Oncological Diseases

Our current studies and research projects focus on the following types of cancer as well as the long-term effects of cancer:

 

Bronchial carcinoma

Bronchial carcinoma is one of the most common malignant diseases of the lung and is often diagnosed only in advanced stages. Therefore, early detection in high-risk groups, particularly long-term smokers, is of particular importance. We utilize and further develop modern photon-counting CT technology to detect tumors and precancerous lesions as early as possible while minimizing radiation exposure. Other research priorities include improved characterization of bronchial carcinomas and the assessment of treatment response using quantitative imaging.

 

Gliomas

Gliomas are primary tumors of the central nervous system with highly variable clinical courses. We use high-resolution and innovative MRI techniques to analyze the structural and functional properties of these tumors in detail. The goal of our research is to better understand biological heterogeneity and to develop imaging markers for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment planning.

 

Gynecological Tumors

Gynecological tumors include malignant diseases of the female reproductive organs, such as the ovaries or the uterus. Using modern MRI and CT techniques, we precisely investigate tumor extent and metastasis. Research focuses on improving staging as well as individualized treatment planning based on imaging parameters.

 

Cancer predisposition syndromes

Cancer predisposition syndromes involve genetic alterations associated with an increased risk of various types of tumors. We use whole-body MRI in a targeted manner and continue to develop it to monitor affected individuals early and as gently as possible. The goal is the radiation-free detection of tumors in early stages.

 

Long-term effects of cancer treatments

Thanks to continuous improvements in various cancer therapies, patients with many types of cancer now survive significantly longer. As a result, the long-term effects of these therapies are coming more into focus: Since many therapies can damage not only the tumor and metastases but also healthy organs, this can lead, for example, to nerve damage, concentration and memory problems, rapid exhaustion, and other symptoms.

We focus on the underlying causes of the long-term effects of cancer treatments and are investigating new treatment methods, for example, for therapy-induced polyneuropathy.

 

Lymphomas

Lymphomas are cancers of the lymphatic system and can occur throughout the body. Whole-body MRI plays a key role in diagnosis and monitoring disease progression. Our research focuses on using quantitative imaging to assess disease activity and treatment response with even greater precision.

 

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. We use and further develop low-field MRI to detect tumors at an early stage and characterize their biological properties more accurately. A particular focus is on MRI-guided breast cancer screening.

 

Malignant Melanoma

Malignant melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer with a high tendency to metastasize. In no other area of oncology have modern oncological therapies led to a comparable improvement in life expectancy. We are investigating how modern photon-counting CT imaging can improve the early detection of metastases and the assessment of treatment response while significantly reducing radiation dose.

 

Multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a disease of the bone marrow that frequently affects the entire skeletal system. The long-standing collaboration between the Department of Radiology at the DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital formed the basis for improved radiological assessment of disease activity. In particular, we use whole-body MRI to sensitively detect disease foci and monitor disease progression during therapy. Research focuses on the quantitative evaluation and automated analysis of this image data.

 

Renal Cell Carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma is a malignant tumor of the kidney that is often discovered incidentally. Modern imaging techniques enable more precise characterization of the tumors and support treatment decisions. A particular focus of our research is on differentiating between various tumor types and assessing treatment response.

 

Pancreatic tumors

Pancreatic tumors are often diagnosed at a late stage, are among the most complex diseases in radiological assessment, and therefore have particular clinical relevance. We are involved in the stratification of imaging methods to detect these tumors early and assess their spread more accurately. The goal is to provide an improved basis for treatment decisions.

 

Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. Multiparametric MRI plays a central role in early detection, precise localization, and characterization of tumors. Our research focuses on improving risk stratification and targeted treatment planning.

 

Sarcomas

Sarcomas are rare tumors of soft tissue, such as muscles, tendons, or adipose tissue, and less commonly of bone. Different subgroups of sarcomas are distinguished based on the tissue of origin. For diagnosis, we primarily use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), supplemented by computed tomography (CT) to search for metastases. We are also increasingly using positron emission tomography (PET), as it provides good contrast between healthy and diseased tissue. Tumors and metastases can be characterized based on their glucose metabolism. Our research focuses in particular on the use of whole-body MRI and PET, as well as their potential for more personalized treatment planning.

 

Urothelial Carcinoma

Urothelial carcinoma affects the urinary tract, particularly the bladder. Modern MRI techniques enable the detection of tumors as well as the precise assessment of their local invasiveness. The goal of our research is to make it easier to plan any necessary surgical interventions through optimized diagnostics and to further improve follow-up monitoring.