screen for small molecules, antibodies or siRNAs that are capable of modulating TRAIL-induced cell death, thus having the potential to kill cancer cells or to sensitize cancer cells to established cancer drugs.

Currently, Multileaf Collimators (MLC) are established and state of the art in numerous devices for radiotherapy used for cancer treatment. However, the established MLC comprising 80 and more leafs require an enormous space at the level of the leaves together with corresponding drive elements and position measuring/ acquisi-tion. Since space is very limited within the head of linear accelerators DKFZ developed a smaller sized Compact MLC, which prototype was tested successfully.

Many light emitting entities routinely used, in cell biological settings show a dipole orientation. If the exact z position of the light emitting entity is unknown, using simple two-dimensional Gaussian fit algorithms to the light intensity distribution of a range of emitted light, may lead to calculation errors of the x- and y-position of several 10nm. The invention discloses a method for calculation of the exact spatial position and orientation of a light emitting in a sample.

Monoclonal Antibody against Neurofibromin as a diagnostic and prognostic Marker for Glioma Treatment. The proof of concept is established with Biopsy Material. The antibody is fast, reliable & ready to use.

Partial deficiency of Rspo3 leads to a significant increase of bone mass. These results indicate a major role for Rspo3 as a bone anabolic marker and/or target. Thus, Rspo3 antagonists are drug candidates for the treatment of osteopenia disorders, particularly in conditions associated with increased bone resorption.

The invention provides a long time culture model which can be used for the production of skin equivalents with a life span of at least 10 weeks.

To optimize the treatment plan for radiotherapy is time consuming and requires high memory and CPU. We developed the “Local Dose Shaping for Planning Treatment in Radiotherapy” as a method to simplify this process. The physician can use intuitive computer animation (i.e. “”dose lines can be moved by drag an drop””) to address individual local dose requirements.

The current invention provides a prophylactic HPV vaccine. Immunization against peptides from the HPV L2 protein gives a robust immune reaction that provides cross-protection against a variety of other high-risk HPV strains. Tha vaccine is based on a thioredoxin-L2 construct and can be produced in standard E. coli bacteria, which makes a cost-effective production feasible.

Rocaglamide makes tumour cells more susceptible to anti-proliferative agents while leaving normal cells unaffected. This allows dose reduction of apoptosis inducers and in parallel improves dramatically the patient’s condition during cancer treatment.