Special Interview with Prof. Thomas Liehr: Insights into Satellite DNA Amplification and Its Clinical Implications

The Editorial Office of Journal of Cancer Metastasis and Treatment (JCMT) is honored to present an exclusive interview with the Editorial Board member Prof. Thomas Liehr from Institut für Humangenetik, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich Schiller Universität, Jena, Germany. In this interview, Prof. Liehr discusses his research on satellite DNA amplification in prostate cancer, the role of 3D chromosomal structures in human genetics, and the future of cytogenetics. This interview provides a deep dive into cutting-edge genetic research and its implications for cancer detection, treatment, and ethical considerations.

Interview Details

Q1. Your publication "Amplification of different satellite-DNAs in prostate cancer" in Pathology - Research and Practice highlights the amplification of different satellite DNAs in prostate cancer. Which specific satellite DNA sequences do you consider the most relevant for tumor progression, and why?

Q2. Could satellite DNA amplification serve as a potential biomarker for early detection or prognosis in prostate cancer? What are the key challenges in translating these findings into clinical applications?

Q3. Could you share some insights into the significance of 3D chromosomal structure in human genetics and its potential clinical applications?

Q4. In your opinion, what ethical challenges should geneticists be aware of as genetic diagnostics become more advanced and accessible?

Q5. What advice would you give to young researchers who want to pursue a career in cytogenetics?

Biography of the Interviewee

Prof. Thomas Liehr, a biologist with a diploma, PhD, and habilitation in human genetics, has been actively working in cytogenetics since 1991 and has led the Molecular Cytogenetic Group at the Institute of Human Genetics, Jena, Germany, since 1998. Prior to this, he was a researcher and PhD fellow at the Herbert Quandt Stiftung der VARTA-AG at the Institute of Human Genetics, Erlangen, Germany. In clinical diagnostics, Prof. Liehr personally oversees 200 prenatal, 600 postnatal, and 550 tumor cytogenetic cases (solid tumors and leukemia) annually. Since 2002, he has held the title of ‘specialist in human genetics diagnostics’ (FHG = Fachhumangenetiker), a denomination awarded by the German Society of Human Genetics (GfH) to experienced cytogenetists, and has been a European registered clinical laboratory geneticist (ErCLG) since 2015. His research interests span clinical genetics, leukemia cytogenetics, and the (3D-)structure of interphase chromosomes and human chromosomes. He has published 4 books, over 60 book chapters, more than 600 referred papers, and over 900 abstracts. Prof. Liehr is particularly known for developing and applying multicolor-FISH probe sets for marker chromosome characterization, with a specialization in small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMCs).

Editor: Eric Zhang
Language Editor: Catherine Yang
Production Editor: Ting Xu
Respectfully Submitted by the Journal Editorial Office of Journal of Cancer Metastasis and Treatment