Chemotherapy and immunotherapy of myelodysplastic syndrome in University Hospital Erlangen

About the department

The Department of Hematology and Oncology at the University Hospital Erlangen provides diagnostics and comprehensive treatment of diseases of the hematopoietic system, as well as solid tumors of various organs. Hematologists most often deal with the treatment of acute and chronic leukemias, malignant lymphomas, myelodysplastic syndromes, plasmacytomas and other pathologies. Chemotherapy is usually first-line therapy. The department's specialists also successfully perform bone marrow transplantation. In the field of oncology, the department provides effective treatment of various tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, endocrine glands, female and male reproductive system, skin cancer, soft tissue and bone sarcomas, head and neck malignancies, etc. The patients suffering from cancer are offered classical (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy) and innovative (immunotherapy, CAR T-cell therapy) treatment methods. Surgical resection of solid tumors is performed by specialized surgeons. The treatment regimen is developed individually for each patient at the tumor board, which plays an important role in achieving a successful treatment result. The department is headed by Prof. Dr. med. Andreas Mackensen.

Along with inpatient beds, the department has a general outpatient clinic, a specialized outpatient clinic for the care of patients after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, an outpatient clinic for chemotherapy and infusion therapy, as well as diagnostic laboratories. The department's medical team adheres to an individual approach to treatment, and therefore each clinical case is discussed with surgeons, radiation therapists and other experts in related fields in order to choose the optimal treatment tactics. Cancer patients often suffer from depressive states, so doctors devote enough time to personal communication, talking about the upcoming treatment and expected results, and also involve experienced psychologists in their work, who help to overcome emotional distress and set their mind on a favorable treatment result.

Hematology is one of the priority focuses of the department's doctors. The specialists of the medical facility often admit patients with severe malignant diseases of the hematopoietic system: acute and chronic leukemias, lymphomas, myelomas, myeloproliferative and myelodysplastic diseases, plasmacytomas. After conducting a diagnostic examination, making an accurate diagnosis, and determining the stage of cancer, doctors prescribe the most effective course of treatment, which is usually based on chemotherapy. With appropriate indications, hematologists perform autologous or allogeneic bone marrow stem cell transplantation. The department is certified by the German Cancer Society for the treatment of blood cancers, so patients can count on high quality therapy based on the standards of modern university medicine.

In the field of oncology, doctors provide conservative treatment of all types of malignant solid tumors, including breast cancer, cancer of the male and female reproductive system, thyroid cancer, skin cancer, rare neuroendocrine tumors, head and neck tumors, brain cancer, sarcomas, gastrointestinal cancer, lung cancer and others. The first stage of treatment is a comprehensive examination, with the help of which the department's oncologists make a particular diagnosis, determine the stage of the oncological process, the presence or absence of metastases, and assess a general condition of the patient. After receiving comprehensive clinical data, oncologists and doctors of related medical fields gather for tumor boards, during which they develop an individual treatment plan for the patient. The mainstay of therapy for solid malignancies is usually surgical resection of the neoplasm, which is complemented by chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and other treatments. If a tumor is detected at its advanced stages, the patient receives palliative care aimed at eliminating pain, improving the quality of life and increasing its duration.

As a progressive medical facility, the department offers many innovative treatment methods, which are available only in leading hospitals in developed countries. One of such treatments is CAR T-cell therapy. This type of therapy has become a huge advance in the fight against blood cancer. CAR T-cell therapy involves injecting the patient's own T lymphocytes, which have undergone genetic modification and become capable of recognizing and purposefully destroying tumor cells. Depending on the patient's condition, therapy can take place both on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Prior to starting treatment, the patient's blood is taken. Blood is processed in laboratory conditions using high-tech equipment. The specialists isolate leukocytes, modify and multiply them, and then inject them to the patient. CAR T-cell therapy is most often used in the treatment of blood cancer when other methods are ineffective or the disease recurs.

The department specializes in the diagnostics and treatment of the following diseases:

• Hematology
  • Acute and chronic leukemia
  • Myeloproliferative diseases
  • Myelodysplastic syndromes
  • Malignant lymphomas
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Plasmacytoma
• Oncology
  • Gastrointestinal cancer
  • Cancer of the female reproductive system
  • Breast cancer
  • Cancer of the male reproductive system
  • Endocrine cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Ophthalmic cancer
  • Skin cancer
  • Head and neck malignancies 
  • Rare neuroendocrine tumors
  • Bone and soft tissue sarcomas 
  • Malignant tumors of unknown primary
• Other diseases

The department's main therapeutic options include:

• Chemotherapy
• Antibody therapy
• Hormone therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Blood transfusion and infusion therapy
• CAR T-cell therapy
• Autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation
• Other types of therapy