Nils Brünner

Short presentation

I have a background in clinical and experimental cancer research and treatment with a sustained focus on colorectal and breast cancer. I have for the last ten years been involved in research on the role of proteolytic enzymes, particular matrix metalloproteinases and the plasminogen activation system in cancer invasion. My group has contributed scientifically to this field by establishment of an association between uPA, uPAR, PAI-1 and TIMP-1 expression and cancer invasion, including elucidation of the cellular localization of proteases, their receptors and inhibitors in cancer tissue, demonstration of an association between levels of these proteins in cancer tissue and/or blood and diagnosis/prognosis in several types of cancer. I have been instrumental in the development and characterization of a number of new in vivo transgenic models for the study of breast tumor growth and metastasis. My research group has an extensive experience on proteases and cancer and a broad range of research experience in protein chemistry, enzyme kinetics, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, cell culture techniques, and animal models for invasion and metastasis and transgenic mice. I have experience in early clinical trials. I have published more than 230 scientific papers on tumor biology and clinical oncology. Based on my dual education, I have been instrrumental in facilitating translation of basic research achievements in colorectal cancer and breast cancer into clinical practice.