Rolf Lewensohn has a scientific background in DNA repair apoptotic signalling in cancer as related to cancer therapy. His research focuses on the sensitivity of human tumours to radiation, as well as conventional and experimental chemotherapeutic drugs, with regard to the role of growth factor-, DNA-repair-, and apoptotic- signalling.

He and his group aim to develop new oncological treatments in the form of novel drug candidates and precision radiotherapy, with a personalized cancer medicine approach. The general interest of the research group is the development of novel treatments (both drugs and radiotherapy), mainly focused on lung cancer and furthermore breast, renal, and cervical cancer, multiple myeloma, and acute myeloid leukemia. From all types of malignancies, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Each year approximately 1.4 million people die worldwide because of lung cancer. Possibilities to increase survival of lung cancer patients are rapidly emerging. Early stages of lung cancer in the form of a localized intra-thoracic tumor or a tumor with a limited number of metastases may now be attacked with curative intent. However, lung cancer is often detected only at a late stage. Moreover, after an initial response to treatment, therapy-resistant clones inevitably start growing resulting in rapid disease progression. New knowledge of mutations specifically related to a certain type of cancer, identification of biomarkers to predict therapy response, and understanding of the molecular mechanisms of action of novel drugs opens up for personalization of treatment.