Dr. med. Katharina Weber
Neurological Institute (Edinger Institute)
Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital
Heinrich-Hoffmann-Straße 7
60528 Frankfurt
Tel.: +49 (0)69 6301 6041
Email: K.Weber@med.uni-frankfurt.de
Scientific Focus
Our research group “Translational Epigenetics” investigates epigenetic mechanisms in tumor biology, with a particular focus on primary brain tumors. Epigenetic alterations encompass modifications that do not affect the DNA sequence itself, but rather its structure, organization, and accessibility and play a pivotal role in the development and progression of cancer.
We center our work around diffuse gliomas, the most common group of primary brain neoplasms. We examine which epigenetic changes drive the malignant behavior of these tumors and how they mechanistically influence gene regulation. A further focus lies on the identification of epigenetic biomarkers that could contribute to improved classification and grading of these tumors in the future.
Our goal is a deeper understanding of the molecular basis of gliomas as a foundation for novel diagnostic approaches and, in the long term, for therapeutic strategies.
Methods
Our research is grounded on clinically well-annotated human tumor tissue, ensuring a close translational relationship between our findings and their potential clinical relevance. Our methodological repertoire spans both spatial, like histology and immunohistochemistry, and molecular approaches, like DNA methylation profiling, chromatin accessibility mapping via ATAC-sequencing, ChIP-sequencing, Hi-C, and mass spectrometry. This allows us to investigate epigenetic regulation across multiple levels of resolution.
Selected Publications
Weber KJ, Dettki M, Münzberg M, Zeiner PS, Forster MT, Steidl E, Divé I, Harter PN, Scherer M; DNA methylation analysis reveals an epigenetic signature distinctive of high-grade oligodendroglioma. Acta Neuropathol. 2025 Aug 23;150(1):21. doi: 10.1007/s00401-025-02926-y.
Cakmak P, Jurmeister P, Divé I, Zeiner PS, Steinbach JP, Fenton TR, Plate KH, Czabanka M, Harter PN, Weber KJ; DNA methylation-based analysis reveals accelerated epigenetic aging in giant cell-enriched adult-type glioblastoma. Clin Epigenetics. 2024 Dec 11;16(1):179. doi: 10.1186/s13148-024-01793-w.
Bernatz S, Reddin IG, Fenton TR, Vogl TJ, Wild PJ, Köllermann J, Mandel P, Wenzel M, Hoeh B, Mahmoudi S, Koch V, Grünewald LD, Hammerstingl R, Döring C, Harter PN, Weber KJ; Epigenetic profiling of prostate cancer reveals potential prognostic signatures. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2024 Aug 24;150(8):396. doi: 10.1007/s00432-024-05921-0.
Filipski K*, Scherer M*, Zeiner KN*, Bucher A, Kleemann J, Jurmeister P, Hartung TI, Meissner M, Plate KH, Fenton TR, Walter J, Tierling S, Schilling B, Zeiner PS, Harter PN; DNA methylation-based prediction of response to immune checkpoint inhibition in metastatic melanoma, J Immunther Cancer. 2021 Jul;9(7):e002226. *shared first authorship
Filipski K, Braun Y, Zinke J, Roller B, Baumgarten P, Wagner M, Senft C, Zeiner PS, Ronellenfitsch MW, Steinbach JP, Plate KH, Gasparoni G, Mittelbronn M, Capper D, Harter PN; Lack of H3K27 trimethylation is associated with 1p/19q codeletion in diffuse gliomas. Acta Neuropathol. 2019 Aug;138(2):331-334.