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Prof. Dr. Rolf Marschalek
Prof. Dr.
Hubert Serve
Targeted cancer therapies use drugs that block the growth and spread of cancer. They interfere with molecules causally involved in carcinogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis. Targeted cancer therapies are aiming to be more effective than current treatments and less harmful to normal cells. Normal cellular homeostasis is maintained by fine-tuned regulatory networks, which are disturbed by alterations in proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes resulting in uncontrolled cell growth.
Targeted cancer therapies include "small-molecule" drugs that block the activity of specific enzymes causally involved in cancer cell growth, including so called "signal transduction inhibitors". One of the most prominent examples for evidence-based small-molecule inhibitors are Imatinib and Gefitinib, used for the treatment of CML and breast and non small cell lung cancer. Among immunotherapeutic strategies, monoclonal antibodies are among the most rapidly expanding class of cancer therapeutics. Cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody directed against the EGF receptor, or Trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody directed against the HER-2/neu proto-oncogene product, have been shown to be effective in combination with chemotherapy in head & neck, colon and breast cancer. Angiogenesis, protease and protein interaction inhibitors, as well as gene therapy are being considered as targeted therapies. Such treatments may be individualized in a cohort of cancer patients based on molecular markers, in order to avoid treatment of patients not responding to therapy. Consequently, these strategies hold the promise of being more effective and selective compared to conventional therapy, thereby reducing side effects and improving patient's survival and quality of life.
Division III focuses on solid tumors (breast, gastrointestinal and head & neck cancer) and hemato-malignancies, with respect to treatment, identification of new pathological disease mechanisms and the design of novel therapeutic strategies. For this purpose, basic science and clinical research groups are collaborating in interdisciplinary projects.
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