Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie
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  3. Forschung
  4. Oncology
  5. Immuno-oncology and cancer therapy

Immuno-oncology and cancer therapy

Main Fields of Research

The focus of our translational and basic research is studying how to modulate the immune system for better outcome of skin cancer with immuno-therapies and to optimize management of immune-related side effects (irAE). We compare autoimmunity in this context with autoimmune disease and characterize the respective pathomechanisms. Within a translational research project, we determine factors for checkpoint inhibitor resistance and assess how resistance can be overcome. Within our biomarker research we try to establish prognostic and predictive biomarkers. Importantly, we identified a gene expression signature in primary melanoma tumors for assessment of risk of formation of metastases. We also investigate the mechanisms by which the microbiome modulates response and toxicity in cancer patients.

Prof. Lucie Heinzerling, MD, MPH

» Husain B, Kirchberger MC, Erdmann M, Schüpferling S, Abolhassani A, Fröhlich W, Berking C, Heinzerling L (2021) Inflammatory markers in autoimmunity induced by checkpoint inhibitors. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol, April 10th

» Zlotoff DA, Hassan MZO, Zafar A, Alvi RM, Awadalla M, Mahmood SS, Zhang L, Chen CL, Ederhy S, Barac A, Banerji D, Jones-O’Connor M, Murphy SP, Armanious M, Forrestal BJ, Kirchberger MC, Coelho-Filho OR, Rizvi MA, Sahni G, Mandawat A, Tocchetti CG, Hartmann S, Gilman HK, Zatarain-Nicolás E, Mahmoudi M, Gupta D, Sullivan R, Ganatra S, Yang EH, Heinzerling LM, Thuny F, Zubiri L, Reynolds KL, Cohen JV, Lyon AR, Groarke J, Thavendiranathan P, Nohria A, Fradley MG, Neilan TG (2021) Electrocardiographic features of immune checkpoint inhibitor associated myocarditis. J Immunother Cancer, 9(3):e002007

» Kramer R, Zaremba A, Moreira A, Ugurel S, Johnson DB, Hassel JC, Salzmann M, Gesierich A, Weppler A, Spain L, Loquai C, Dudda M, Pföhler C, Hepner A, Long GV, Menzies AM, Carlino MS, Sachse MM, Lebbé C, Baroudjian B, Tomohiro Enokida T, Makoto Tahara M, Max Schlaak M, Kinan Hayani K, Bröckelmann PJ, Meier F,22, Reinhardt L, Friedlander P, Eigentler T, Kähler KC, Berking C, Zimmer L, Heinzerling L (2021) Hematological immune related adverse events after treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Eur J Cancer, 147:170–181

» Krückel A, Moreira A, Fröhlich W, Schuler G, Heinzerling L (2019) Eosinophil-cationic protein - a novel liquid prognostic biomarker in melanoma. BMC Cancer, 19(1):207 (Patent granted)

» Full F, van Gent M, Sparrer K, Chiang C, Zurenski M, Scherer M, Brockmeyer N, Heinzerling L, Stürzl M, Korn K, Stamminger T, Ensser A, Gack M (2019) Centrosomal protein TRIM43 restricts herpesvirus infection by regulating nuclear lamina integrity. Nature Microbiology, 4(1):164-76

» Moreira A, Groß S, Kirchberger MC, Erdmann M, Schuler G, Heinzerling L (2018) Senescence markers - predictive for response to checkpoint inhibitors? Int J Cancer, 144(5):1147-50