
Prof. Dr. med. Katja Zirlik
Specialist in hematology FMHSpecialist in Medical Oncology FMH
Core competencies
Treatment of tumor and blood diseases; FMH General Internal Medicine and Hematology; Hematology and Oncology (D)
Highly specialized in the treatment of hematological diseases
Career
Since 2022
Founding partner and medical staff member Tumor & BreastCenter Eastern Switzerland
2016-dato
Oncology consultation/consultation service at Schiers Hospital
2016-2022
Medical activity as an internist in private practice with a focus on hematology and internal oncology at the Tumor Center ZeTuP Chur
2011-2016
Senior Physician, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical University of Freiburg (Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. R. Mertelsmann, since 2012 Prof. Dr. J. Duyster)
11/2012
Specialist in hematology and oncology
12/2010
Habilitation in internal medicine with the title "Influencing survival-relevant anti-apoptotic signaling pathways as a therapeutic approach to chronic lymphocytic leukemia", Medical Faculty of the University of Freiburg
11/2008
Specialist in internal medicine
2005-2011
Research Associate / Ward Physician, Department of Hematology and Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Medical Center Freiburg i.Br. (Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. R. Mertelsmann)
2003-2005 2001-2003 2001 2001 2000-2001 1999 1998-1999 1998-1999 1993-1999 1985-1993 1981-1985
Postdoctoral Fellow, (Prof. Dr. John G. Gribben, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA), Research Fellowship of the Deutsche
Cancer Aid, research focus: Immunotherapy of chronic lymphocytic leukemia
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Research assistant / ward physician, Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital
Oncology, University Medical Center Freiburg i.Br. (Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. R. Mertelsmann)
Doctorate (Prof. Dr. Hofmann von Kap-herr, Clinic and Polyclinic for Pediatric Surgery, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz)
Granting of the final license to practice medicine
Internship, Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Freiburg (Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c.R. Mertelsmann)
Medical state examination at the Johannes-Gutenberg University of Mainz
Medical state examination at the Johannes-Gutenberg University of Mainz
Practical year: Mainz (internal medicine), Boston, Harvard Medical School (surgery), Lucerne (gynecology and obstetrics)
Studied human medicine at the Johannes-Gutenberg University of Mainz
Gutenberggymnasium Wiesbaden with Abitur
Elementary school (Blücherschule / Diesterwegschule) Wiesbaden
Teaching activity
2001-2016
Teaching at the Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg im Breisgau: main lecture "Internal Medicine", lecture "Molecular Biology in Internal Medicine", seminar Internal Medicine "Solid Tumors", course "Clinical Chemistry and Hematology", seminar Internal Medicine "Hematology", course "Internal Medicine"
Since 2016 Course
"Internal Medicine", bed-side teaching for students in higher semesters
Memberships
- American Society of Hematology
- German Society for Hematology and Oncology
- Working Group for Internal Oncology
- Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK)
- Swiss Society for Medical Oncology
Courses & Certificates
- November 2007 Course for investigator including GCP training
- November 2012 Course for Coordinating Investigators
- September 2015 GCP Refresher
- March 2019 GCP Certificate (GCP-E6(R2) 2016)
- March 2020 Course for genetic counseling in oncology, SAKK
Publications
Zirlik K, Veelken H.
Recent Results Cancer Res. 2018;212:243-264.
Dietrich S, Oleś M, Lu J, Sellner L, Anders S, Velten B, Wu B, Hüllein J, da Silva Liberio M, Walther T, Wagner L, Rabe S, Ghidelli-Disse S, Bantscheff M, Oleś AK, Słabicki M, Mock A, Oakes CC, Wang S, Oppermann S, Lukas M, Kim V, Sill M, Benner A, Jauch A, Sutton LA, Young E, Rosenquist R, Liu X, Jethwa A, Lee KS, Lewis J, Putzker K, Lutz C, Rossi D, Mokhir A, Oellerich T, Zirlik K, Herling M, Nguyen-Khac F, Plass C, Andersson E, Mustjoki S, von Kalle C, Ho AD, Hensel M, Dürig J, Ringshausen I, Zapatka M, Huber W, Zenz T.
Drug-perturbation-based stratification of blood cancer. J Clin Invest. 2018 Jan 2;128(1):427-445.
Zirlik K, Duyster J.
Anti-Angiogenics: Current Situation and Future Perspectives. Oncol Res Treat. 2018;41(4):166-171.
