Immuno-TargET

Autoimmune diseases and cancer share some very interesting parallels that can be exploited for novel therapeutic approaches. Tumours that originate in endocrine (hormone-producing) organs, such as the thyroid, parathyroid, pituitary or gastrointestinal tract, are often characterised by excessive hormone production and often retain functional and molecular characteristics of their organ of origin. It is known from the much more common autoimmune diseases against endocrine organs (e.g. type 1 diabetes) that the body's own antibodies often completely destroy hormone-producing cells. This principle is now being used to attack endocrine tumours of the same cellular origin with specific immunotherapies, similar to what happens in autoimmune diseases. The entire organ is destroyed. Unlike other vital organs, however, the function of endocrine organs can be restored by modern hormone replacement therapy. The consortium, consisting of more than 10 research groups from four institutions, is taking an elegant approach to a very effective, specific and safe therapy.

Immuno-TargET became an HMZ Flagship Project in 2019.