Prof. Dr. Philipp Beckhove (in ch.)

The immune system is characterized by its capability to recognize and eliminate malignant tumors. Immunotherapies exloit this unique ability and promise to become an efficient complement to standard tumor treatments in the future.

The objective of the division „Translational Immunology“ is to gain new insights into the immune defence system of cancerous cells and to evolve the results from basic research through to clinical treatments. The pursuit of which is based on close interdisciplinary collaboration with the oncological departments of the university hospital. New therapeutic concepts developed by the division are being “translated” into clinical application under the roof of the National Center for Tumor Diseases in Heidelberg (NCT).

Effective immune responses are based on a variety of active principles. The division is looking for options to draw on the immune system´s functions as a complementary treatment in the battle against tumor in the framework of synergystic projects. The project „T Cell Tumor Immunity“ (Prof. Dr. Beckhove) describes formative and regulative mechanisms of T cell tumor responses. The project group “Tumorantigens” (Prof. Dr. Eichmüller) investigates the immunogenicity of tumor-associated antigens and develops strategies for tumor-specific immunization using preclinical model systems. The examination of conditions and activation of tumorlytic T and NK lymphocytes are in the focus of the project „Antigen Presentation and T Cell Activation“ (PD Dr. Momburg). Both projects are complemented by the construction of virus-like particles (VLP) aimed to stimulate immune responses against cancer (project „VLP“ , Dr. Cid).

In the past decade, monoclonal antibodies, either on their own or in combination with chemotherapy, have proven to be an effective therapeutic agent in the treatment of different tumor diseases. New therapeutic antibodies are being developed with the help of antibody engineering and tested before their clinical application (project „Antibody Therapy“, Dr. Moldenhauer). The role cell adhesion molecules play as target structures for immunotherapies related to metastasis and their role during tumor metastasis are the central topics of the project „Adhesion and Metastasis“ (Prof. Altevogt). Particular glycosylation patterns on tumor cells and tumor vessels are not only decisive preconditions of tumor angiogenesis and tumor progression but they also represent ideal target antigens for new anti tumor strategies via mimetics with analogue structure and glycan specific cytotoxic antibodies (project „Glycoimmunology“ , PD Dr. Schwarz-Albiez).