Focus on Tumor Metabolism
Dr. Alexandra Nissen
March 17, 2026
How do cancer cells survive and spread throughout the body? Professor Dr. Alpaslan Tasdogan is researching this topic at the One Health Research Center of the Ruhr University Alliance. As an oncodermatologist and immunologist, Prof. Tasdogan has conducted research on tumor metabolism at the University Hospital Essen for many years. Since March 1, 2026, he has been a professor of “Tumor Metabolism in the Microenvironment” at the One Health Research Center.
Metastases are particularly dangerous in cancer; they are secondary growths that break away from the original tumor and affect other organs. More than 90 percent of all cancer deaths are linked to metastases spreading. Their spread is a complex process: cancer cells first penetrate blood or lymph vessels, travel throughout the body, and finally settle in new tissue, where they begin to grow again.
Prof. Tasdogan’s research focuses on the metabolism of tumor cells and their environment. During metastasis, cancer cells modify their metabolism, constantly adapting it to new conditions, such as traveling through the bloodstream or growing in other organs. At the Research Center One Health laboratory, Prof. Tasdogan and his team are investigating the flexibility of melanoma cells in carrying out these metabolic processes.
The goal of the research is to better understand vulnerabilities in tumor cell metabolism. Ultimately, this could lead to new targeted therapies that act on the altered metabolism of cancer cells, preventing or slowing the spread of tumors.
Source: https://www.uni-due.de/2026-03-17-tumor-stoffwechsel-alpaslan-tasdogan-ua-ruhr