Roland Mertelsmann

Roland Mertelsmann
Prof. Roland Mertelsmann (2024)
Born (1944-10-05) 5 October 1944
Hameln, Germany
Known forHematology, oncology, gene therapy, stem cell transplantation
Scientific career
FieldsOncology, hematology
InstitutionsUniversity of Freiburg

Roland Mertelsmann is a hematologist, oncologist and professor emeritus[1] at the University Medical Center Freiburg, Department of Oncology, Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. Mertelsmann is known for his scientific works in the fields of hematology, oncology, gene therapy and stem cell transplantation.

Biography

Mertelsmann studied medicine at the University of Göttingen 1966–68. He was a doctoral candidate at the Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine at Heinrich Matthaei in Göttingen 1966–68.[2]

He continued his medical education at the School of Medicine King's College London and at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York 1968–78.

After graduating from Hamburg University Medical School and receiving his MD degree, he became Research Fellow at the Department of Developmental Hematopoiesis and received a special fellowship in Hematology and Clinical Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC)[2] from 1976 to 78. From 1978 to 86 he was clinical assistant physician at MSKCC, then assistant attending physician and associate attending physician at the Memorial Hospital of Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

He was promoted from assistant professor of medicine to associate professor of medicine at Cornell University, New York.[2] In 1985, he returned to Germany and was appointed professor and head of the 3rd Medical Clinic Hematology and Oncology at the University of Mainz, Germany, University Medical Center. 1989 he accepted a professorship at the University of Freiburg. At Freiburg University Medical Center he became the director of the Department for Medicine I, Oncology, Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation.

Mertelsmann was involved in a scientific misconduct affair in 1997. The complaint focussed on the falsification of laboratory data. An investigation commission did not prove the active participation of Mertelsmann.[3]

In 2008 he founded the International Master/PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences (IMBS),[4] a postgraduate initiative jointly run by the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina and the University of Freiburg in Germany.

Mertelsmann retired in 2012.[5]

In 2014 he initiated the foundation of the Journal of Science, Humanities and Arts (JOSHA),[6] a diamond open access interdisciplinary journal. Mertelsmann published more than 400 articles in medical journals.[2][7]

Scientific contributions

Molecular and cellular mechanisms of malignancy- First description of a human RNA polymerase

After discovery of the genetic code by Heinrich Matthaei and Marshall Nirenberg (1962), Mertelsmann began his research for his medical doctorate as a medical student in Heinrich Matthaei's Laboratory at the Max-Planck-Institute for experimental Medicine in Göttingen, Germany, demonstrating and characterizing for the first time a human RNA-Polymerase.[8][9]

Studies of the Pathophysiology and Molecular Biology of Cancer Cells

The "Plasticity" of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC)[10] was studied with Alexandros Spyridonidis in patients after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.[11] Molecular mechanisms of B-cell neoplasias[12][13] were investigated together with Binder, Trepel and Dierks, the pathogenic significance of granulocytes in Graft-versus-host disease with Zeiser and his colleagues.[14]

Clinical Significance of the Leukemia Phenotype

Mertelsmann carried out an analysis of all patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treated at MSKCC, defining the prognostic and predictive parameters of cell cytology, cell growth in vitro and enzymatic markers.[15][16] By using all techniques available at the time for phenotypic characterization of leukemia cells, he was successful in discovering subentities of acute leukemias.[17][18]

New therapeutic Modalities

In Cooperation with Karl Welte and his colleagues at MSKCC, the purification and molecular and biological characterization of cytokines were the focus of his work in the following years at MSKCC. Interleukin-2[19] as well as G-CSF[20] were purified to homogeneity, First translational and clinical studies of cytokines followed.[21] Since experiments in murine models demonstrated that local production by gene transduced cells produced a stronger and more specific immune response than a systemic application, e.g. of Interleukin-2, this strategy was also pursued by his group in Phase I clinical trials.[22][23][24]

Clinical Studies

In clinical trials for patients with leukemias and lymphomas at the MSKCC[25] and in German and European clinical trial groups,[26][27] new therapeutic concepts were studied including chemotherapies alongside new strategies.[28][29] For some rare cancers, the use of rapidly recycling classic chemotherapy combinations followed by immediate High Dose Chemotherapy with HSC transplantation led to long term remission which had not been seen with other therapies.[30]

Academic memberships

Mertelsmann is or was member of many international scientific organizations or journals, among them many years at the journals European Journal of Cancer and Annals of Hematology. He is a foundation member of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Freiburg (CCCF), Initiator and director of the International Biomedical Exchange Program (IMEP), and founder of the ARGER-Foundation.[31]

