Cell News 3/2013
24
Special Interest Meeting of the German Society
for Cell Biology: Physics of Cancer 2013
Claudia Tanja Mierke
A word of welcome
Does physics play a role in cancer research? Of course, would be the spontaneous response of most of my colleagues while thinking
of linear accelerators and high-field MRI; perhaps also of mass spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography and STED microscopy.
Many cancer researchers consider physics responsible for the indispensable images of the internal organs in tumor diagnosis. Ad-
ditionally, it provides a whole arsenal of radiation with which to fight cancer. It also delivers fantastic analytical tools. Ultimately
something of an ancillary discipline, one that aids the “real” cancer scientists – molecular- and cell biologists, biochemists, clinicians
– to achieve their results and successful cures.
However, a most basic observation demonstrates the significance of physical characteristics in the very definition of what we call
a tumor: A woman feels a lump in her breast. This means nothing other than that she recognizes tumor tissue as distinct from sur-
rounding healthy tissue due to mechanical characteristics.
Cancer cells are continually exposed to physical forces: Tractive and shearing forces, hydrodynamics and hydrostatic pressures.
These have to be countered by their own forces. There is hardly any doubt that a connection exists between tumor mechanics and
the biology of cancer cells. This could be the key to understanding why and when cancer cells divide, how they move or embed
themselves in tissues.
The spectacular results in molecular biology – from decoding gene function to analyzing complex signaling cascades – may be
responsible that for a long time it has almost been forgotten that there is another viewpoint in cells, tissues and organs, – that of
the physicist.
Although molecular biology has in previous years led to many successful approaches to targeted cancer therapy, it remains incon-
trovertible that for many cancers there are still no effective treatments. The fresh approach of another discipline could provide new
impetus and identify new ways of effectively combating cancer. We cannot afford to decline it.
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Otmar D. Wiestler
Chairman and Scientific Member of the Management Board, DKFZ
Meeting Report
Just like the previous three very successful Physics of Cancer
Symposia, this fourth Physics of Cancer 2013 Symposium (POC-
2013) took place in Leipzig from 24th to 27th September as an
Special Interest Meeting of the DGZ. More than 100 participants
witnessed the successful growth of “our community” and the
building up new connections for future collaborations in this
novel field of physical cancer research. Again, this meeting has
brought together an excellent list of speakers from all over the
world and from all kinds of disciplines. This fact demonstrates
that the Physics of Cancer meetings have been established in
this field in Leipzig. As in the last year, the meeting took place
in the building of the Biotechnological-Biomedical Center (BBZ).
Already before the opening of the meeting, people joined to start
scientific discussions in a familiar and warm atmosphere.
MEETING REPORT
Figure 1:
Prof. Josef Käs during his lecture
