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Clinical Brain Tumor Research

Research group
Active research
Project owner
Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology

Short description

Clinical Brain Tumor Research focuses on optimizing the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with various types of brain tumors. We perform interventional, observational and epidemiological studies, and are involved in translational studies in close collaboration with researchers in basic sciences.

Summary of research

We are an interdisciplinary group that studies areas related to clinical brain tumor research with a broad focus, both in terms of area and methodology. We conduct research in all stages of patient care, from diagnostics and treatment to quality of life, mostly for different types of gliomas, but also meningioma and other tumors involving the central nervous system.

The goals of the research group are to improve the quality of life and survival for patients with brain tumors, stimulate evidence-based research and teaching in the brain tumor area, create a stimulating scientific environment in neuro-oncology and encourage interdisciplinary collaborations with researchers in basic sciences.

In addition to a close collaboration between and within GU and VGR, we collaborate with Chalmers in projects involving machine learning, as well as several other research groups, both in Sweden and abroad.

Ongoing research projects in selection:

  • Supramarginal surgery in glioblastoma (https://www.supramarginaltrial.com)
  • Long-term follow-up of patients with brain tumors
  • Low-grade gliomas and consequences for daily life
  • Imaging analyses for diagnosis/classification, prognostication, and evaluation of treatment in patients with brain tumors
  • Liquid biopsies for tumors within the central nervous system
  • Evaluation of novel surgical techniques (in treating brain tumors)
  • Biomarker and diagnostic studies in patients with brain tumors, focusing in methylation-based techniques, immunohistochemistry and proteomics​​​

Conferences our team will present at during autumn 2024

  • National brain tumor day, Uppsala, September 2024
  • EANO (European Association of Neuro-Oncology) Annual Meeting, Glasgow, October 2024

Group members

Principal Investigators:

Bertil Rydenhag
Asgeir Jakola
Anja Smits

Researchers:

Malin Blomstrand
Thomas Olsson Bontell
Louise Carstam
Alba Corell
Anneli Ozanne
Erik Thurin

Research assistants and nurses:

Annie Andersson
Lovisa Aronsson
Anna Dénes

Doctoral students:

Hanna Barchéus
Tomás Gómez Vecchio
Paula Klurfan
Alice Neimantaite
Isabelle Rydén
Pernilla Ståhl
Katja Werlenius

Preparatory studies:

Mohammad Al Masri
Dima Harba
Anna Lipatnikova
Okizeva Rapi

Main Collaborators in Gothenburg Area

Helena Carén
Ida Häggström

Selected publications

The T1/T2 Ratio is Associated With Resectability in Patients With Isocitrate Dehydrogenase-Mutant Astrocytomas Central Nervous System World Health Organization Grades 2 and 3.
Weller J, de Dios E, Katzendobler S, Corell A, Dénes A, Schmutzer-Sondergeld M, Javanmardi N, Thon N, Tonn JC, Jakola AS. Neurosurgery. 2024 Jun 26. doi: 10.1227/neu.0000000000003069. Online ahead of print. PMID: 38920377

Global health status and fatigue score in isocitrate dehydrogenase-mutant diffuse glioma grades 2 and 3: A longitudinal population-based study from surgery to 12-month follow-up.
Gómez Vecchio T, Rydén I, Ozanne A, Blomstrand M, Carstam L, Smits A, Jakola AS. Neurooncol Pract. 2024 Mar 1;11(3):347-357. doi: 10.1093/nop/npae017. PMID: 38737607

Tailoring vascular phenotype through AAV therapy promotes anti-tumor immunity in glioma. 
Ramachandran M, Vaccaro A, van de Walle T, Georganaki M, Lugano R, Vemuri K, Kourougkiaouri D, Vazaios K, Hedlund M, Tsaridou G, Uhrbom L, Pietilä I, Martikainen M, van Hooren L, Olsson Bontell T, Jakola AS, Yu D, Westermark B, Essand M, Dimberg A.Cancer Cell. 2023 Jun 12;41(6):1134-1151.e10. doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.04.010. Epub 2023 May 11.PMID: 37172581 

Effect of Disulfiram and Copper Plus Chemotherapy vs Chemotherapy Alone on Survival in Patients With Recurrent Glioblastoma: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Werlenius K, Kinhult S, Solheim TS, Magelssen H, Löfgren D, Mudaisi M, Hylin S, Bartek J Jr, Strandéus M, Lindskog M, Bahroz Rashid H, Carstam L, Gulati S, Solheim O, Bartek J, Salvesen Ø, Jakola AS. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(3):e234149. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.4149

Longitudinal DNA methylation analysis of adult-type IDH-mutant gliomas.
Ferreyra Vega S, Olsson Bontell T, Kling T, Jakola AS, Carén H. Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2023;11(1). doi:10.1186/s40478-023-01520-1

Long-term follow up of patients with WHO grade 2 oligodendroglioma.
Carstam L, Latini F, Solheim O, Bartek J Jr, Pedersen LK, Zetterling M, Beniaminov S, Sjåvik K, Ryttlefors M, Jensdottir M, Rydenhag B, Smits A, Jakola AS. J Neurooncol. 2023 Aug;164(1):65-74. doi: 10.1007/s11060-023-04368-6. PMID: 37603235

Reviews and guidelines

Translating the theranostic concept to neuro-oncology: disrupting barriers.
Albert NL, Le Rhun E, Minniti G, Mair MJ, Galldiks N, Tolboom N, Jakola AS, Niyazi M, Smits M, Verger A, Cicone F, Weller M, Preusser M; European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Brain Tumor Group.Lancet Oncol. 2024 Sep;25(9):e441-e451. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(24)00145-1.PMID: 39214115 Review.

The oncological role of resection in newly diagnosed diffuse adult-type glioma defined by the WHO 2021 classification: a Review by the RANO resect group.
Karschnia P, Gerritsen JKW, Teske N, Cahill DP, Jakola AS, van den Bent M, Weller M, Schnell O, Vik-Mo EO, Thon N, Vincent AJPE, Kim MM, Reifenberger G, Chang SM, Hervey-Jumper SL, Berger MS, Tonn JC. Lancet Oncol. 2024 Sep;25(9):e404-e419. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(24)00130-X.

EANO guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of diffuse gliomas of adulthood.   
Weller M, van den Bent M, Preusser M, Le Rhun E, Tonn JC, Minniti G, Bendszus M, Balana C, Chinot O, Dirven L, French P, Hegi ME, Jakola AS, Platten M, Roth P, Rudà R, Short S, Smits M, Taphoorn MJB, von Deimling A, Westphal M, Soffietti R, Reifenberger G, Wick W.   
Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2021 Mar;18(3):170-186. doi: 10.1038/s41571-020-00447-z. Epub 2020 Dec 8.PMID: 33293629