FORIMMUN

RESEARCH NETWORK FOR NEW STRATEGIES IN IMMUNOTHERAPY

T3 - Immuntherapy of tumors by specific tissue ablation

Issues of future research:
The standard approach for immunotherapy of tumors is to target the immunsystem against specific tumor antigens. However, the expression of tumor specific antigens varies within a given tumor and between different partients. In this project, the use of antigens derived from the normal tissue from which the tumor originates will be evaluated as a possible target. This approach might be useful for the elimination of tumors in non-essential tissues, including breast- and prostate carcinoma. As a therapeutic, recombinant attenuated bacteria will be used.

Application:
If the experiments proof that this strategy is feasible and if suitable target antigens can be identified, a therapeutic vaccine can be developed and in the long run a prophylactic vaccine for high risk groups can be considered. The further clinical development will be performed by TheraImmune. TheraImmune is a recently founded company located in Würzburg, Germany, devoted to the development of novel tumor therapies based on live bacterial carriers.