Our institute was founded in 1904 as the private foundation Chemotherapeutisches Forschungsinstitut Georg-Speyer-Haus to create a research site for Paul Ehrlich, the first director of Georg-Speyer-Haus.
At today’s Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, oncological research is conducted. Our goal is to better understand the molecular and cellular basis of tumor development and to find new approaches for cancer therapy.
OUR INSTITUT
At the Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute of Tumour Biology and Experimental Therapy, we investigate the molecular and cellular basis of tumour development with the aim of discovering new approaches to cancer therapy. We focus in particular on the analysis and interaction of the various cell types in tumour tissue in the so-called tumour microenvironment.
ORGANISATION
The Georg-Speyer-Haus is associated with the Goethe University Frankfurt am Main through a cooperation agreement and is funded by the Hessian Ministry of Science and Research, Art and Culture, and the Federal Ministry of Health. In addition, our scientists can obtain third-party funding from public and private research funding organisations, from cooperation agreements with companies, from income from the foundation’s capital and from donations.
Prof Florian Greten has headed the Institute as Director since 2013. Prof Greten is also a managing member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, which also includes Deputy Director Prof Dr Winfried Wels and Commercial Director Gernot Ruffing. The Board of Directors manages the day-to-day business of the Foundation and is responsible to the Board of Trustees in this capacity.
RESEARCH PROFILE
The overarching aim of our basic oncological research is to gain a better understanding of non-transformed cells and the microbiome, the so-called tumour microenvironment (TME) as a factor in the development and treatment of solid and haematological cancers. State-of-the-art methods and models are used to develop and evaluate innovative therapeutic strategies. The Institute’s strict focus on the TME represents a clear national unique selling point.
TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT – PATHOGENESIS AND TARGET STRUCTURES
The reciprocal interaction of cells within the TME influences all stages of tumor development. Another important non-cellular component that is relevant for both pathogenesis and response to therapy in many tumors is the intestinal microbiome. Pathogenic bacteria and their metabolic products can trigger tumorigenesis through a variety of direct or indirect mechanisms and influence the response to both conventional chemotherapy and immunotherapies. A key feature of TME is the high degree of plasticity of both tumor and surrounding cells. Inflammatory processes are an important driver and modulator of this cell plasticity and are therefore implicated in the progression of the disease in a large number of tumors. The complex cellular interactions, the molecular characterization of the components of the signaling cascades involved, the investigation of the intestinal microbiome and the influence of diet on it are the focus of the research programs of the four working groups in this program area.
EXPERIMENTAL THERAPY
The overarching aim of this area is to develop and evaluate new cellular, immunological and gene therapy treatment approaches. A particular focus of this program area is on translation into early clinical trials. Cancer cells are often characterized by the expression of so-called tumor-associated antigens, which in principle enable specific recognition by the immune system. At an early stage of the disease, malignant transformation and the associated tissue damage in many cases actually lead to activation of the immune system, which can restrict tumor growth, at least for a limited period of time. However, as the disease progresses, this selection pressure favors the growth of tumor cells, which are now able to evade or actively suppress an immune response directed against the tumor. In the context of antigen-specific immune defense, the various research groups are focusing on different approaches to the development of new immunotherapies.
