Lecture on the 2018 Nobel Prize in Medicine

There is a complex interplay between the immune system and cancer. This lecture provides insights into this intricate relationship by explaining the research behind the 2018 Nobel Prize in Medicine.

 

Like every year, RWTHextern offers special lectures held by experts on the particular Nobel Prize topics. The 2018 Nobel Prize in Medicine will be explained by Professor Jens Panse, medical and managing director of the Center for Integrated Oncology at Uniklinik RWTH Aachen.

Unleashing Immune System Brakes Against Cancer

While previous types of cancer therapy were directed at the tumor cell, the approach taken by Nobel Prize Laureates James Allison und Tasuku Honjo was to remove brakes that keep the immune system in check, unleashing it against tumor cells.

By discovering that certain proteins were inhibiting immune cells from attacking cancer, they realized that it was possible to trigger the system into action by removing those proteins. This immune checkpoint therapy has been proven to be quite effective in battling skin and lung cancer.

The lecture is scheduled to take place Wednesday, Janary 23, 2019, at 7pm in Lecture Hall HKW 1, Wüllnerstraße 1, Aachen. Please note that the lecture will be given in German.

Anyone interested is invited to attend. Admission is free of charge, registration is not required.