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Infections and Cancer Epidemiology

  • Immunology, Infection and Cancer
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Dr. Tim Waterboer

Head of Division

The central aim of the Division is the discovery and validation of novel biomarkers for secondary prevention, i.e. screening and early detection of infection-associated cancers, by combining molecular diagnostic approaches with population-based research.

Our Research

About 15% of all cancer cases worldwide are associated with infections. The main etiologic agents are

  • Human Papillomaviruses (HPV) which are associated with cervical and other anogenital (e.g. anal) cancers, and head and neck, especially oropharyngeal cancer
  • Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a bacterium that causes gastric cancer
  • Hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV, HCV) which cause hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) which is associated with Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma as well as nasopharyngeal carcinoma
  • Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), or Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)

However, most of the infectious agents mentioned above may also cause other cancers, e.g. HPV and non-oropharyngeal head and neck cancer, or H. pylori and other gastrointestinal cancers. Moreover, additional infectious agents have been associated with cancer development, e.g. Chlamydia trachomatis and ovarian cancer.

The central aim of the Division is the secondary prevention, i.e. screening and early detection of infection-associated cancers, and combines molecular diagnostic approaches with population-based research. To this end, we combine high-throughput multiplexed immunoassays and advanced nucleic acid detection systems with data-driven research to discover prognostic and predictive biomarkers (such as antibodies against infectious agents from peripheral blood, or the pathogens’ nucleic acids in liquid biopsies), and to validate them in large epidemiological cohort studies. Our aim is to translate our findings in prospective clinical and screening studies, and to thoroughly evaluate their public health impact.

One central technology in the Division is a high-throughput serological method (“Multiplex Serology”, “Serolomics”), which allows analyzing up to 2000 serum samples per day for antibodies to up to 100 different antigens simultaneously. We collaborate worldwide with many clinical and epidemiological partners to analyze large-scale seroepidemiological studies, and have successfully developed serological assays for all infectious agents mentioned above, and many others. In addition, we develop PCR-based nucleic acid detection methods to evaluate the causality of infections in cancer development, to determine infection-attributable fractions in cancer tissue, and for treatment surveillance of cancer patients (e.g., digital PCR for HPV and EBV from liquid biopsies).

Our Projects

High-Throughput Serolomics Lab

sponsored by the Dieter Morszeck Stiftung

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Clinical Applications

Oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) affects over 30,000 new patients every year. Currently, there is no reliable test to detect HPV-caused OPC in its early stages. To address this problem, a cross-functional team of scientists and business experts works on the development of an in vitro diagnostic test.

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Selected Publications

2024 - Cancer science

Nibu KI, Oridate N, Saito Y, Roset M, Forés Maresma M, Cuadras D, Morais E, Roberts C, Chen YT, Spitzer J, Sato K, Saito I, Tazaki I, Clavero O, Schroeder L, Alemany L, Mehanna H, Mirghani H, Giuliano AR, Pavón MA*, Waterboer T*

2024 - International Journal of Cancer

Kusters JMA, Diergaarde B, Ness A, Schim van der Loeff MF, Heijne JCM, Schroeder L, Hueniken K, McKay JD, Macfarlane GJ, Lagiou P, Lagiou A, Polesel J, Agudo A, Alemany L, Ahrens W, Healy CM, Conway DI, Robinson M, Canova C, Holcátová I, Richiardi L, Znaor A, Pring M, Thomas S, Hayes DN, Liu G, Hung RJ, Brennan P, Olshan AF, Virani S, Waterboer T

2022 - Nature Communications

Mentzer AJ*, Brenner N*, Allen N, Littlejohns TJ, Chong AY, Cortes A, Almond R, Hill M, Sheard S, McVean G; UKB Infection Advisory Board, Collins R, Hill AVS, Waterboer T

2022 - eClinicalMedicine

Busch CJ, Hoffmann AS, Viarisio D, Becker BT, Rieckmann T, Betz C, Bender N, Schroeder L, Hussein Y, Petersen E, Jagodzinski A, Schäfer I, Burandt E, Lang Kuhs K, Pawlita M, Waterboer T*, Brenner N*

2022 - Nature Communications

Ferreiro-Iglesias A, McKay JD, Brenner N, Virani S, Lesseur C, Gaborieau V, Ness AR, Hung RJ, Liu G, Diergaarde B, Olshan AF, Hayes N, Weissler MC, Schroeder L, Bender N, Pawlita M, Thomas S, Pring M, Dudding T, Kanterewicz B, Ferris R, Thomas S, Brhane Y, Díez-Obrero V, Milojevic M, Smith-Byrne K, Mariosa D, Johansson MJ, Herrero R, Boccia S, Cadoni G, Lacko M, Holcátová I, Ahrens W, Lagiou P, Lagiou A, Polesel J, Simonato L, Merletti F, Healy CM, Hansen BT, Nygård M, Conway DI, Wright S, Macfarlane TV, Robinson M, Alemany L, Agudo A, Znaor A, Amos CI, Waterboer T*, Brennan P*

Members of the division have authored more than 400 international, 
peer-reviewed publications

(→ Complete list of publications)

Our Team

Team Pictures

Press Realeases

Get in touch with us

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Dr. Tim Waterboer
Head of Division
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Dr. Birgitta Michels
Scientific Project Manager
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Dr. Kristina Prager
Administrative Project Manager
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