For this edition of World Cancer Day, let’s direct the light on our German partner, the Georg-Speyer-Haus (GSH) – a research institute founded more than a hundred years ago.
The Georg-Speyer-Haus (GSH), Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, conducts oncological research in the aim to better understand the molecular and cellular basis of tumor development. Ultimately these findings will support the development of innovative therapeutic concepts, that can be rapidly transferred to clinical trials.
Let’s dive into its latest research.
A new Research Area: Shifting the Focus from Cancer Cells to the Tumor’s Surroundings
The Georg-Speyer-Haus research focuses on the tumor microenvironment.
The tumor microenvironment is like a neighborhood around a tumor, where different types of cells interact and communicate, influenced by substances they release and by the intestinal microbiome. These interactions play a key role in tumor growth and spread, often predicting patient prognosis and response to treatment.
New and innovative therapeutics are urgently needed to counteract therapy resistance. Many drugs today target only tumor cells, while targeting tumor stroma cells, that don't mutate as easily, could help prevent tumor resistance.
Immunotherapies, a key Achievement of Recent Years
The discovery of mechanisms controlling cell growth and death marked a major advance in understanding tumor development. This led to new drugs and therapeutic approaches, although most focus solely on tumor cells.
The biggest breakthrough in cancer treatment over the past decade is immunotherapy, which shifted the focus to immune cells as well as other cells in the tumor microenvironment – and their interaction with tumor cells. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, which do not target tumor cells directly, have been highly effective in treating melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer.
Further developments still to be expected
Immunotherapy is expected to become applicable to additional tumor types. Moreover, new treatments have been approved or will complete clinical evaluation, like antibody-drug conjugates, allowing targeted therapy with fewer side effects. Innovative approaches such as "protein degraders" may enable inhibition of previously untreatable target molecules. Patients, families and medical staff eagerly look forward to these promising new approaches.
AI, a new support in cancer research
Like in many other areas, AI plays a key role in cancer research. It is used in processing image files and microscopy, in pharmacology for the development of new drugs, as well as for integrating different data modalities, such as molecular sequencing data, image analyses, and clinical data. What’s next? Let’s prepare for additional breakthroughs!
The advancements in oncology research continue to inspire and amaze. By supporting the Georg-Speyer-Haus, the Candriam Institute for Sustainable Development chooses to partner with dedicated teams working tirelessly to transform the life of patients and their families.
To learn more about Candriam’s commitment to the fight against the cancer,
visit our dedicated page
“Using a strongly interdisciplinary approach, the Georg-Speyer-Haus focuses on a specific aspect of oncological research: the tumor microenvironment. The aim is to develop innovative therapeutic concepts that can be rapidly transferred to clinical trials in cooperation with clinical partners.