Tumor Biology, Infection and Immunity

Tumor biology, infection and immunity

Research on tumor biology, infection and immunity

The task of the Tumor Biology, Infection and Immunity focus area at the Medical Faculty of the University of Cologne is to research the molecular mechanisms underlying the defense against tumors and microorganisms. The aim is to develop innovative approaches for diagnosis, prevention and therapy in cancer and infection medicine.

The close connection between oncological and infectiological research opens up a highly dynamic, translational field of research, as both areas share central biological interfaces. Chronic inflammatory processes resulting from persistent infections are considered to be significant risk factors for the development of various tumor diseases. The investigation of common risk factors therefore enables a holistic approach to prevention and therapy. In addition, the progression of tumor diseases and infections is based on comparable biological processes. In both cases, complex interactions between the immune system, tumor cells or altered endogenous cells and pathogenic pathogens significantly influence the development, progression and therapeutic influenceability of the diseases.

A particular focus is on the analysis of interactions between the immune system, tumor microenvironment and host-pathogen interactions. This results in new starting points for personalized therapies, particularly in the area of immune-mediated treatment strategies. Immunotherapeutic procedures have established themselves as a pioneering therapeutic platform both in cancer medicine and in the treatment of serious infectious diseases.

The mission of the research focus area Tumor Biology, Infection and Immunity at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Cologne is to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying host defense against tumors and microorganisms. The objective is to develop innovative approaches for diagnosis, prevention, and therapy in cancer and infectious disease medicine.

The close integration of oncological and infectious disease research opens up a highly dynamic translational research field, as both disciplines share key biological interfaces. Chronic inflammatory processes resulting from persistent infections are considered major risk factors for the development of various malignancies. Investigating shared risk factors therefore enables a holistic approach to prevention and therapy. In addition, disease progression in cancer and infections is driven by comparable biological processes. In both cases, complex interactions between the immune system, tumor cells or altered host cells, and pathogenic microorganisms critically influence disease initiation, progression, and therapeutic responsiveness.

A particular focus is placed on analyzing interactions between the immune system, the tumor microenvironment, and host–pathogen interactions. This creates new opportunities for personalized therapies, particularly in the field of immune-mediated treatment strategies. Immunotherapeutic approaches have emerged as a pioneering therapeutic platform in both cancer medicine and the treatment of severe infectious diseases.

Research within this focus integrates molecular and cellular basic research, preclinical modeling, and clinical translation. Both oncological mechanisms and key processes of host–pathogen interaction are investigated in order to derive novel therapeutic strategies. The close integration of experimental and clinical research enables a clearly structured translational pathway: from biological discovery through preclinical validation to clinical application. Special emphasis is placed on deciphering shared biological principles (e.g., clonal evolution and resistance), personalized cancer therapy, immune-mediated therapeutic strategies, and innovative approaches for the treatment of invasive fungal infections, multidrug-resistant pathogens, and viral infections.

The interdisciplinary integration of oncology, immunology, and infectious disease medicine creates a dynamic research platform aimed at translating new scientific findings into internationally relevant and practice-changing therapeutic and treatment standards. This research focus is supported by the Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO) and the Center for Infection Medicine (CIM), thereby strengthening both patient care and clinical-translational research. In addition, the TRIO building (Translational Research for Infectious Diseases and Oncology) provides modern infrastructure that enables effective translational research in close integration with clinical departments. This promotes application-oriented approaches and facilitates the direct transfer of scientific findings into clinical practice.

