Research projects

Molecular characterisation of breast cancer: biomarkers of risk, prognosis and treatment, Åke Borg, Medical Faculty.

"The long-term objective is to deepen our understanding of breast cancer etiology through advances in cell biology and molecular genetics, ultimately enabling the development of clinical tools for prognostication, treatment selection, and disease prevention. We systematically investigate how constitutional factors and tumor-specific genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic alterations interact to shape the molecular phenotype of early-stage breast cancer, leveraging the SCAN-B cohort—one of the largest and most harmonized population-based resources—and our extensive experience in breast cancer genetics. 

Developing companion diagnostic tools and identifying therapeutic targets for lymphomas, specifically focusing on improved understanding of the tumor immune microenvironment. Sara Ek, LTH.

Clinical implementation of targeted drugs including e.g. BTK inhibitors and CD19-targeting CAR T-cell therapy have drastically improved outcome for B-cell lymphoma patients. Our focus is translational studies connected to such clinical trials, where we aim to identify novel targets to improve treatment for high-risk patients with poor response also to such modern standard of care. A specific focus is on biology related to MYC and TP53, along with tumor immune microenvironment properties.

Epigenetic Biomarkers for psychological resilience in cancer. Carl Borrebaeck, LTH.

Psychological resilience refers to the ability to handle trauma in life, such as a cancer diagnosis. In a cohort of over 1000 cancer patients, we have identified epigenetic markers associated with high resilience and are now investigating its biology and the possibility to clinically affect resilience. This could have significant implications for cancer patients, since highly resilient patients experience a better quality of life, less mental health problems, and a better treatment outcome.

Decoding Radiation Resistance in Glioblastoma: From Mechanisms to Therapeutic Innovation. Alexander Pietras, Medical Faculty.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most aggressive human cancers, with virtually no long-term survivors despite intensive treatment that includes surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and tumor-treating fields. Although patients often show an initial response, all GBMs inevitably recur as incurable lesions. Our research focuses on understanding how radiotherapy re-educates the brain microenvironment and modulates immune responses to influence tumor recurrence. Recent advances have highlighted the central role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in determining therapeutic outcomes, and our lab has shown that standard-of-care radiotherapy can reshape the microenvironment to create tumor-supportive conditions in recurrent disease.

Exploiting knowledge on the anti-melanoma immune response to develop new therapies. Göran B. Jönsson, Medical Faculty.

A growing body of evidence, including our own research, highlights the critical role of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) in orchestrating anti-tumor immune responses. Using high-dimensional single cell genomic data to understand the evolution of TLSs we will identify new immunotherapeutic targets.

Targeting tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells for enhanced priming of tumor antigen-specific T cells in solid cancers. Malin Lindstedt, LTH.

Although immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors have transformed care for some cancer patients, overall response rates remain low. One reason is that these tumors have highly complex and variable immune microenvironments, making it difficult to predict who will benefit from treatment. This research program aims to decode that complexity by mapping the spatial organization and activity of myeloid cells—key players in shaping anti-tumor immunity—using advanced RNA and protein imaging technologies. By identifying immune patterns associated with treatment response, the project aims to uncover biomarkers that can guide more precise patient selection. In parallel, it will develop innovative multispecific antibodies designed to boost myeloid cell activity and improve T-cell priming, offering a potential new strategy to overcome immune resistance in these cancers.

Accelerating antibody-based therapies for improved cancer treatment. Thoas Fioretos, Faculty of Medicine.

This project aims to accelerate antibody-based cancer therapies by identifying and validating receptor-ligand interactions of critical importance for the growth and immune escape of leukemia stem cells. Through multimodal single-cell analysis of primary patient material and advanced bioinformatics, coupled with functional studies, we will define the mechanistic role of these surface interactions in leukemia stem cell self-renewal and immune evasion. By identifying such fundamental mechanisms, the findings may have important implications also for other cancer types, guiding the development of next-generation therapeutic antibodies for more effective and precise cancer treatment.

Translational immuno-oncology: targeting immunosuppressive and pro-metastatic tumor-associated macrophages phenotypes to hamper tumor progression. Charlotte Rolny, Faculty of Medicine 

Our work focuses on reprogramming the tumor microenvironment to hamper tumor progression. Using mouse models, molecular biology approaches, and human patient samples, we have identified regulatory pathways that influence mRNA translation and shape the Tumor-Associated Macrophages (TAMs) proteome. By targeting these pathways, we can reprogram TAMs to support the recruitment and activation of cytotoxic lymphocytes, ultimately reducing tumor growth and limiting metastasis. Our overarching goal is to work closely with clinicians to translate these findings into viable therapeutic strategies for patients with solid tumors.

Advancing Immuno-Oncological Therapy:  Exploring novel immune cell targets for improved efficacy.   Kristina Lundberg, LTH.

Antibodies that target immune cells have revolutionized cancer treatment by activating the body’s own defenses. Checkpoint inhibitors—antibodies that block PD-1/PD-L1 or CTLA-4—can unleash powerful T-cell attacks on tumors, and long term survival can be achieve. Yet, most patients do not respond, and only a handful of immune cell drug targets are currently used, leaving huge potential for new strategies. 

To move beyond the standard strategies, our research aims to elucidate new mechanism that regulate the immune cells in tumors and design therapies that can kick-start the immune system’s attack on the cancer cells. 

By using advanced technologies such as single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial omics, we have created a detailed map of the immune cells in bladder tumors. We found immunological “hot spots” where immune cells interact with each other and by identifying key interactions that shape the immune system’s ability to fight cancer, we can identify novel candidate drug targets. 

Decoding stromal networks: From basic biology to translational oncology. Kristian Pietras, Faculty of Medicine.

We subscribe to the view that a tumor should be considered a communicating organ in its own right, comprising multiple cell types that collectively evolve into a clinically manifested and lethal disease. Our overarching aim is to functionally define the cellular elements of a tumor through an innovative set of integrated basic, pre-clinical, translational and clinical studies. Here, the focus will be placed on identifying specialized niches constituted by microenvironmental cell types and investigate their organizational principles. By refinement of current state-of-the-art technologies, our studies enable inferences about molecular interactions between specialized cell types and cell states in confined cellular niches. With a unique map of microenvironmental niches as a backdrop, the project will confront previously unresolved questions in tumor biology by: 

• Defining the dynamic changes in the tumor architecture manifested in the composition of cellular microniches at different phases of tumorigenesis, from initiation to distant spread, and in the face of treatment.
• Identifying precision drug targets based on cellular microniches to prevent cancer dissemination and drug resistance.
• Discovering biomarkers from cellular microniches for improved diagnostication of cancer.