In C06, H. Walczak aims to understand and therapeutically harness the tumor-supportive and immuno-suppressive functions of TRAIL and CD95L in SCLC. To this end, C06 will test the therapeutic potential of inhibiting TRAIL and/or CD95L in SCLC, both alone and in combination with other therapeutic approaches, and aim to understand the tumor and immuno-biology underlying of TRAIL and CD95L. Because of the known immuno-suppressive functions of TRAIL and CD95L, this will particularly include the combination with immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI). Finally, C06 aims to understand the mechanisms of action of TRAIL- and CD95L-mediated promotion of SCLC growth, metastasis and immune evasion.
Professor of Biochemistry (W3)
University of Cologne
Director of Institute of Biochemistry I