Acknowledgment

This thesis represents the end of a long and challenging study period. I would like to express my gratitude to the people who supported and enriched my life in so many different ways. Without these people, I would never have accomplished such great endeavor. First, I would like to thank the head of the Medical and Biological Informatics division at the German Cancer Research Center, Prof. Dr. Hans Peter Meinzer for giving me the opportunity to write my thesis in his department. Second, I am deeply indebted to my supervisor and friend Sascha Zelzer, who always took the time to help me out whenever I had questions during the time of research, implementation and writing of this thesis. I would also like to thank the whole MBI department. It was a great time having you all at work as well as in spare time. I would like to thank Jens Poxleitner, Tobi Meisner, Tim Maiwald and Phillip Kroll for all the times we have spent together at university, and the day or late night studying sessions as well as the spare time. For supervising my diploma thesis as well as being a contact person during my studying time, I would like to give special thanks to Prof