Faculty of Medicine

DKTK Essen: Dangerous Merkel cell carcinoma of the skin uncovered

Merkel cell carcinomas are amongst the most dangerous types of skin cancer. The immune system, however, often doesn’t pick them up as a threat. Scientists at the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) have now found a way to make these tumours visible to the immune system, making existing approaches to therapy significantly more effective. As part of the DKTK, the German Cancer Research Centre in Heidelberg and seven university partner sites have resolved to convert the results of their basic research into new approaches for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer in the long term. The University Hospitals Essen and Düsseldorf are the only DKTK partners in North Rhine-Westphalia. The DKTK was established by the BMBF in conjunction with the federal states of Germany.