New approaches in research
Various new therapies are currently being researched in studies that open up new perspectives for the treatment of cancer or malignant haematological diseases.
Researchers are testing medicines that specifically target abnormal genetic changes in tumour cells. For example, drugs are being developed for patients with a TP53 gene mutation to help repair defective genes and make treatment more effective.
This treatment uses the body’s own immune cells (T cells). In the laboratory, these cells are modified so that they can specifically recognise and destroy cancer cells. They are then returned to the patient. This therapy is currently being investigated in clinical trials.
Cancer cells are often able to repair damage to their DNA themselves. These medicines block this repair mechanism and make cancer cells more vulnerable. They are particularly suitable for tumours with certain genetic alterations (changes in the genetic material of the cancer cell).
Certain viruses are modified so that they preferentially infect and destroy cancer cells, while healthy cells are left as unharmed as possible.
