Molecular biological research

Pancreatic cancer

• Cancer cells in blood before and during chemotherapy in patients with pancreatic cancer (PI: Bjørnar Gilje). Here, the clinical significance of detecting circulating cancer cells in blood before and during treatment of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer is investigated.
• Clinical significance of gene changes detected in circulating tumour cells and circulating nucleic acids from patients with pancreatic cancer (cristin.no) (PI: Bjørnar Gilje). Here, the clinical significance of detecting gene changes in circulating nucleic acids from the tumour, either in circulating tumour cells or cell-free, is investigated in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
• Clinical relevance of liquid biopsies in pancreatic cancer (postdoc Morten Lapin, supervisor Oddmund Nordgård).  The clinical relevance of circulating tumour DNA and vesicle-bound circulating tumour DNA in both operable and advanced pancreatic cancer is being investigated.

Breast cancer

• Molecular biological detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) in breast cancer (cristin.no) (PI: Oddmund Nordgård). Here, the prognostic significance of detecting micrometastases in bone marrow samples from women who undergo breast cancer surgery is investigated.
• Integrated Molecular Monitoring of Breast Cancer Patients (PI: Emiel Janssen, Local PIs: Kjersti Tjensvoll and Oddmund Nordgård). In collaboration with the research groups for breast cancer and pathology, we are searching for new biomarkers for long-term follow-up of operable breast cancer patients by examining blood samples collected in the unique biobank PBCB (Prospective Breast Cancer Biobank). Our focus is the detection of circulating tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA.
• PErsonalized TREatment of high-risk MAmmary Cancer - the PETREMAC trial (PI: Hans Petter Eikesdal, local PI: Bjørnar Gilje). In this multi-centre study, personalised neoadjuvant therapy is administered to patients with breast cancer in parallel with biomarker testing. Our research group will investigate blood samples with a view to finding circulating tumor DNA as a biomarker for treatment response.

Colorectal cancer

• Micrometastases to sentinel lymph nodes in colorectal cancer (cristin.no) (PI: Oddmund Nordgård). Here, the clinical significance of detecting micrometastases in sentinel lymph nodes in colorectal cancer was investigated.
• New biomarkers for colorectal cancer (PI: Oddmund Nordgård). The prognostic significance of detecting circulating tumour cells in patients with colorectal cancer is being investigated. Collaboration with the gastrointestinal surgery research group on the ACROBATICC biobank.

• Interactions between platelets and haematopoietic stem cells (PI Tor Hervig. Local PI PhD candidate Daniel Cacic). Demonstrate relevant effects of platelets, through platelet reelate and growth factors, on the growth and differentiation of stem cells from umbilical cord blood.
• Interactions between platelets and myeloid leukemiblasts (PI Tor Hervig. Local PI PhD candidate Daniel Cacic). Detect relevant effects of platelets, through platelet lysate, on growth and micro-RNA in myeloid leukemia blasts from patients.
• Interactions between platelets and regulatory T cells (PI Tor Hervig. Local PI PhD candidate Daniel Cacic). Demonstrate relevant effects of platelets, through platelet lysate, on growth, rate of activation and immunosuppressive function of donor regulatory T-cells.
• The significance of platelet inhibition for high-dose multiple myeloma treatment (PI Tor Hervig. Local PI PhD candidate Daniel Cacic). Clarify the significance of the use of platelet inhibitors or SSRIs for time to progression after high-dose therapy with autologous stem cell support in multiple myeloma patients.

Members

• Daniel Cacic, PhD kandidat.
• Peter Meyer, co-supervisor
• Oddmund Nordgård, co-supervisor

Partners

Professor Tor Hervig, Haugesund Hospital / Haukeland University Hospital/University of Bergen.