Faculty of Medicine

Double lymph node cancer – doctors research genetic mutations

It is extremely rare for a patient to suffer from two types of lymph node cancer at the same time. Nevertheless, scientific researchers in the Faculty of Medicine are working together with colleagues in Frankfurt/Main to investigate genetic mutations in these unusual diseases. Their aim is to establish step by step how a normal blood cell mutates. The German Cancer Aid is supporting the three-year project with sponsorship in the region of 370,000 euros. Lymphomas are cancerous forms of lymphocytes – a subspecies of white blood cells. Normal lymphocytes play a crucial role within the immune system. There are over 30 different types of these, differing not only in terms of their appearance, cellular origin and genetic mutations, but also in terms of their clinical behaviour.