Other select memberships:

Awards

  • 1976 Konjetzny Prize for Cancer Research[5]
  • 1980 Vincenz Czerny Award for Cancer Research (DGHO)
  • 1982 Boyer Award for Clinical Investigation (MSKCC)
  • 1985 Warner Award for Cancer Research (Warner Foundation)
  • 1990 Hamilton-Farley Award (ESMO)
  • 2000 Excellency Award, 13th International Symposium, Molecular Biology of Hematopoiesis, New York City
  • 2005 Professor honoris causa, Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires, Argentinien
  • 2007 Doctor honoris causa, university "Gr. T. Popa", Iasi, Rumänien
  • 2008 Professor honoris causa, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentinien
  • 2011 Doctor honoris causa, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina[5]

Publications

Articles in journals

Books (selection)

  • Das Blaue Buch: Chemotherapie-Manual Hämatologie und Internistische Onkologie. 5. Auflage. Springer Medizin, Berlin 2014, ISBN 978-3-642-41740-5.
  • Das Rote Buch: Hämatologie und Internistische Onkologie. 5., überarb. und erw. Auflage. ecomed Medizin, Heidelberg 2014, ISBN 978-3-609-51217-4.
  • mit Monika Engelhardt: Perspektiven einer zukünftigen Medizin und eines sich wandelnden Arztbildes. Rombach 2008, ISBN 978-3-7930-5038-4.
  • Leukämien und maligne Lymphome. Thieme, Stuttgart 1981.
  • mit Monika Engelhardt, Dietmar P. Berger und Philippe Moreau (eds.): Précis d'hématologie et d'oncologie. Springer, Paris 2011, ISBN 978-2-287-99341-1.

See also

Roland Mertelsmann in:

