Lab for Molecular Tumor-Immunology
         (Head: Helmut R. Salih, M.D.)

Group members (January 2010):

• Dr. rer. nat.Tina Bässler
• Dr. rer nat. Katrin Baltz
• Benjamin Schmiedel, Dipl. Biochem.
• Theresa Placke, Dipl. Biol.
• Julia Hilpert, Dipl. Biol.
• Julia Wild, Dipl. Biol.
• Corina Büchele, Cand med.
• Carla Schumacher, Cand. med.
• Guido Holl, Cand. med.
• Stefanie Raab, Cand. biochem
• Viktoria Potapenja, Cand. biochem
• Ingrid Kumbier, MTA
• Carolin Fenner, MTA

Contact:

Phone: +49-7071–29-82852 (Labor)
           +49-7071-29-83275 (Sekretariat)
Fax:    +49-7071–29-4391

Email: Helmut.Salih@med.uni-tuebingen.de

Address:

Department of Hematology/Oncology
Eberhard Karls-University
Otfried Müller Str. 10
72076 Tübingen, Germany

Research focus:

We analyze the interaction of tumor cells and effector cells of the immune system, especially Natural Killer (NK) cells with a focus on the molecular mechanisms enabling tumor immune escape. In this regard, we study the expression and release of immunoregulatory surface molecules on tumor (especially leukemia) cells and NK cells and aim to modulate these molecule systems therapeutically to reinforce NK cell effector functions. We also study how NK reactivity is, beyond the direct interaction with their target cells, is influenced by other hematopoietic cells like platelets, which facilitate tumor immune escape

One major interest is the comparative analysis of immunoregulatory molecules in mice and men. This is important to design rational immunotherapeutic strategies, as seemingly analogue molecules may mediate different and even opposite effects on anti-tumor immunity in humans as compared to their murine counterparts. In addition, we analyze potential immunoinhibitory effects of "conventional" tumor therapeutics like kinase inhibitors to enable the development of rational combinatory strategies with immunomodulation.

A major focus of our recent work is the development of novel anti-tumor antibodies (including GMP-compliant production) at the University setting until the stage of meaningful clinical trials, which we conduct in close collaboration with Prof. Dr. H.-G. Rammensee and Prof. Dr. G. Jung from the Department of Immunology, Tübingen. We have already developed monoclonal antibodies targeting FLT3 expressed on AML cells with modified Fc-parts to induce more potent NK cell reactivity. These antibodies have, together with adoptive transfer of NK cells, already been clinically applied.

Overall we have a profound interest to translate findings of basic research in tumor immunology into clinically relevant applications to improve therapeutic options of cancer patients