Gentile M, Shanafelt TD, Mauro FR, Reda G, Rossi D, Laurenti L, Del Principe MI, Cutrona G, Angeletti I, Coscia M, Herishanu Y, Chiarenza A, Molica S, Ciolli S, Goldschmidt N, Angrilli F, Giordano A, Rago A, Bairey O, Tripepi G, Chaffee KG, Sameer PA, Vigna E, Zirlik K, Shvidel L, Innocenti I, Recchia AG, Di Raimondo F, Del Poeta G, Cortelezzi A, Neri A, Ferrarini M, Gaidano G, Kay NE, Polliack A, Foà R, Morabito F.
Eur J Haematol. 2018 Jul 24.
Gentile M, Shanafelt TD, Reda G, Mauro FR, Zirlik K, Ciolli S, Laurenti L, Del Principe MI, Rossi D, Di Renzo N, Molica S, Angrilli F, Coscia M, Chiarenza A, Giordano A, Cutrona G, Chaffee KG, Parikh SA, Uccello G, Innocenti I, Tripepi G, D'Arrigo G, Vigna E, Recchia AG, Herishanu Y, Shvidel L, Tadmor T, Cortelezzi A, Del Poeta G, Gaidano G, Di Raimondo F, Neri A, Ferrarini M, Foà R, Polliack A, Morabito F.
Validation of a biological score to predict response in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients treated front-line with bendamustine and rituximab. Leukemia. 2018 Aug;32(8):1869-1873.
Simon-Gabriel CP, Foerster K, Saleem S, Bleckmann D, Benkisser-Petersen M, Thornton N, Umezawa K, Decker S, Burger M, Veelken H, Claus R, Dierks C, Duyster J, Zirlik K.
Microenvironmental stromal cells abrogate NF-κB inhibitor-induced apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Haematologica. 2018 Jan;103(1):136-147.
Zirlik K, Duyster J
Combination of Antiangiogenics and Other Targeted Therapies
Springer International Publishing AG 2017
- Marmé (ed.), Tumor Angiogenesis
Benkisser-Petersen M, Buchner M, Dörffel A, Dühren-von-Minden M, Claus R, Kläsener K, Leberecht K, Burger M, Dierks C, Jumaa H, Malavasi F, Reth M, Veelken H, Duyster J, Zirlik K. Spleen Tyrosine Kinase Is Involved in the CD38 Signal Transduction Pathway in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.
PLoS One. 2016 Dec 30;11(12). Haerzschel A, Catusse J, Hutterer E, Paunovic M, Zirlik K, Eibel H, Krenn PW, Hartmann TN, Burger M. BCR and chemokine responses upon anti-IgM and anti-IgD stimulation in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Ann Hematol. 2016 Dec;95(12):1979-1988. Al-Batran SE, Hofheinz RD, Pauligk C, Kopp HG, Haag GM, Luley KB, Meiler J, Homann N, Lorenzen S, Schmalenberg H, Probst S, Koenigsmann M, Egger M, Prasnikar N, Caca K, Trojan J, Martens UM, Block A, Fischbach W, Mahlberg R, Clemens M, Illerhaus G, Zirlik K, Behringer DM, Schmiegel W, Pohl M, Heike M, Ronellenfitsch U, Schuler M, Bechstein WO, Königsrainer A, Gaiser T, Schirmacher P, Hozaeel W, Reichart A, Goetze TO, Sievert M, Jäger E, Mönig S, Tannapfel A. Histopathological regression after neoadjuvant docetaxel, oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin versus epirubicin, cisplatin, and fluorouracil or capecitabine in patients with resectable gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (FLOT4-AIO): results from the phase 2 part of a multicentre, open-label, randomized phase 2/3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2016 Dec;17(12):1697-1708. Gentile M, Zirlik K, Ciolli S, Mauro FR, Di Renzo N, Mastrullo L, Angrilli F, Molica S, Tripepi G, Giordano A, Di Raimondo F, Selleri C, Coscia M, Musso M, Orsucci L, Mannina D, Rago A, Giannotta A, Ferrara F, Herishanu Y, Shvidel L, Tadmor T, Scortechini I, Ilariucci F, Murru R, Guarini A, Musuraca G, Mineo G, Vincelli I, Arcari A, Tarantini G, Caparrotti G, Chiarenza A, Levato L, Villa MR, De Paolis MR, Zinzani PL, Polliack A, Morabito F. Combination of bendamustine and rituximab as front-line therapy for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: multicenter, retrospective clinical practice experience with 279 cases outside of controlled clinical trials. Eur J Cancer. 2016 Jun;60:154-65. Scherer F, van der Burgt M, Kiełbasa SM, Bertinetti-Lapatki C, Dühren von Minden M, Mikesch K, Zirlik K, de Wreede L, Veelken H, Navarrete MA. Selection patterns of B-cell receptors and the natural history of follicular lymphoma. Br J Haematol. 