References

  1. ^ Mertelsmann, Roland. "Curriculum Vitae Professor Dr. Drs. h.c. Roland Heinrich Mertelsmann" (PDF). www.uniklinik-freiburg.de. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Forschungsdatenbank Freiburg". forschdb.verwaltung.uni-freiburg.de. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  3. ^ Klaus Koch: Fälschungsskandal – Verjährt und zugenäht. auf: aerzteblatt.de
  4. ^ "Home". IMBS - International Master Program in Biomedical Sciences. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "Prof. em. Dr. Drs. h.c. Roland Mertelsmann | Autorenprofil und Werke | beck-shop.de". www.beck-shop.de (in German). Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Journal of Science, Humanities and Arts (JOSHA)". JOSHA journal. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  7. ^ "FreiDok plus - Mertelsmann, Roland". freidok.uni-freiburg.de. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  8. ^ Mertelsmann, R (1969). "Purification and some properties of a soluble DNA-dependent RNA polymerase from nuclei of human placenta". Eur J Biochem. 9 (3): 311–8. doi:10.1111/j.1432-1033.1969.tb00610.x. PMID 5795512.
  9. ^ Mertelsmann, R; Koziner, B; Filippa, DA; Grossbard, E; Incefy, G; Moore, MA; Clarkson, BD (1979). "Clinical significance of TdT, cell surface markers and CFU-C in 297 patients with hematopoietic neoplasias". Haematol Blood Transfus. Haematology and Blood Transfusion / Hämatologie und Bluttransfusion. 23: 131–8. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-67057-2_16. ISBN 978-3-540-08999-5. PMID 317470.
  10. ^ Mertelsmann, R (2000). "Plasticity of bone marrow-derived stem cells". J Hematother Stem Cell Res. 9 (6): 957–60. doi:10.1089/152581600750062417. PMID 11177610.
  11. ^ Spyridonidis, A; Mertelsmann, R; Finke, J (2004). "Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: more than just hematopoietic?". J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 130 (3): 127–34. doi:10.1007/s00432-003-0507-x. PMC 12161821. PMID 14727105.
  12. ^ Binder, Mascha; Müller, Fabian; Frick, Mareike; Wehr, Claudia; Simon, Frédéric; Leistler, Bernd; Veelken, Hendrik; Mertelsmann, Roland; Trepel, Martin (3 January 2013). "CLL B-cell receptors can recognize themselves: alternative epitopes and structural clues for autostimulatory mechanisms in CLL". Blood. 121 (1): 239–241. doi:10.1182/blood-2012-09-454439. ISSN 0006-4971. PMID 23287626.
  13. ^ Dierks, C; Grbic, J; Zirlik, K; Beigi, R; Englund, NP; Guo, GR; Veelken, H; Engelhardt, M; Mertelsmann, R; Kelleher, JF; Schultz, P; Warmuth, M (2007). "Essential role of stromally induced hedgehog signaling in B-cell malignancies". Nat Med. 13 (8): 944–51. doi:10.1038/nm1614. PMID 17632527.
  14. ^ Schwab, L.; Goroncy, L.; Palaniyandi, S.; Gautam, S.; Triantafyllopoulou, A.; Mocsai, A.; Reichardt, W.; Karlsson, F. J.; Radhakrishnan, S. V.; Hanke, K.; Schmitt-Graeff, A.; Freudenberg, M.; von Loewenich, F. D.; Wolf, P.; Leonhardt, F.; Baxan, N.; Pfeifer, D.; Schmah, O.; Schönle, A.; Martin, S. F.; Mertelsmann, R.; Duyster, J.; Finke, J.; Prinz, M.; Henneke, P.; Häcker, H.; Hildebrandt, G. C.; Häcker, G.; Zeiser, R. (June 2014). "Neutrophil granulocytes recruited upon translocation of intestinal bacteria enhance graft-versus-host disease via tissue damage". Nat Med. 20 (6): 648–654. doi:10.1038/nm.3517. PMID 24836575.
  15. ^ Mertelsmann, R; Moore, MA; Clarkson, B (1982). "Leukemia cell phenotype and prognosis: an analysis of 519 adults with acute leukemia". Blood Cells. 8 (3): 561–83. PMID 6984348.
  16. ^ Mertelsmann, R; Tzvi Thaler, H; To, L; Gee, TS; McKenzie, S; Schauer, P; Friedman, A; Arlin, Z; Cirrincione, C; Clarkson, B (1980). "Morphological classification, response to therapy, and survival in 263 adult patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia". Blood. 56 (5): 773–81. doi:10.1182/blood.V56.5.773.773. PMID 6932977.
  17. ^ Ciobanu, N; Andreeff, M; Safai, B; Koziner, B; Mertelsmann, R (1983). "Lymphoblastic neoplasia in a homosexual patient with Kaposi's sarcoma". Ann Intern Med. 98 (2): 151–5. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-98-2-151. PMID 6572044.
  18. ^ Mertelsmann, R; Koziner, B; Ralph, R; Filippa, D; McKenzie, S; Arlin, ZA; Gee, TS; Moore, MA; Clarkson, BD (1978). "Evidence for distinct lymphocytic and monocytic populations in a patient with terminal transferase--positive acute leukemia". Blood. 51 (6): 1051–6. doi:10.1182/blood.V51.6.1051.1051. PMID 274159.
  19. ^ Welte, K; Wang, CY; Mertelsmann, R; Venuta, S; Feldman, SP; Moore, MA (1982). "Purification of human interleukin 2 to apparent homogeneity and its molecular heterogeneity". J. Exp. Med. 156 (2): 454–64. doi:10.1084/jem.156.2.454. PMC 2186775. PMID 6980256.
