Research profile

Our research focuses on molecular mechanisms on molecular oncology and on gliomagenesis in particular. We apply next-generation sequencing methods, including transcriptomics, genomics and epigenomics to decipher molecular mechanisms behind complex mechanisms, like tumor formation or tumor progression or recurrence. The Laboratory conducts its own research and provides the core-facility services for investigators from the Nencki Institute and other scientific and R&D institutions.

Current research activities

– REST transcription factor role in cancer progression in IDH-mutant and IDH-WT gliomas

– DNA methylation role in shaping epigenomic environment of adult and pediatric gliomas

– Genomic and transcriptomic signatures of rare cancers

Selected publications

Maleszewska M, Roura AJ, Dabrowski MJ, Draminski M, Wojtas B Decoding glioblastoma’s diversity: Are neurons part of the game? Cancer Lett 2025 Jun 28:620:217666.

Perycz M , Dabrowski MJ, Jardanowska-Kotuniak M, Roura AJ, Gielniewski B, Stepniak K, Dramiński M, Ciechomska IA, Kaminska B,  Wojtas B Comprehensive analysis of the REST transcription factor regulatory networks in IDH mutant and IDH wild-type glioma cell lines and tumors Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024 May 6;12(1):72.

Gielniewski B #, Poleszak K #, Roura AJ, Szadkowska P, Jacek K, Krol SK, Guzik R, Wiechecka P, Maleszewska M, Kaza B, Marchel A, Czernicki T, Koziarski A, Zielinski G, Styk A, Kawecki M, Szczylik C, Czepko R, Banach M, Kaspera W, Szopa W, Bujko M, Czapski B, Zabek M, Iżycka-Świeszewska E, Kloc W, Nauman P, Cieslewicz J, Grajkowska W, Morosini N, Noushmehr H, Wojtas B #, Kaminska B # Targeted sequencing of cancer-related genes reveals a recurrent TOP2A variant which affects DNA binding and coincides with global transcriptional changes in glioblastoma Int J Cancer 2023 Sep 1;153(5):1003-1015.

Roura AJ, Szadkowska P, Poleszak K, Dabrowski MJ, Ellert-Miklaszewska A, Wojnicki K, Ciechomska IA, Stepniak K, Kaminska B, Wojtas B Regulatory networks driving expression of genes critical for glioblastoma are controlled by the transcription factor c-Jun and the pre-existing epigenetic modifications Clin Epigenetics 2023 Feb 27;15(1):29.

Stępniak K, Machnicka MA, Mieczkowski J, Macioszek A, Wojtaś B, Gielniewski B, Poleszak K, Perycz M, Król SK, Guzik R, Dąbrowski MJ, Dramiński M, Jardanowska M, Grabowicz I, Dziedzic A, Kranas H, Sienkiewicz K, Diamanti K, Kotulska K, Grajkowska W, Roszkowski M, Czernicki T, Marchel A, Komorowski J, Kaminska B, Wilczyński B. Mapping chromatin accessibility and active regulatory elements reveals pathological mechanisms in human gliomas Nat Commun. 2021 Jun 15;12(1):3621.

Roura AJ, Gielniewski B, Pilanc P, Szadkowska P, Maleszewska M, Krol SK, Czepko R, Kaspera W, Wojtas B#, Kaminska B Identification of the immune gene expression signature associated with recurrence of high-grade gliomas Journal of Molecular Medicine 2021 Feb;99(2):241-255.

Wojtas B, Gielniewski B, Wojnicki K, Maleszewska M, Mondal SS, Nauman P, Grajkowska W, Glass R, Schüller U, Herold-Mende C, Kaminska B. Gliosarcoma Is Driven by Alterations in PI3K/Akt, RAS/MAPK Pathways and Characterized by Collagen Gene Expression Signature Cancers (Basel). 2019 Feb 27;11(3):284.

Attachments

General principles of operation of the Sequencing Laboratory