2016 Dec;175(5):972-975. Glatz T, Bronsert P, Schäfer M, Kulemann B, Marjanovic G, Sick O, Hopt UT, Zirlik K, Makowiec F, Hoeppner J. Perioperative platinum-based chemotherapy for locally advanced esophagogastric adenocarcinoma: Postoperative chemotherapy has a substantial impact on outcome. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2015 Oct;41(10):1300-7. Lorenz J, Waldschmidt J, Wider D, Follo M, Ihorst G, Chatterjee M, May AM, Duyster J, Rosenwald A, Wäsch R, Zirlik K, Engelhardt M. From CLL to Multiple Myeloma - Spleen Tyrosine Kinase (SYK) influences multiple myeloma cell survival and migration. Br J Haematol. 2015 Oct 22. Schneider D, Dühren-von Minden M, Alkhatib A, Setz C, van Bergen CA, Benkißer-Petersen M, Wilhelm I, Villringer S, Krysov S, Packham G, Zirlik K, Römer W, Buske C, Stevenson FK, Veelken H, Jumaa H. Lectins from opportunistic bacteria interact with acquired variable-region glycans of surface immunoglobulin in follicular lymphoma. Blood. 2015 May 21;125(21):3287-96. Gorantla SP, Zirlik K, Reiter A, Yu C, Illert AL, Von Bubnoff N, Duyster J. F604S exchange in FIP1L1-PDGFRA enhances FIP1L1-PDGFRA protein stability via SHP-2 and SRC: a novel mode of kinase inhibitor resistance. Leukemia. 2015 Aug;29(8):1763-70. Glatz T, Marjanovic G, Zirlik K, Brunner T, Hopt UT, Makowiec F, Hoeppner J. Surgical treatment of esophageal cancer : Evolution of management and prognosis over the last 3 decades. Surg. 2015 Jul;86(7):662-9. Papaioannou D, Strothmeyer AM, Dühren-von Minden M, Keppler-Hafkemeyer A, Zirlik K, Mikesch K, van Bergen CA, Navarrete MA, Veelken H. Evidence for idiotype-directed immunosurveillance is restricted to follicular lymphoma and attributable to somatic hypermutation. Haematologica. 2015 Apr;100(4):e143-6. Rissiek A, Schulze C, Bacher U, Schieferdecker A, Thiele B, Jacholkowski A, Flammiger A, Horn C, Haag F, Tiegs G, Zirlik K, Trepel M, Tolosa E, Binder M. Multidimensional scaling analysis identifies pathological and prognostically relevant profiles of circulating T-cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Int J Cancer. 2014 Apr 11. Sic H, Kraus H, Madl J, Flittner KA, von Münchow AL, Pieper K, Rizzi M, Kienzler AK, Ayata K, Rauer S, Kleuser B, Salzer U, Burger M, Zirlik K, Lougaris V, Plebani A, Römer W, Loeffler C, Scaramuzza S, Villa A, Noguchi E, Grimbacher B, Eibel H. Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors control B-cell migration through signaling components associated with primary immunodeficiencies, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and multiple sclerosis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014 Mar 25. Yaktapour N, Meiss F, Mastroianni J, Zenz T, Andrlova H, Mathew NR, Claus R, Hutter B, Fröhling S, Brors B, Pfeifer D, Pantic M, Bartsch I, Spehl TS, Meyer PT, Duyster J*, Zirlik K*, Brummer T*, Zeiser R. *, BRAF inhibitor-associated ERK activation drives development of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. J Clin Invest. 2014 Nov 3;124(11):5074-84. *equal contribution Decker S, Finter J, Forde AJ, Kissel S, Schwaller J, Mack TS, Kuhn A, Gray N, Follo M, Jumaa H, Burger M, Zirlik K, Pfeifer D, Miduturu CV, Eibel H, Veelken H, Dierks C. PIM Kinases Are Essential for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cell Survival (PIM2/3) and CXCR4-Mediated Microenvironmental Interactions (PIM1). Mol Cancer Ther. 2014 May;13(5):1231-45. Bach MP, Hug E, Werner M, Holch J, Sprissler C, Pechloff K, Zirlik K, Zeiser R, Dierks C, Ruland J, Jumaa H. Premature Terminal Differentiation Protects from Deregulated Lymphocyte Activation by ITK-Syk. J Immunol. 