Institutions involved

Selected Publications

Highlights from the field of Tumor Biology

Braun T, Rade M, Merz M, Klepzig H, Große F, Fandrei D, Nhu-Nguyen P, Kreuz M, Kuhn CK, Kuschel F, Löffler D, Meinel J, Heger E, Schweinsberg V, Pflug N, Platzbecker U, Hallek M, Holtick U, Köhl U, Scheid C, Reiche K, Herling M & Richardson T Multiomic profiling of T cell lymphoma after therapy with anti-BCMA CAR T cells and GPRC5D-directed bispecific antibody Nature Medicine 2025; 31, 1145–1153 (2025) doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-03499-9.
Stahl D, Gödel P, Balke-Want H, Gholamipoorfard R, Segbers P, Tetenborg L, Koker M, Dörr J, Gregor L, Bachurski D, Rose F, Simon AG, Good Z, Jakob J, Häupl B, Nill M, Flümann R, Riet T, Lange D, Blakemore SJ, Baurmann H, Voltin CA, Potter N, Schlözer L, Freihammer M, Wagener-Ryczek S, Iuga AI, Heger JM, Ludwig H, Schleifenbaum JK, Propp J, Bröckelmann PJ, Jachimowicz RD, Knittel G, Borchmann S, Merkelbach-Bruse S, Pallasch C, Peifer M, Rybniker J, Quaas A, Nitz M, Brägelmann J, Müller W, Persigehl T, Bozek K, Theobald SJ, Büttner R, Oellerich T, Hallek M, Kobold S, Chmielewski M, Reinhardt HC, Mackall C, Abedpour N, Borchmann P, Ullrich RT. CSF1R+ myeloid-monocytic cells drive CAR-T cell resistance in aggressive B cell lymphoma. Cancer Cell. 2025 Aug 11;43(8):1476-1494.e10. doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2025.05.013. Epub 2025 Jun 12. PMID: 40513575.
Heger JM, Mattlener J, Schneider J, Gödel P, Sieg N, Ullrich F, Lewis R, Bucaciuc-Mracica T, Schwarz RF, Rueß D, Ruge MI, Montesinos-Rongen M, Deckert M, Blau T, Kutsch N, Balke-Want H, Weiss J, Becker K, Reinhardt HC, Hallek M, Borchmann P, von Tresckow B, Borchmann S. Entirely noninvasive outcome prediction in central nervous system lymphomas using circulating tumor DNA. Blood. 2024; 143(6):522-534. doi: 10.1182/blood.2023022020.
Eichhorst B, Niemann CU, Kater AP, Fürstenau M, von Tresckow J, Zhang C, Robrecht S, Gregor M, Juliusson G, Thornton P, Staber PB, Tadmor T, Lindström V, da Cunha-Bang C, Schneider C, Poulsen CB, Illmer T, Schöttker B, Nösslinger T, Janssens A, Christiansen I, Baumann M, Frederiksen H, van der Klift M, Jäger U, Leys MBL, Hoogendoorn M, Lotfi K, Hebart H, Gaska T, Koene H, Enggaard L, Goede J, Regelink JC, Widmer A, Simon F, De Silva N, Fink AM, Bahlo J, Fischer K, Wendtner CM, Kreuzer KA, Ritgen M, Brüggemann M, Tausch E, Levin MD, van Oers M, Geisler C, Stilgenbauer S, Hallek M; GCLLSG, the HOVON and Nordic CLL Study Groups, the SAKK, the Israeli CLL Association, and Cancer Trials Ireland. First-Line Venetoclax Combinations in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. N Engl J Med. 2023; 388(19):1739-1754. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2213093.
