April 2020

Welcome to our first newsletter!

Cancer Research KI is an umbrella organisation for all cancer research at the Karolinska Institutet, and comprises around 250 research groups spanning over 22 departments and three campuses.

The organisation was formed in 2019 as the Strategic Research Programme in Cancer, named StratCan, and the KICancer network joined forces. The Cancer Research KI programme is supported by the government through the strategic initiatives.

The overarching aim of the programme is to combine cancer research with clinical oncology by bringing together top level cancer scientists from different disciplines, with the overall goal to generate new scientific discoveries that can be rapidly translated into clinical practice for the benefit of patients and society.

To reach our goals we work by offering grants in areas such as international collaboration, new and innovative projects and translational research projects, to name a few. We also support cancer research at KI by aiding in the recruitment of high-profile scientists to bring expertise to KI where a need has been identified.

Another goal is to bring cancer researchers at KI together not only with project financing but by arranging meetings, seminars and retreats aiming for collaboration and knowledge transfer.

Please visit our web page to learn more about the organisation, our up-coming calls and programme for 2020.

Cancer Researcher Portrait

by Cancer Research KI

"I want to understand how a cell behaves like a micro-computer"

We sat down for a virtual chat with Igor Adameyko to discuss his latest research and life questions, how to be happy in science, and to understand more about the person behind the successful ERC Synergy Grant project: ‘Kill-or-Differentiate’.

Igor Adameyko

Associate Professor

Department of Physiology and Pharmacology

Igor Adameyko’s background is in developmental biology. Having extensive embryology-based experience, it is only natural that the lab continues on this path today by exploring the origin of norm and pathology, congenital diseases and paediatric cancers arising in the early or late embryo. “We believe that our knowledge of embryonic development is extremely helpful, as it is exactly the time when cells (i.e., different cell types) experience a diversity of phenotypic states and transitions between such states. During development, cells change enormously, and the genetic programmes that are utilised by these altering cell states are later exploited by the cancer cells as well..."

Read the full interview with Igor Adameyko on our home page.

Read about Adameyko's research group here.

In KI-news

Introducing physical activity

in cancer care

After witnessing the positive effects that exercise has had on the wellbeing of breast cancer patients, Yvonne Wengström is certain where she stands: It’s time to introduce physical activity in cancer care across the board.

Read more here.

Preventing cancer in all corners

of the world

Finland, Norway, France, Kuwait, China, Taiwan – Elisabete Weiderpass was just there. Her energy takes her around the world and back. Her driving force? To reduce the suffering caused by cancer in the world.

Read more here.

Recent Research Publications

CYP2D6 Genotype Predicts Tamoxifen Discontinuation and Prognosis in Patients With Breast Cancer. J Clin Oncol. (2020); 38(6):548-557

Artificial intelligence for diagnosis and grading of prostate cancer in biopsies: a population-based, diagnostic study. The Lancet. Oncology (2020); 21(2):222-232

Colorectal cancer in ulcerative colitis: a Scandinavian population-based cohort study. Lancet. (2020); 395(10218):123-131

Predicting Prostate Cancer Death with Different Pretreatment Risk Stratification Tools: A Head-to-head Comparison in a Nationwide Cohort Study. Eur Urol. (2020); 77(2):180-188

Adaptive RSK-EphA2-GPRC5A signaling switch triggers chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer. EMBO Mol Med (2020):e11177

Tumour heterogeneity and the evolutionary trade-offs of cancer. Nature Reviews Cancer. 2020 Apr;20(4):247-257

Irreversible TrxR1 inhibitors block STAT3 activity and induce cancer cell death. Sci Adv. 2020; 6(12):eaax7945

AXL and CAV- play a role for MTH1 inhibitor TH1579 sensitivity in cutaneous malignant melanoma. (2020) Cell Death Diff.

Ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors suppress SAMHD1 ara-CTPase activity enhancing cytarabine efficacy. EMBO Mol Med (2020); e10419

Pembrolizumab for early triple-negative breast cancer. N Engl J Med (2020); 382(9):810-821

CD73 immune checkpoint defines regulatory NK cells within the tumor microenvironment. J Clin Invest (2020); 130(3):1185–1198

MAIT Cells in Health and Disease. In: Kaipe H., Magalhaes I. (eds) MAIT Cells. Methods in Molecular Biology (2020); vol 2098. Humana, New York, NY

Comparison of a Deep Learning Risk Score and Standard Mammographic Density Score for Breast Cancer Risk Prediction. Radiology. (2020); 294(2):265-272

PCSK6 Is a Key Protease in the Control of Smooth Muscle Cell Function in Vascular Remodeling. Circ Res. 2020; 126(5):571-585

Any cancer-related publications from a KI-based researcher (first author and/or corresponding author must be from KI) that you wish to be advertised through our newsletter please send in the format shown above to our email: cancerresearchki@ki.se

Grant Announcements

Cancer Research KI will in the upcoming week launch two opportunities to apply for research funding in the area of cancer research.

The first call (Blue Sky Grant) is a “high risk – high reward” type of funding, while the second call (Translational Seed Funding) is a program for novel collaborations between basic and clinical scientists in the area of translational cancer research. The deadline for both calls will be on May 31st 2020. Please watch our website for more information in the near future.

Open Positions

Please send us your open positions for Master projects, PhD candidates and postdocs so that we can advertise them to our Cancer Research KI community.

Click here to subscribe

Click here to unsubscribe