We focus on infections in cancer patients

Infections are the major cause of treatment-related mortality in patients with malignant diseases. This is commonly believed to be due to a profound immunosuppression, which makes patients susceptible to opportunistic infections. Invasive fungal infections are a good example for such opportunistic infections, which almost never occur in healthy individuals and which are exceptionally difficult to diagnose. In addition, treatment of invasive fungal infection is often toxic and not very successful. For these reasons, invasive fungal infections in patients with hematological malignancies have a very high mortality rate. Besides opportunistic infections, cancer patients are at risk of common infections, which often take a more severe clinical course than in healthy individuals. This is believed to be the case with infections concerning respiratory viruses like influenza or adenovirus.

We aim at understanding the pathogenesis and clinical course of some of these infections with the goal to improve diagnostics and clinical treatment of these patients.

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Marie von Lilienfeld-Toal

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A group of people stand in a seminar room with flowers and certificates in their hands.

medac Research Award 2022: Successful Collaboration Four groundbreaking research projects at the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI) were awarded the medac… 12/12/2022 | Press release Read more

Microscope image of cells stained with fluorescent dyes.

How do fungal infections spread in the human lung? A chip-based infection model developed by Jena researchers enables live microscopic observation of damage to lung tissue caused by the invasive fungal… 04/13/2022 | Press release Read more

View through labeled glass door to the Conservative Day Clinic and Polyclinic. An information sign for patients on vaccination against COVID-19 hangs on the door.

COVID vaccination is also recommended for people with cancer Vaccination protects people with cancer well against COVID disease, even when it is caused by a virus variant. This is the conclusion of an internatio… 03/14/2022 | Press release Read more

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Ascone L, Rohenkohl AC, Hurlemann R, Meisenzahl E, Riedel-Heller SG, Becker T, Bajbouj M, von Lilienfeld-Toal M, Gallinat J, Lambert M (2023) [Assessment of direct (COVID-19-Related) and collateral, psychosocial pandemic consequences for vulnerable groups by the example of serious mental illness]. Psychiatr Prax 50(7), 381-388.

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Cesaro S, Mikulska M, Hirsch HH, Styczynski J, Meylan S, Cordonnier C, Navarro D, von Lilienfeld-Toal M, Mehra V, Marchesi F, Besson C, Masculano RC, Beutel G, Einsele H, Maertens J, de la Camara R, Ljungman P, Pagano L (2023) Update of recommendations for the management of COVID-19 in patients with haematological malignancies, haematopoietic cell transplantation and CAR T therapy, from the 2022 European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia (ECIL 9). Leukemia 37(9), 1933-1938.

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Giesen N, Busch E, Schalk E, Beutel G, Rüthrich MM, Hentrich M, Hertenstein B, Hirsch HH, Karthaus M, Khodamoradi Y, Koehler P, Krüger W, Koldehoff M, Krause R, Mellinghoff SC, Penack O, Sandherr M, Seggewiss-Bernhardt R, Spiekermann K, Sprute R, Stemler J, Weissinger F, Wörmann B, Wolf HH, Cornely OA, Rieger CT, von Lilienfeld-Toal M (2023) AGIHO guideline on evidence-based management of COVID-19 in cancer patients: 2022 update on vaccination, pharmacological prophylaxis and therapy in light of the omicron variants. Eur J Cancer 181, 102-118. (Review)

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