Pharmacogenetic analyses provide great potential for the development of individualized cancer treatment. By identification of predictive markers for specific drugs or chemotherapy regimens we will be able to choose the optimal treatment option with highest efficacy and lowest side effects. These strategies gain more interest since the number of available chemotherapies and targeted drugs as well as the costs for the treatment are constantly rising.

Our group focuses on genetic analyses, so called genetic polymorphisms that are associated with functional impact of the encoded protein. The group aims to discover true associations between functional genetic polymorphisms and mutations (e.g. in target genes) and clinical endpoints of tumor therapy like response to treatment, survival and side effects of chemotherapy.

Polymorphic regions within a gene determine their impact on functionality of the encoded protein also based on the localisation. Processes of transcription, translation or protein-protein interaction could be influenced by these genetic variations leading to differences in functional protein quality and/or quantity.

Our group focuses on pharmacogenetic analyses in gastrointestinal cancers (stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, head and neck cancers) and lung cancer. Furthermore, we aim to identify new functional polymorphic regions in genes of potential new drug targets and proteins that are key players in drug metabolism.