Cancer Diagnostics and Cancer Classification

• Identified protein signatures defining the five main types of breast cancer.
• Established serum biomarker signatures that allow risk classification of tumor recurrence in breast cancer.
• Discovered new genomic breast cancer subtypes on whole-genome patterns of DNA aberrations.
• Identified specific DNA methylation patterns in different subtypes of breast cancer.
• Discovered a prognostic gene expression signature from sub-classification of HER2 expressing breast cancers.
• Developed microarray-based serum biomarker signatures that identify stage I/II pancreatic cancer, forming the basis for a commercially available diagnostic test.
• Designed a novel serum-based clinical test for ovarian cancer, which makes it possible to distinguish benign, malignant and 'borderline' cases.
• Discovered gene expression subtypes with correlation to prognosis in stage IV malignant melanoma.

Cancer treatment and therapeutic targets

• Discovered an association between the expression of the erythropoietin (EPO) receptor and Tamoxifen response in breast cancer, lymphoma, and ovarian cancer patients.
• Identified HIF-2a as a therapeutic target of tumor stem cells of neurally derived tumors.
• SOX11 as a potential tumor suppressor gene in mantle cell lymphoma and ovarian cancer, as well as an improved histological biomarker for classifying lymphomas.

Technologies

• Developed a novel proteomic technology platform entitled Global Proteome Survey (GPS), capable of transforming affinity proteomics to a global discovery engine. The GPS combines the best features of affinity proteomics with mass-spectrometry and is based on antibodies specific for short peptide motifs shared by many proteins – CIMS antibodies.
• Developed a high-throughput and sensitive protein affinity extraction platform, which directly interfaces with MALDI. This offers new means for rapid screening of biomarkers in complex biofluids – AFFIRM.
• Affinity Proteomics - Developed a robust, multiplexed antibody microarray platform where hundreds of serum protein can be screened. The general conclusions from analyzing several different complex disease indications, is that 10-20 serum proteins can be combined into a biomarker “signature” with the power to discriminate different complex disease indications.
• Developed methods to monitor the state of DNA repair pathways, which opens up for defining targets for therapeutic interventions.