Projects

To bring Fecal Microbiota Transfer (FMT) therapy to the standard of care, the open challenge is to identify cancer patients at risk of gut-related therapy failure who are amenable to FMT. We are currently collaborating with clinicians and scientists at UKHD and NCT (Dr. C. Rauber) to conduct the "Mucosome" study (S-633/2021) with the aim of identifying biomarkers in patients with extraintestinal cancers that can be used for the selection of patients who will potentially benefit from FMT and to identify stool donors that can be used pharmacologically in a tailored donor-recipient approach in cancer therapy.

DFG Individual Research Grant. Project no. 537739196. (2024-2027)

In multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma, the recently introduced first-line therapy Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab leads to an objective response rate of only 27%, which is superior to previous first-line therapies but highlights the urgent need for further therapeutic improvement. Together with Dr. C. Rauber (UKHD) and Dr. M. Dill (UKHD/DKFZ), who clinically conduct "The FLORA trial: Fecal Microbiota Transfer in Liver Cancer to Overcome Resistance to Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab" our team will perform the accompanying translational research program. Part of the "NCT Proof-of-Concept Trial Program" within the framework of Liver Cancer Center Heidelberg (LCCH), FLORA is a multicentric randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II clinical trial, which aims to assess immunogenicity and safety of FMT in combination with standard of care immunotherapy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. The trial involves clinical partners at Mannheim and six additional NCT centers within the frame of the NCT Bridging IIT concept.

EU-CT-Nummer 2023-506887-15-00.

Microbes can modulate cancer outcomes by many mechanisms: direct interaction with cancer cells, or indirect interaction via the modulation of the immune system or metabolites. We are currently exploring several of these mechanisms with a focus on the effect on immune modulation and tumor recognition by immune cells. By integrating patients' data and relevant preclinical models, we aim to find novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets related to dysbiosis-associated immunosuppression.