2014 Feb 1;192(3):1024-33. Hoeppner J, Zirlik K, Brunner T, Bronsert P, Kulemann B, Sick O, Marjanovic G, Hopt UT, Makowiec F. Multimodal treatment of locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma: Which regimen should we choose? Outcome analysis of perioperative chemotherapy versus neoadjuvant chemoradiation in 105 patients. J Surg Oncol. 2014 Mar;109(3):287-93. Zirlik K. MDSCs: the final frontier of the microenvironment in CLL? Blood. 2014 Jul 31;124(5):666-8. Yaktapour N, Übelhart R, Schüler J, Aumann K, Dierks C, Burger M, Pfeifer D, Jumaa H, Veelken H, Brummer T*, Zirlik K*. Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R) as a novel target in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood. 2013 Aug 29;122(9):1621-33. *equal contribution Makowiec F, Baier P, Kulemann B, Marjanovic G, Bronsert P, Zirlik K, Henke M, Hopt UT, Hoeppner J. Improved long-term survival after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer: influence of epidemiologic shift and neoadjuvant therapy. J Gastrointest Surg. 2013 Jul;17(7):1193-201. Dühren-von Minden M, Übelhart R, Schneider D, Wossning T, Bach MP, Buchner M, Hofmann D, Surova E, Follo M, Köhler F, Wardemann H, Zirlik K, Veelken H, Jumaa H. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is driven by antigen-independent cell-autonomous signalling. Nature. 2012 Sep 13;489(7415):309-12. Leonhardt F, Zirlik K, Buchner M, Prinz G, Hechinger AK, Gerlach UV, Fisch P, Schmitt-Gräff A, Reichardt W, Zeiser R. Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) is a potent target for GvHD prevention at different cellular levels. Leukemia. 2012 Jul;26(7):1617-29. Decker S*, Zirlik K*, Djebatchie L, Hartmann D, Ihorst G, Schmitt-Graeff A, Herchenbach D, Jumaa H, Warmuth M, Veelken H, Dierks C. * equal contribution Trisomy 12 and elevated GLI1 and PTCH1 transcript levels are biomarkers for Hedgehog-inhibitor responsiveness in CLL. Blood. 2012 Jan 26;119(4):997-1007. Morabito F, De Filippi R, Laurenti L, Zirlik K, Recchia AG, Gentile M, Morelli E, Vigna E, Gigliotti V, Calemma R, Amoroso B, Neri A, Cutrona G, Ferrarini M, Molica S, Del Poeta G, Tripodo C, Pinto A. The cumulative amount of serum-free light chain is a strong prognosticator in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood. 2011 Dec 8;118(24):6353-61. Hilgendorf I, Eisele S, Remer I, Schmitz J, Zeschky K, Colberg C, Stachon P, Wolf D, Willecke F, Buchner M, Zirlik K, Ortiz-Rodriguez A, Lozhkin A, Hoppe N, von zur Muhlen C, zur Hausen A, Bode C, Zirlik A. The oral spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitor fostamatinib attenuates inflammation and atherogenesis in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2011 Sep;31(9):1991-1999 Buchner M., Brantner P., Stickel N., Prinz G., Burger M., Bär C., Dierks C., Pfeifer D., Ott A., Mertelsmann R., Gribben JG., Veelken H., Zirlik K.: The microenvironment differentially impairs passive and active immunotherapy in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia - CXCR4 antagonists as potential adjuvants for monoclonal antibodies. Br J Haematol. 2010 Oct;151(2):167-78. Buchner M., Baer C., Prinz G., Dierks C., Burger M., Jumaa H., Veelken H., Zirlik K.: Spleen Tyrosine Kinase Inhibition Prevents Chemokine- and Integrin-Mediated Stromal Protective Effects in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Blood, 2010 Jun 3;115(22):4497-506. Catusse J, Leick M, Groch M, Clark DJ, Buchner MV, Zirlik K, Burger M. Role of the atypical chemoattractant receptor CRAM in regulating CCL19 induced CCR7 responses in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Mol Cancer. 2010 Nov 22;9:297 Stachon P, Missiou A, Walter C, Varo N, Colberg C, Wolf D, Buchner M, von Zur Mühlen C, Zirlik K, Bode C, Zirlik A. Tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 6 is not required for atherogenesis in mice and does not associate with atherosclerosis in humans. PLoS One. 2010 Jul 14;5(7):e11589. Strothmeyer AM., Papaioannou D., Duehren-von Minden M., Navarrete M., Zirlik K., Heining- Mikesch K., Veelken H. Comparative Analysis of Predicted HLA Binding of Immunoglobulin Idiotype Sequences Indicates T Cell-Mediated Immunosurveillance in Follicular Lymphoma. Blood. 