Translational Radiooncology and Clinical Radiotherapy

Group leader: Prof. Dr. med. Mechthild Krause

The group is working on identifying certain biological tumor factors - so-called biomarkers - which can be used to predict and individually adapt the effectiveness of radiation therapy in patients. One example of this is DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) that occur during radiation therapy - because radiation specifically damages the genetic material of cancer cells. The more double-strand breaks occur, the less likely the cell is to survive. The number of breaks immediately after irradiation is not particularly significant, rather the effect after a certain recovery time of the cell in which it can repair part of the damage. Double-strand breaks that are still present after this regeneration period are referred to as residual DSB. They are an important biomarker for how well radiation therapy works in each individual patient and can indicate whether a change in treatment is necessary.

Research in Combined Therapies

Cancer is usually treated by a combination of different forms of treatment - surgery, drug therapy, aadiation. The group is investigating the effects of new substances and approved drugs in combination with radiation therapy. At the same time, the scientists are investigating the optimal sequence of treatment forms: e.g. whether drug therapy and radiation therapy should take place simultaneously or consecutively.

German Cancer Consortium (DKTK)

Within the group, important research projects of the Dresden site are embedded in the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK).