Modelling and Targeting Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the biggest challenges for oncologists and scientists: It belongs to those forms of cancer that are very aggressive and difficult to treat. Every year around 450,000 people around the world receive the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Survival in this cancer is still the lowest among all cancers: The overall 5-year survival rate is less than 8%. This has remained almost unchanged over the last 30 years, despite tremendous efforts in preclinical and clinical science. Pancreatic cancer is predicted to become the second leading cause of cancer death in the next decade.

Our collaborative research center is studying biological characteristics of this cancer. We believe that only a profound mechanistic understanding of pancreatic cancer and its extreme and unique characteristics will lead to a sustained improvement of the prognosis for affected patients. Based on this clinical orientation we are determined to improve the therapy options for this specific form of cancer.