2010 Sep 9,116(10): 1734-6. Dierks C., Adrian F., Fisch P., Ma H., Maurer H., Herchenbach D., Forster C., Sprissler C., Lin G., Rottmann S., Zirlik K., Veelken H., Warmuth M. The ITK-SYK fusion oncogene induces a T-cell lymphoproliferative disease in mice mimicking human disease. Cancer Research. 2010 Aug 1;70 (15):6193-204. Missiou A, Köstlin N, Varo N, Münkel C, Aichele P, Ernst S, Walter C, Stachon P, Rudolf P, Sommer B, Pfeifer D, Zirlik K, MacFarlane L, Wolf D, Tsitsikov E, Reth M, Bode C, Libby P, Zirlik A. TRAF1 Deficiency Attenuates Atherosclerosis in Mice by Impairing Monocyte Recruitment to the Vessel Wall. Circulation 2010 May 11;121(18):2033-44. Zirlik, K., Nashan, D., Veelken, H. Epigenetics in cancer therapy: Vorinostat in the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. Pharm Our Time. 2010 May;39(3):190-6. Missiou A, Wolf D, Platzer I, Ernst S, Walter C, Rudolf P, Zirlik K, Köstlin N, Willecke FK, Münkel C, Schönbeck U, Libby P, Bode C, Varo N, Zirlik A. CD40L induces inflammation and adipogenesis in adipose cells - a potential link between metabolic and cardiovascular disease. Thromb Haemost. 2010 Feb 19;103(4). Buchner M, Fuchs S, Prinz G, Pfeifer D, Bartholomé K, Burger M, Chevalier N, Vallat L, Timmer J, Gribben JG, Jumaa H, Veelken H, Dierks C, Zirlik K.: Spleen tyrosine kinase is overexpressed and represents a potential therapeutic target in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Cancer Res. 2009 Jul 1;69(13):5424-32. Dierks C, Beigi R, Guo G, Zirlik K, Stegert M, Manley P, Trussell C, Schmitt-Graeff A, Landwerlin K, Veelken H, Warmuth M. Expansion of Bcr-Abl positive leukemic stem cells is dependent on hedgehog pathway activation, Cancer Cell. 2008 Sep 9;14(3):238-49. Dierks C, Grbic J, Zirlik K, Beigi R, Englund NP, Guo GR, Veelken H, Engelhardt M, Mertelsmann R, Kelleher JF, Schultz P, Warmuth M. Essential role of stromally induced hedgehog signaling in B-cell malignancies. Nat Med. 2007 Aug;13(8):944-51. Mauerer K. (Zirlik K), Krauss T., Zirlik A.: Mycotic aneurysm complicating prosthetic valve endocarditis. Heart. 2006 Nov;92(11). Bertinetti, C., Simon, F., Zirlik, K., Mikesch, K., Osterroth, F., Rosenthal, F.M. & Veelken, H. Cloning of Idiotype Immunoglobulin Genes in B Cell Lymphomas by Anchored PCR and Production of Individual Recombinant Idiotype Vaccines in E. coli. Eur J Haematol. 2006 Nov;77(5):395-402. Bertinetti, C., Zirlik, K., Heining-Mikesch, K., Ihorst, G., Dierbach, H., Waller, C.F., Veelken, Lymphoma: Specific Immune Responses despite Profound Immunosuppression. Cancer Res. 2006 Apr 15;66(8):4496-502. Zirlik K., Zahrieh D., Neuberg D., Gribben J.G.: Cytotoxic T-Cells Generated Using Heteroclitic Peptides Can Kill Primary Tumor Cells Independent of The Native Peptide Binding Affinity. Blood. 2006 Dec 1;108(12):3865-70. Zhou, J., Mauerer, K. (Zirlik K), Farina, L. & Gribben, J.G. (2005) The role of the tumor microenvironment in hematological malignancies and implication for therapy. Front Biosci, 10, 1581- Mauerer K. (Zirlik K), Zahrieh D., Gorgun G., Li A., Zhou J., Ansen S., Rassenti L.Z., Gribben J.G.: Immunoglobulin gene segment usage, location and immunogenicity in mutated and unmutated chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Br J Haematol. 2005, 129, 499-510. Gricks, C.S., Zahrieh, D., Zauls, A.J., Gorgun, G., Drandi, D., Mauerer, K. (Zirlik K), Neuberg, D., Gribben, J.G. (2004) Differential regulation of gene expression following CD40 activation of leukemic compared to healthy B cells. Blood, 104, 4002-4009.
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