Professor Fischer receives German Cancer Prize 2025
Cologne-based pediatric oncologist and cancer researcher Prof. Dr. Matthias Fischer, Head of Experimental Pediatric Oncology at the University Hospital of Cologne and Principle Investigator at the CMMC Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, has been awarded the German Cancer Prize 2025 in the "Experimental Research" category for his outstanding scientific achievements in neuroblastoma research. The prize, awarded by the German Cancer Society and the German Cancer Foundation, is one of the most prestigious awards in oncology. As a leading physician-scientist, Prof. Fischer has provided crucial insights into the molecular classification of neuroblastoma, a highly complex childhood tumor, opening up new avenues for diagnosis and treatment for affected children.
Neuroblastoma, one of the most common childhood tumors, arises from the peripheral nervous system, usually in the abdomen. What is unusual about this tumor is the broad spectrum of disease progression: in some patients the disease is highly aggressive, often with a fatal outcome, while in other patients the tumor regresses spontaneously without therapy, resulting in a permanent cure. Prof. Fischer's work has provided insight into the development of neuroblastoma and has shown that so-called telomere maintenance mechanisms are responsible for the development of the aggressive variant of this tumor. These mechanisms prevent the natural shortening of chromosome ends, allowing cancer cells to divide indefinitely and the tumor to grow aggressively. In contrast, neuroblastomas that lack such mechanisms spontaneously regress or mature into a benign tumor. With this knowledge, Prof. Fischer contributed to the current World Health Organization (WHO) classification of tumors. In addition, he has shown that telomere maintenance mechanisms also play an important role in other types of cancer, such as certain lung tumors. He has also unraveled the molecular mechanisms that lead to genomic duplication of cancer genes in neuroblastoma and other tumors. These genomic duplications can promote tumor growth.
With his molecular genetic work, Prof. Fischer hopes to improve the treatment of children with cancer: Thanks to his new insights into the classification of neuroblastoma, the intensity of therapy for neuroblastoma patients can now be more precisely controlled. Children whose tumors are expected to regress spontaneously often do not need chemotherapy, while children whose tumors have malignant molecular characteristics need intensive treatment to achieve a cure.
He is also committed to establishing innovative treatment concepts in pediatric oncology, such as the genomics-guided use of ALK inhibitors as a personalized treatment option or the regional networking of pediatric oncology centers to make new forms of treatment available to as many children as possible. Through this translational approach, his work has a direct impact on the care of young cancer patients and a lasting influence on modern, personalized medicine in the field of pediatric oncology.
Prof. Dr. Edgar Schömig, Medical Director and Chairman of the Board of the University Hospital of Cologne, said: "With his work, Prof. Fischer has shown in an outstanding way what research at a university hospital means in the best sense of the word. Above all, he has ensured that his groundbreaking research on neuroblastoma has been transferred as quickly as possible to the care of affected children. This is already improving the treatment of pediatric oncology patients and strengthening the focus on oncology at our university hospital.
The CMMC is very pleased about this outstanding recognition of Professor Fischer's research.
Scientific contact:
Professor Dr. Matthias Fischer
matthias.fischer[at]uk-koeln.de
This message has been modified by the CMMC (K. Heber & D. Grosskopf-Kroiher) and is based on the text provided by the press and communications team of the University Hospital Cologne (original German version here).