Professor Thomas Oellerich researches protein expression patterns and signal transduction pathways for personalised cancer therapies. He received the Langen Science Award in 2021 for his work.
Protein expression patterns and protein modifications provide information about which genes and signal transduction pathways are activated in cancer cells. Research in the field of oncoproteomics thus gives scientists opportunities such as studying the molecular processes involved in the development of cancer resistance and developing new therapeutic approaches.
Professor Oellerich and his team found success in this field by transferring findings from their preclinical research on the importance of the enzyme kinase SYK in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) into clinical research on "the role of the oncoproteome for innovative diagnostics and therapies". After a successful phase II trial, an international marketing authorisation trial is now underway.
With the help of its systematic proteogenomic characterisation of cancer cells, the working group wants to identify new biomarkers and therapeutic target structures in the future and thus contribute to improved targeted therapy options.
Professor Thomas Oellerich focuses his research on elucidating oncogenic proteomic processes such as signal transduction in leukaemias and lymphomas. He is thereby contributing to opening up improved targeted therapy options.
Prof Dr Klaus Cichutek (President of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut)