Birgitta Sander

Lymphomas can have an aggressive or a tranquil process and, although many lymphomas can be cured or kept under control by biological therapy or chemotherapy, there are cases that are difficult to treat. This project aims to increase knowledge of disease mechanisms in lymphoma in order to be able to predict at the time of diagnosis which patients have an aggressive or tranquil disease and to find new treatment strategies. We investigate gene mutations in lymphoma cells at diagnosis and in case of relapse to see if one can already predict at the diagnosis which patients are at risk of relapse. We also investigate specific receptors that are associated with tumor cell proliferation and tumor cell localization. Cannabinoid receptors appear to have such a role and this is now being investigated in a clinical study that has been designed and funded by the researchers included in the group. We also investigate the significance of transcription factor SOX11 for disease progression and response to treatment in mantle cell lymphoma. The project aims to provide better knowledge of disease mechanisms, which in the long term can provide the basis for an individualized treatment strategy.

Lymphoma is a heterogeneous group of diseases where some have a tranquil course and others are aggressive. In the project, two receptors are studied, cannabinoid receptor type 1 and type 2 and we want to map out the significance they have for the survival of lymphoma cells and whether they can be new therapy targets. We also investigate transcription factors that are normally activated during fetal development, in stem cells but also in some lymphomas. What significance do these have in lymphoma development? Furthermore, we use new methods to find mutations in lymphoma cells that can affect the effect of certain treatments. The project studies genes, proteins and signaling pathways that lymphoma cells use to survive, divide, spread in the body and become resistant to treatment. We use cell lines from lymphoma and cells that have been isolated from tumor biopsies or that patients have provided as research samples. The results are correlated to different tumor properties such as e.g. high cell division capacity and whether the disease has a tranquil or aggressive course. Thus, we study basic disease mechanisms in lymphoma and analyze how these are related to the clinical picture and response to treatment. Our research will contribute to increased knowledge of factors that influence therapy responses in lymphoma patients and perhaps even to new treatment methods.

Lymphoma is a heterogeneous group of diseases where some have a tranquil course and others are aggressive. In the project, two receptors are studied, cannabinoid receptor type 1 and type 2 and we want to map out the significance they have for the survival of lymphoma cells and whether they can be new therapy targets. We also investigate transcription factors that are normally activated during fetal development, in stem cells but also in some lymphomas. What significance do these have in lymphoma development? Furthermore, we use new methods to find mutations in lymphoma cells that can affect the effect of certain treatments. The project studies genes, proteins and signaling pathways that lymphoma cells use to survive, divide, spread in the body and become resistant to treatment. We use cell lines from lymphoma and cells that have been isolated from tumor biopsies or that patients have provided as research samples. The results are correlated to different tumor properties such as e.g. high cell division capacity and whether the disease has a tranquil or aggressive course. Thus, we study basic disease mechanisms in lymphoma and analyze how these are related to the clinical picture and response to treatment. Our research will contribute to increased knowledge of factors that influence therapy responses in lymphoma patients and perhaps even to new treatment methods.

Lymphoma is a heterogeneous group of diseases where some have a tranquil course and others are aggressive. In the project, two receptors are studied, cannabinoid receptor type 1 and type 2 and we want to map out the significance they have for the survival of lymphoma cells and whether they can be new therapy targets. We also investigate transcription factors that are normally activated during fetal development, in stem cells but also in some lymphomas. What significance do these have in lymphoma development? Furthermore, we use new methods to find mutations in lymphoma cells that can affect the effect of certain treatments. The project studies genes, proteins and signaling pathways that lymphoma cells use to survive, divide, spread in the body and become resistant to treatment. We use cell lines from lymphoma and cells that have been isolated from tumor biopsies or that patients have provided as research samples. The results are correlated to different tumor properties such as e.g. high cell division capacity and whether the disease has a tranquil or aggressive course. Thus, we study basic disease mechanisms in lymphoma and analyze how these are related to the clinical picture and response to treatment. Our research will contribute to increased knowledge of factors that influence therapy responses in lymphoma patients and perhaps even to new treatment methods.

Malignant lymphoma is a heterogeneous group of diseases with varying prognosis. There is a great need to increase knowledge of disease mechanisms and to identify new targets for therapy. There is also a need to find markers that provide the basis for individualized treatment. The project consists of the following parts: A unique cohort of patients where we have clinical data, post-examined tumor material and flow cytometry data and tissue collected in biobank. In this population-based cohort, markers of importance for clinical progress and therapy responses are identified. Samples taken at diagnosis and relapse are used to identify, with modern methods, factors of the tumor that involve a risk of recurrence of the disease and can predict the course of events. In experimental studies, the importance of cannabinoid receptors on the tumor cells, certain transcription factors and whether the tumor cells are stimulated by factors in the microenvironment. This project leads to improved knowledge of disease mechanisms in lymphoma, which in turn provides better evidence for predicting the course of the disease and taking a stand for individualized therapy. Can we find markers that can predict which patients have a more tranquilized course of disease avoids over-treatment of these patients.