Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in humans and poses enormous challenges for those affected and healthcare systems worldwide. The Ministry of Science of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has now selected the "Target-H" research project for funding as part of the State Excellence Initiative. The project aims to reduce the burden of disease through innovative diagnostic procedures, advanced therapeutic approaches such as cold plasma, and a deeper understanding of molecular tumor patterns. Ultimately, all data will be incorporated into an AI-based clinical decision support system. Under the leadership of the University Medical Center Rostock, research into "Target-H" at five scientific institutions – including Leibniz University Hannover (LUH) – will receive a total of five million euros in funding starting in 2025 for four years. At the kick-off meeting of the project participants on Friday, April 25, the schedule and work priorities for the coming months were agreed upon.
"The project focuses on squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and melanoma (MM) – two particularly burdensome forms of skin cancer. Target-H relies on the pooling of regional innovation and interdisciplinary expertise. A central component is the development of next-generation, non-invasive diagnostic technologies based on photonic technologies and AI-supported imaging," says Prof. Dr. Steffen Emmert, spokesperson for Target-H and Director of the Department of Dermatology and Venereology at Rostock University Medical Center.
Teams led by Prof. Emmert and Prof. Dr. Bernhard Roth, Scientific Director of the Hanover Center for Optical Technologies (HOT) at LUH, are leading the project. This is complemented by hyperspectral imaging, developed by Prof. Dr. Christoph Hornberger from Wismar University of Applied Sciences. These technologies enable smart, precise, and above all, non-invasive diagnosis, paving the way for early and personalized treatment. "The combination of multimodal diagnostics and therapy monitoring in Target-H is unique and will lead to a deeper understanding of the disease progression and more effective treatment approaches. Patients, physicians, and the healthcare system in general will greatly benefit from this," explains Professor Roth.
Another focus is the development of a cold plasma technology optimized for skin cancer treatment. For this purpose, both approved and newly developed plasma treatment technologies are comprehensively investigated: from cell models (in vitro) to egg test procedures (in ovo) to clinical applications in patients. This work is conducted by Prof. Dr. Sander Bekeschus from the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Research and Technology in Greifswald/Head of the Plasma Medicine Section at the University Dermatology Clinic Rostock; Prof. Dr. Burkhard Hinz, Director of the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Prof. Brigitte Vollmar, Director of the Rudolf Zenker Institute for Experimental Surgery; and Prof. Steffen Emmert/Dr. Lars Böckmann in Rostock. They are particularly examining the influence of hypoxic conditions and oxidative stress on treatment efficacy.
To enable even more targeted treatment of skin cancer, further molecular analyses are investigated. Histological examinations, spatially resolved transcriptome analyses, and "omics" data are intended to help identify tumor spread factors and the effects of new therapeutic approaches. This work, led by PD Dr. Josefine Radke from the Institute of Pathology at the University Medical Center Greifswald and PD Dr. Hugo Murua Escobar from the Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Palliative Medicine in Rostock, is providing important insights for more precise cancer medicine. All data generated in the project will be incorporated into a clinical decision support system (CDSS) which is developed by Dr. Mario Aehnelt from the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research in Rostock. The AI-based system to be realized will enable more precise diagnosis and individualized treatment decisions.
Through synergies in non-invasive skin cancer diagnostics, new therapeutic approaches, and a better understanding of treatment-relevant molecular patterns, "Target-H" is rethinking (skin) cancer research. Through innovation and excellence, it supports the development of the Comprehensive Cancer Center M-V (CCC-MV) as a basis for state-of-the-art, personalized cancer medicine.