  20. ^ Welte, K; Platzer, E; Lu, L; Gabrilove, JL; Levi, E; Mertelsmann, R; Moore, MA (1985). "Purification and biochemical characterization of human pluripotent hematopoietic colony-stimulating factor". Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 82 (5): 1526–30. doi:10.1073/pnas.82.5.1526. PMC 397296. PMID 3871951.
  21. ^ Mertelsmann, R; Welte, K; Sternberg, C; O'Reilly, R; Moore, MA; Clarkson, BD; Oettgen, HF (1984). "Treatment of immunodeficiency with interleukin-2: initial exploration". J Biol Response Mod. 3 (5): 483–90. PMID 6334136.
  22. ^ Glimm, H; Flügge, K; Möbest, D; Hofmann, VM; Postmus, J; Henschler, R; Lange, W; Finke, J; Kiem, HP; Schulz, G; Rosenthal, F; Mertelsmann, R; von Kalle, C (1998). "Efficient serum-free retroviral gene transfer into primitive human hematopoietic progenitor cells by a defined, high-titer, nonconcentrated vector-containing medium". Hum Gene Ther. 9 (6): 771–8. doi:10.1089/hum.1998.9.6-771. PMID 9581900.
  23. ^ Veelken, H; Mackensen, A; Lahn, M; Köhler, G; Becker, D; Franke, B; Brennscheidt, U; Kulmburg, P; Rosenthal, FM; Keller, H; Hasse, J; Schultze-Seemann, W; Farthmann, EH; Mertelsmann, R; Lindemann, A (1997). "A phase-I clinical study of autologous tumor cells plus interleukin-2-gene-transfected allogeneic fibroblasts as a vaccine in patients with cancer". Int J Cancer. 70 (3): 269–77. doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-0215(19970127)70:3<269::aid-ijc4>3.0.co;2-v. PMID 9033626.
  24. ^ Stingl, G; Brŏcker, EB; Mertelsmann, R; Wolff, K; Schreiber, S; Kămpgen, E; Schneeberger, A; Dummer, W; Brennscheid, U; Veelken, H; Birnstiel, ML; Zatloukal, K; Schmidt, W; Maass, G; Wagner, E; Baschle, M; Giese, M; Kempe, ER; Weber, HA; Voigt, T (1996). "Phase I study to the immunotherapy of metastatic malignant melanoma by a cancer vaccine consisting of autologous cancer cells transfected with the human IL-2 gene". Hum Gene Ther. 7 (4): 551–63. doi:10.1089/hum.1996.7.4-551. PMID 8800750.
  25. ^ Mertelsmann, R; Drapkin, RL; Gee, TS; Kempin, S; Passe, S; Thaler, HT; Arlin, Z; Dowling, M; Dufour, P; McKenzie, S; To, L; Comacho, E; Oettgen, HF; Burchenal, JH; Clarkson, B (1981). "Treatment of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in adults: response to 2,2-anhydro-1-B-D-arabinofuranosyl-5-fluorocytosine and thioguanine on the L-12 protocol". Cancer. 48 (10): 2136–42. doi:10.1002/1097-0142(19811115)48:10<2136::aid-cncr2820481003>3.0.co;2-1. PMID 6170414.
  26. ^ Pfreundschuh, M.; Schubert, J.; Ziepert, M.; Schmits, R.; Mohren, M.; Lengfelder, E.; Reiser, M.; Nickenig, C.; Clemens, M.; Peter, N.; Bokemeyer, C.; Eimermacher, H.; Ho, A.; Hoffmann, M.; Mertelsmann, R.; Trümper, L.; Balleisen, L.; Liersch, R.; Metzner, B.; Hartmann, F.; Glass, B.; Poeschel, V.; Schmitz, N.; Ruebe, C.; Feller, A. C.; Loeffler, M. (February 2008). "German High-Grade Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Study Group (DSHNHL). Six versus eight cycles of bi-weekly CHOP-14 with or without rituximab in elderly patients with aggressive CD20+ B-cell lymphomas: a randomised controlled trial (RICOVER-60)". Lancet Oncol. 9 (2): 105–116. doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(08)70002-0. PMID 18226581.
  27. ^ Determann, O; Hoster, E; Ott, G; Wolfram Bernd, H; Loddenkemper, C; Leo Hansmann, M; Barth, TE; Unterhalt, M; Hiddemann, W; Dreyling, M; Klapper, W (2008). "Ki-67 predicts outcome in advanced-stage mantle cell lymphoma patients treated with anti-CD20 immunochemotherapy: results from randomized trials of the European MCL Network and the German Low Grade Lymphoma Study Group". Blood. 111 (4): 2385–7. doi:10.1182/blood-2007-10-117010. PMID 18077791.
  28. ^ Hiddemann, W; Kreutzmann, H; Straif, K; Ludwig, WD; Mertelsmann, R; Planker, M; Donhuijsen-Ant, R; Lengfelder, E; Arlin, Z; Büchner, T (1987). "High-dose cytosine arabinoside in combination with mitoxantrone for the treatment of refractory acute myeloid and lymphoblastic leukemia". Semin Oncol. 14 (2 Suppl 1): 73–7. PMID 3473685.
  29. ^ Gold, EJ; Mertelsmann, RH; Itri, LM; Gee, T; Arlin, Z; Kempin, S; Clarkson, B; Moore, MA (1983). "Phase I clinical trial of 13-cis-retinoic acid in myelodysplastic syndromes". Cancer Treat Rep. 67 (11): 981–6. PMID 6580071.
  30. ^ Houet, L.; Möller, I.; Engelhardt, M.; Köhler, G.; Schmidt, H.; Herchenbach, D.; Schnitzler, M.; Schmitt-Graeff, A.; Jungbluth, A. A.; Mertelsmann, R.; Rumstadt, B.; Waller, C. F. (April 2010). "Long-term remission after CD34+-selected PBSCT in a patient with advanced intra-abdominal desmoplastic small round-cell tumor". Bone Marrow Transplant. 45 (4): 793–795. doi:10.1038/bmt.2009.226. PMID 19718066.
  31. ^ ARGER Foundation
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