Experimental dermatology —
Research Group Prof Dr med Lukas Flatz
The research group led by Prof. Lukas Flatz, MD, addresses key questions in the field of oncological dermatology. The close integration of clinical practice and research enables the group to investigate clinical questions and thus lay the foundation for innovative therapeutic approaches.
Current research activities
In the research database of HOCH Health Ostschweiz you will find an insight into the research activities of Prof Dr Lukas Flatz. Below you will find a selection of his current projects:
Influence of gender on the effect and side effects of immunotherapies
Immunotherapies have fundamentally changed cancer treatment in recent years, but are often associated with side effects. This research project aims to identify gender-specific, biological immune signatures that are associated with the response to therapy and the occurrence of side effects. The aim is to be able to make reliable predictions about efficacy and toxicity early on during treatment. This could reveal crucial gender-dependent differences and create the basis for a more individualised and safer cancer therapy.
Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation
Identification of markers for resistance in skin cancer
The use of immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, has drastically improved the treatment of many types of cancer. Unfortunately, resistant cancer cells can develop during therapy, limiting the success of treatment. There is evidence that a process called "de-differentiation" allows cancer cells to evade the immune system and spread. The aim of this project is to decipher how resistant cancer cells can be recognised in order to enable the diagnosis of therapy-resistant tumours and subsequently pave the way for new treatment options.
Funding: Swiss Bridge Award
Optimisation of immunotherapies for melanoma patients
Immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, have revolutionised treatment options for patients with melanoma. However, these therapies can also be associated with side effects, not all side effects are negative, though; some may even indicate that the therapy is particularly effective. This project focuses on researching the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies and their associated side effects.
Analysing patient samples will help us to predict responses to therapy more accurately, enabling us to tailor treatment to the individual patient. Additionally, new tumour antigens will be identified to pave the way for further personalised treatment approaches.
Prof. Dr. Lukas Flatz heads the Laboratory for Experimental Dermatology at HOCH Health Ostschweiz and is also Medical Director of the Section for Dermatooncology at Tübingen University Hospital.
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