Vom Stein AF, Rebollido-Rios R, Lukas A, Koch M, von Lom A, Reinartz S, Bachurski D, Rose F, Bozek K, Abdallah AT, Kohlhas V, Saggau J, Zölzer R, Zhao Y, Bruns C, Bröckelmann PJ, Lohneis P, Büttner R, Häupl B, Oellerich T, Nguyen PH, Hallek M. LYN kinase programs stromal fibroblasts to facilitate leukemic survival via regulation of c-JUN and THBS1. Nat Commun. 2023; 14(1):1330. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-36824-2.
Thomalla D, Beckmann L, Grimm C, Oliverio M, Meder L, Herling CD, Nieper P, Feldmann T, Merkel O, Lorsy E, da Palma Guerreiro A, von Jan J, Kisis I, Wasserburger E, Claasen J, Faitschuk-Meyer E, Altmüller J, Nürnberg P, Yang TP, Lienhard M, Herwig R, Kreuzer KA, Pallasch CP, Büttner R, Schäfer SC, Hartley J, Abken H, Peifer M, Kashkar H, Knittel G, Eichhorst B, Ullrich RT, Herling M, Reinhardt HC, Hallek M, Schweiger MR, Frenzel LP. Deregulation and epigenetic modification of BCL2-family genes cause resistance to venetoclax in hematologic malignancies. Blood. 2022; 140(20):2113-2126. doi: 10.1182/blood.2021014304.
Izquierdo E, Vorholt D, Blakemore S, Sackey B, Nolte JL, Barbarino V, Schmitz J, Nickel N, Bachurski D, Lobastova L, Nikolic M, Michalik M, Brinker R, Merkel O, Franitza M, Georgomanolis T, Neuhaus R, Koch M, Nasada N, Knittel G, Chapuy B, Ludwig N, Meese E, Frenzel L, Reinhardt HC, Peifer M, Rebollido-Rios R, Bruns H, Krüger M, Hallek M, Pallasch CP. Extracellular vesicles and PD-L1 suppress macrophages, inducing therapy resistance in TP53-deficient B-cell malignancies. Blood. 2022; 139(25):3617-3629. doi: 10.1182/blood.2021014007.
Cramer P, Tausch E, von Tresckow J, Giza A, Robrecht S, Schneider C, Fürstenau M, Langerbeins P, Al-Sawaf O, Pelzer BW, Fink AM, Fischer K, Wendtner CM, Eichhorst B, Kneba M, Stilgenbauer S, Hallek M. Durable remissions following combined targeted therapy in patients with CLL harboring TP53 deletions and/or mutations. Blood. 2021; 138(19):1805-1816. doi: 10.1182/blood.2020010484.
Schiffmann LM, Werthenbach JP, Heintges-Kleinhofer F, Seeger JM, Fritsch M, Günther SD, Willenborg S, Brodesser S, Lucas C, Jüngst C, Albert MC, Schorn F, Witt A, Moraes CT, Bruns CJ, Pasparakis M, Krönke M, Eming SA, Coutelle O, Kashkar H. Mitochondrial respiration controls neoangiogenesis during wound healing and tumour growth. Nat Commun. 2020; 11(1):3653. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-17472-2.
Jachimowicz RD, Beleggia F, Isensee J, Velpula BB, Goergens J, Bustos MA, Doll MA, Shenoy A, Checa-Rodriguez C, Wiederstein JL, Baranes-Bachar K, Bartenhagen C, Hertwig F, Teper N, Nishi T, Schmitt A, Distelmaier F, Lüdecke HJ, Albrecht B, Krüger M, Schumacher B, Geiger T, Hoon DSB, Huertas P, Fischer M, Hucho T, Peifer M, Ziv Y, Reinhardt HC, Wieczorek D, Shiloh Y. UBQLN4 Represses Homologous Recombination and Is Overexpressed in Aggressive Tumors. Cell. 2019; 176(3):505-519.e22. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.11.024.

