Oncology

Main Research: Oncology

Term: 01.10.2021 – 31.03.2024

The B-secretases (Bace1 and Bace2) are proteases involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, Bace1/2 can be found in tissues other than the brain, suggesting that their role goes well beyond AD. Interestingly, our preliminary data reveal that the expression of Bace1/2 is modulated in response to intestinal inflammation and during cancer development. We hypothesize that the B-secretases might have regulatory functions in the gut and the pathophysiology of colorectal cancer.

Principal Investigator Dr. Maria de los Reyes Gamez Belmonte Phone: +49 9131 85-35909 Email: MariadelosReyes.GamezBelmonte@uk-erlangen.de

Main Research: Oncology

Term: 01.01.2022 – 30.06.2024

The metabolism of reconstituting NK cells upon autologous SCT is altered in lymphoma patients who experience an early relapse upon transplantation. We intend to decipher the underlying cellular and molecular mechanism to identify factors leading to the increased relapse risk and to reveal potential opportunities to modify them. This will lay the foundation for further projects investigating NK cell reconstitution upon allogeneic SCT and CAR-transfected NK cell expansion in tumor patients.

Principal Investigator Dr. Benedikt Jacobs Phone: +49 9131 85-43210 Email: Benedikt.Jacobs@uk-erlangen.de

Main Research: Oncology

Term: 01.01.2023 – 30.06.2025

The presence of tumor-resident memory T cells (TRM) positively correlates with prognosis in many cancers. In our preliminary data, lung TRM induced by a mucosal vaccine efficiently protected against lung metastasis in a preclinical breast cancer model. We want to investigate the vaccine efficacy against lung metastases at different disease stages and the contribution of TRM and their unique features to this efficacy. The efficacy will also be assessed in combination with radio- and chemotherapy.

Principal Investigator Dr. Dennis Lapuente Email: dennis.lapuente(at)uk-erlangen.de

Main Research: Oncology

Term: 01.01.2023 – 30.06.2025

The proposed projects aims at using methods from AI-based image analysis to evaluate histopathologic samples from the field of gastrointestinal pathology. Specifically, samples from patients with inflammatory bowel diseases and malignancies of the colorectum will be evaluated. It is the aim of the project to develop algorithms that quantify and detect specific morphologic properties of these samples and integrate them with other data modalities.

Principal Investigator Dr. Dr. Christian Matek Phone: +49 9131 85-47790 Email: christian.matek(at)uk-erlangen.de

Main Research: Oncology

Term: 01.12.2022 – 31.05.2025

Abscopal effects are rare events of local radiotherapy (RT) inducing systemic anti-tumor immune responses leading to the reduction of tumor masses outside of the irradiation field. We hypothesize that the addition of adjuvants to high hydrostatic pressure generated whole tumor cell vaccines in combination with RT and immune checkpoint inhibition induce abscopal effects in an orthotopic breast cancer model. Further, we hypothesize that cDC1s play a central role in this immune response.

Principal Investigator Dr. Michael Rückert Phone: 09131 85-44948 Email: michael.rueckert(at)uk-erlangen.de