Michael Platten | Falling Walls Science Breakthrough of the Year 2024: Life Sciences
Hope for Brain Tumour Patients Through New Vaccines
Michael Platten’s research has a clear goal: advancing the treatment of one of the deadliest forms of brain tumours, known as gliomas. His work has demonstrated that the immune system of affected individuals can be mobilized using innovative vaccines against this form of cancer. The body’s immune defence is then able to precisely target altered proteins that drive tumour growth. For his groundbreaking discoveries, Michael Platten will be honoured with the "Science Breakthrough of the Year 2024" award by the Falling Walls Foundation on 9 November 2024 in Berlin.
Platten is a professor of neurology at the University Medical Center Mannheim and head of the Department of Brain Tumour Immunology at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg. His connection to clinical practice is a key factor in his scientific success: “My inspiration comes from the patients who fight this devastating disease every day,” says Platten. For him, it is crucial that scientists develop solutions that bring real, tangible improvements to people's lives, the cancer researcher adds.
Breaking the Wall of Brain Tumour Vaccines
Clinical trials have already confirmed that his idea of activating the immune system against tumour cells using vaccines works. The vaccines have proven to be both safe and effective. The moment when his vaccine successfully triggered a targeted immune response in a patient’s brain tumour was a memorable breakthrough, Platten recalls.
Tumour Therapy with Unmatched Precision
What makes Platten's findings remarkable is the precision with which the immune system can attack cancer cells after being activated by these innovative vaccines. It detects tiny differences between normal proteins and those whose genetic code carries cancer-causing mutations. His team discovered that the so-called IDH1 mutation plays a key role in many gliomas. This mutation is found in nearly 70% of low-grade, or slow-growing, gliomas.
The immunotherapy developed by Platten specifically targets the IDH1 mutation to generate a broad and effective immune response that captures all tumour cells — even if they differ genetically from one another. This allows cancer cells to be targeted with high specificity.
Applications Beyond Brain Tumours
Using advanced bioinformatics and molecular biology tools, his team has developed targeted cellular immunotherapies that could potentially be used not only against brain tumours but also other cancers. The idea is that the identified mutations are present in all tumour cells of a patient, which is crucial for the vaccines' effectiveness.
Platten also aims to inspire the next generation of scientists with his research. His advice to young researchers is: “Be bold, ask questions, work in teams, and share your knowledge. And if necessary, don’t hesitate to venture into entirely new research fields.”
Click here for more information about Michael Platten's event at Falling Walls Science Summit 2024.