Highlights from the field of Immunity and Infection:

Theobald, S. J., Dahm, K., Lange, D., Spintge, J. B., Winter, S., Klingmüller, A., Holsten, L., Simonis, A., De Domenico, E., Walczak, H., van Uelft, M., Schultze, J. L., Beyer, M. D., Ulas, T., Suárez, I., & Rybniker, J. (2025). Deep immune profiling delineates hallmarks of disease heterogeneity in extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Nature Communications, 16(1), 9662. doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-65561-x
Gieselmann L, DeLaitsch AT, Rohde M, Gruell H, Kreer C, Ercanoglu MS, Gristick HB, Schommers P, Ahmadov E, Radford C, Mazzolini A, Zhang L, West AP Jr, Worczinski J, Momot A, Reichwein ML, Knüfer J, Stumpf R, Mkhize NN, Kaldine H, Bhebhe S, Deshpande S, Giovannoni F, Stefanutti E, Benigni F, Havenar-Daughton C, Corti D, Kroidl A, Adhikari A, Nanfack AJ, Ambada GE, Duerr R, Maganga L, William W, Ntinginya NE, Wolf T, Geldmacher C, Hoelscher M, Lehmann C, Moore PL, Mora T, Walczak AM, Gilbert PB, Doria-Rose NA, Huang Y, Bloom JD, Seaman MS, Bjorkman PJ, Klein F. Profiling of HIV-1 elite neutralizer cohort reveals a CD4bs bnAb for HIV-1 prevention and therapy. Nat Immunol. 2025 Nov;26(11):2016-2029. doi: 10.1038/s41590-025-02286-5. Epub 2025 Oct 6.
Reinhold I, Picardi S, Liss B, Seidel D, Stemler J, Koehler P, Ruegamer T, Sprute R, Cornely OA. Towards shorter therapy for candidaemia: defining uncomplicated candidaemia in adults. Lancet Infect Dis; 25; (advance online publication); S1473-3099(25)00409-8. 2025
Salmanton-García J, Wipfler P, Leckler J, Nauclér P, Mallon PW, Bruijning-Verhagen PCJL, Schmitt HJ, Bethe U, Olesen OF, Stewart FA, Albus K, Cornely OA; VACCELERATE Consortium. Predicting the next pandemic: VACCELERATE ranking of the World Health Organization's Blueprint for Action to Prevent Epidemics. Travel Med Infect Dis. 2024; 57:102676. doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2023.102676.
Schommers P, Kim DS, Schlotz M, Kreer C, Eggeling R, Hake A, Stecher M, Park J, Radford CE, Dingens AS, Ercanoglu MS, Gruell H, Odidika S, Dahlhaus M, Gieselmann L, Ahmadov E, Lawong RY, Heger E, Knops E, Wyen C, Kümmerle T, Römer K, Scholten S, Wolf T, Stephan C, Suárez I, Raju N, Adhikari A, Esser S, Streeck H, Duerr R, Nanfack AJ, Zolla-Pazner S, Geldmacher C, Geisenberger O, Kroidl A, William W, Maganga L, Ntinginya NE, Georgiev IS, Vehreschild JJ, Hoelscher M, Fätkenheuer G, Lavinder JJ, Bloom JD, Seaman MS, Lehmann C, Pfeifer N, Georgiou G, Klein F. Dynamics and durability of HIV-1 neutralization are determined by viral replication. Nat Med. 2023; 29(11):2763-2774. doi: 10.1038/s41591-023-02582-3.
Simonis A, Kreer C, Albus A, Rox K, Yuan B, Holzmann D, Wilms JA, Zuber S, Kottege L, Winter S, Meyer M, Schmitt K, Gruell H, Theobald SJ, Hellmann AM, Meyer C, Ercanoglu MS, Cramer N, Munder A, Hallek M, Fätkenheuer G, Koch M, Seifert H, Rietschel E, Marlovits TC, van Koningsbruggen-Rietschel S, Klein F, Rybniker J. Discovery of highly neutralizing human antibodies targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Cell. 2023; 186(23):5098-5113.e19. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.10.002.
Zehner M, Alt M, Ashurov A, Goldsmith JA, Spies R, Weiler N, Lerma J, Gieselmann L, Stöhr D, Gruell H, Schultz EP, Kreer C, Schlachter L, Janicki H, Laib Sampaio K, Stegmann C, Nemetchek MD, Dähling S, Ullrich L, Dittmer U, Witzke O, Koch M, Ryckman BJ, Lotfi R, McLellan JS, Krawczyk A, Sinzger C, Klein F. Single-cell analysis of memory B cells from top neutralizers reveals multiple sites of vulnerability within HCMV Trimer and Pentamer. Immunity. 2023; 56(11):2602-2620.e10. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.10.009.
Kreer C, Zehner M, Weber T, Ercanoglu MS, Gieselmann L, Rohde C, Halwe S, Korenkov M, Schommers P, Vanshylla K, Di Cristanziano V, Janicki H, Brinker R, Ashurov A, Krähling V, Kupke A, Cohen-Dvashi H, Koch M, Eckert JM, Lederer S, Pfeifer N, Wolf T, Vehreschild MJGT, Wendtner C, Diskin R, Gruell H, Becker S, Klein F. Longitudinal Isolation of Potent Near-Germline SARS-CoV-2-Neutralizing Antibodies from COVID-19 Patients. Cell. 2020; 182(4):843-854.e12. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.06.044.
Schommers P, Gruell H, Abernathy ME, Tran MK, Dingens AS, Gristick HB, Barnes CO, Schoofs T, Schlotz M, Vanshylla K, Kreer C, Weiland D, Holtick U, Scheid C, Valter MM, van Gils MJ, Sanders RW, Vehreschild JJ, Cornely OA, Lehmann C, Fätkenheuer G, Seaman MS, Bloom JD, Bjorkman PJ, Klein F. Restriction of HIV-1 Escape by a Highly Broad and Potent Neutralizing Antibody. Cell. 2020; 180(3):471-489.e22. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.01.010.
Fritsch M, Günther SD, Schwarzer R, Albert MC, Schorn F, Werthenbach JP, Schiffmann LM, Stair N, Stocks H, Seeger JM, Lamkanfi M, Krönke M, Pasparakis M, Kashkar H. Caspase-8 is the molecular switch for apoptosis, necroptosis and pyroptosis. Nature. 2019; 575(7784):683-687. doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1770-6.

