Education and Training
Freba Grawe studied medicine at Semmelweis University in Budapest and Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) in Munich. She completed her PhD in 2018 at LMU with research focused on molecular imaging in thyroid carcinoma. She completed her specialization in nuclear medicine at LMU Hospital in 2022, after which she began her training in radiology, which she is currently continuing at the University Medicine Mannheim. In 2024, she received her habilitation in nuclear medicine from LMU Munich. Additionally, in 2023, she earned a Master’s degree in Oncological Imaging from the University of Pisa, Italy.
Since July 2023, Freba Grawe has led the Junior Clinical Cooperation Unit for "Translational Molecular Imaging in Oncological Therapy Monitoring" at the DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute at University Medicine Mannheim.
Expertise
Application of innovative PET radiotracers as well as development of novel radiotracers for detection and therapy monitoring of lung cancer.
The aim of her research group is to utilize advanced molecular imaging technologies, such as long-axial field of view (LAFOV) PET/CT and PET/MRI, as well as anatomical imaging using photon-counting CT, to enhance the early detection of lung cancer and optimize therapy selection and monitoring. Through close collaboration between nuclear medicine and radiopharmacy, innovative radiopharmaceuticals are translated from research into clinical practice, and new radiotracers are specifically developed for lung cancer patients. The obtained imaging data is integrated into a multimodal diagnostic approach, combining findings with results from histopathology and liquid biopsy. The goal is to improve treatment outcomes and patient survival through more precise diagnostics.
- Lung cancer
1. Validation of the standardization framework SSTR-RADS 1.0 for neuroendocrine tumors using the novel SSTR‑targeting peptide [18F]SiTATE. Ebner R, Lohse A, Fabritius MP, Rübenthaler J, Wängler C, Wängler B, Schirrmacher R, Völter F, Schmid HP, Unterrainer LM, Öcal O, Hinterberger A, Spitzweg C, Auernhammer CJ, Geyer T, Ricke J, Bartenstein P, Holzgreve A, Grawe F. Eur Radiol. Published online May 20, 2024. doi:10.1007/s00330-024-10788-3.
2. Diagnostic accuracy of SSR-PET/CT compared to histopathology in the identification of liver metastases from well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors. Fabritius MP, Soltani V, Cyran CC, Ricke J, Bartenstein P, Auernhammer CJ, Spitzweg C, Schnitzer ML, Ebner R, Mansournia S, Hinterberger A, Lohse A, Sheikh GT, Winkelmann M, Knösel T, Ingenerf M, Schmid-Tannwald C, Kunz WG, Rübenthaler J, Grawe F. Cancer Imaging. 2023;23(1):92. doi:10.1186/s40644-023-00614-2.
3. Reliability and practicability of PSMA-RADS 1.0 for structured reporting of PSMA-PET/CT scans in prostate cancer patients. Grawe F, Blom F, Winkelmann M, Burgard C, Schmid-Tannwald C, Unterrainer LM, Sheikh GT, Pfitzinger PL, Kazmierczak P, Cyran CC, Ricke J, Stief CG, Bartenstein P, Rübenthaler J, Fabritius MP, Geyer T. Eur Radiol. 2024;34(2):1157-1166. doi:10.1007/s00330-023-10083.
4. Diagnostic performance of PET/CT in the detection of liver metastases in well-differentiated NETs. Grawe F, Rosenberger N, Ingenerf M, Beyer L, Eschbach R, Todica A, Seidensticker R, Schmid-Tannwald C, Cyran CC, Ricke J, Bartenstein P, Auernhammer CJ, Rübenthaler J, Fabritius MP. Cancer Imaging. 2023;23(1):41. doi:10.1186/s40644-023-00556-9.
Dr. med. univ. Anna Hinterberger | Clinician scientist | anna.hinterberger@dkfz-heidelberg.de | |||
Letizia Vella | Medical technical assistant | letizia.vella@dkfz-heidelberg.de | |||
Marie Feline Prochiner | Medical student | mariefeline.prochiner@dkfz-heidelberg.de |
1. 18F-FDG LAFOV-PET/CT and photon-counting CT-based radiomics combined with histopathology and liquid biopsy for the early characterization of pulmonary nodules.
The aim of our research project is to enhance the assessment of malignancy and personalized image-based therapy planning for unclear lung nodules within the framework of a prospective study. By employing an innovative, multidisciplinary approach, we intend to reduce the number of follow-up CT examinations and invasive biopsies while enabling earlier detection of lung cancer.
When lung nodules are detected in the context of clinical routine or lung cancer screening in patients without a history of oncology, current national S3 guidelines for lung cancer recommend further evaluation with CT or PET/CT, depending on the size of the nodule. In our study, these examinations will be conducted using state-of-the-art photon-counting CT (PCCT; 5 to 8 mm) and long-axial field of view (LAFOV)-PET/CT (8 to 30 mm). The characterization of lung nodules based on PCCT imaging will be assessed by an AI malignancy risk prediction model. Imaging data from the LAFOV-PET/CT will be correlated with results from histopathology and LB.
2. 68Ga-FAPI (fibroblast activation protein inhibitor) and 18F-FDG-PET/CT for early response assessment of patients with lung cancer under systemic therapy.