CP CLL & Lymphoma
Summary
The CLL/Lymphoma Program combines clinical and research expertise focusing on the understanding of the pathogenesis of CLL and lymphoma. We have established a systems medicine program that integrates systematic functional assays, multi-omic profiling, bioinformatic analysis, mathematical modeling and setup towards a clinical exploitation. The basis of the program is a platform to map patient specific pathway activity and drug sensitivity of their primary tumor cells ex-vivo. By comparing drug responses across patients with detailed molecular characterization (e.g. whole exome- and RNA-sequencing) and the clinical parameters, we obtain a rich set of associations of drug sensitivity with biology, biomarkers and outcome.
Members of the program take a leading role in the GCLLSG, EBMT, and Helmholtz and BMBF-funded research consortia and the “Early trial Network”. The group has been instrumental in developing clinical guidelines.
Coordinator
Dr. Julia Meissner
Dept. of Internal Medicine V: Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Heidelberg University Hospital
Prof. Peter Dreger
Dept. of Internal Medicine V: Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Heidelberg University Hospital
Prof. Michael Schmitt
Dept. of Internal Medicine V: Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Heidelberg University Hospital
Prof. Tim Weber
Dept. of Radiology, Heidelberg University Hospital
Prof. Gunhild Mechtersheimer
Dept. of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital
Dr. Martina Seiffert
Division of Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center
Prof. Frank Ückert
Division of Medical Informatics for Translational Oncology, German Cancer Research Center
Scientific Aims:
- Practice-changing clinical concepts for lymphoma patients (Dietrich NEJM 2012)
- Develop artificial intelligence solutions to support treatment and diagnostic clinical procedures
- Set up large scale pre-clinical drug screen program to support personalized treatment decisions
- Understand how molecular features impact response and survival in lymphoma and CLL.
- Create new diagnostic and therapeutic options for patients with CLL and lymphoma
- Develop biomarker driven interventional early phase clinical trials
- Phase I clinical trial center for innovative trials
Aims Clinical Care:
- State of the art care for patients suffering from CLL and lymphoma including allogeneic stem cell transplantation and CAR T-cell therapy
- Develop strategic partnerships with pharma industry and run industry initiated biomarker driven early phase clinical trials.
- Develop individualized treatment concepts (molecularly informed personalized medicine)
Clinical Activities
Specific Treatment Options
- CAR-T cell therapies, bispecific antibodies, allogeneic stem cell transplantation