Funding received (selection)

German Research Foundation Collaborative Research Center (SFB) 1399 – Mechanisms of Drug Sensitivity and Resistance in Small Cell Lung Cancer
Funding: DFG
Speaker: Roman Thomas
German Research Foundation Collaborative Research Center (SFB) 1530 – Deciphering and Targeting Pathogenic Mechanisms in B-Cell Neoplasms
Funding: DFG
Speaker: Michael Hallek
German Research Foundation Collaborative Research Center (SFB) 1310 – Predictability in Evolution
Funding: DFG
Principal Investigator: Florian Klein
German Research Foundation Collaborative Research Center (SFB) 1403/2 – Cell Death in Immunity, Inflammation and Disease
Funding: DFG
Speakers: Manolis Pasparakis and Hamid Kashkar
Mildred Scheel School of Oncology Cologne (MSSO)
Funding: German Cancer Aid
Speaker: Roland Ullrich
German Research Foundation Emmy Noether Junior Research Group – Characterization of HIV-1 Antibody Resistance in Patients and Its Impact on Viral Fitness
Funding: DFG
Junior Research Group Leader: Philipp Schommers
German Research Foundation Emmy Noether Junior Research Group – Integrative Modeling of Cancer Plasticity, Evolution, and Prognosis
Funding: DFG
Junior Research Group Leader: Othman Al-Sawaf
Junior Research Group – Immunotherapies for Bacterial Infections
Funding: Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth / Research funding (BMFTR)
Junior Research Group Leader: Alexander Simonis
COVIM – Collaborative Immunity Platform of NUM
Funding: BMFTR
Speaker: Florian Klein
CoEvolve
Funding: European Research Council Synergy Grant
Principal Investigator: Florian Klein
INNOPAK – GoBio Next
Funding: BMFTR
Speakers: Jan Rybniker and Alexander Simonis
European Vaccine Hub (EVH)
Funding: European Union
Principal Investigator: Florian Klein
Translational Thematic Units (TTU): HIV, Tuberculosis, and Infections in the Immunocompromised Host
Funding: German Center for Infection Research
Site Speaker: Oliver Cornely
VIRAL NRW – Virus Alliance North Rhine-Westphalia
Funding: Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia
Principal Investigator: Florian Klein
AI4Onco
Funding: Excellence Initiative (Exzellenz initiieren)
Principal Investigator: Henrike Oberlack