Events
FiCAN Seminar
Abstract: Our research focuses on therapeutic strategies aiming to exploit oncogene-induced vulnerabilities and we have had a long-term interest especially in the apoptotic function of MYC protein. Our group recently discovered a clinically applicable combination regimen, which shows a strong apoptotic activity selectively in MYC-high breast tumors in all preclinical models tested so far.
My talk will cover our advances in translating the biological understanding of MYC biology into new type of therapeutic modalities to battle the breast cancer.
A key asset in our research involves patient-derived explant culture models (PDEC) of breast cancer. We have pioneered the development of PDEC models and we have recently generated a whole family of PDEC models to explore for instance the biology of hormone receptor positive breast cancers, metastatic breast cancer microenvironment and drug resistance and possible ways to overcome. Furthermore, we have established a platform for PDECs with natural tumor infiltrating leukocytes to explore the immuno-oncology targeted drug responses. My talk will cover the latest developments in our work with PDEC models of breast cancer with specific focus on MYC-dependent signaling as a major cause of targetable vulnerabilities in breast cancer.
References:
Combinatorial immunotherapies overcome MYC-driven immune evasion in triple negative breast cancer
Lee JV, Housley F, Yau C, Nakagawa R, Winkler J, Anttila JM, Munne PM, Savelius M, Houlahan KE, Van de Mark D, Hemmati G, Hernandez GA, Zhang Y, Samson S, Baas C, Esserman LJ, van ‘t Veer LJ, Rugo HS, Curtis C, Klefström J, Matloubian M, Goga A.Nat Commun. 2022 Jun 27;13(1):3671. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-31238-y.PMID: 35760778
Compressive stress-mediated p38 activation required for ERα + phenotype in breast cancer.
Munne PM, Martikainen L, Räty I, Bertula K, Nonappa, Ruuska J, Ala-Hongisto H, Peura A, Hollmann B, Euro L, Yavuz K, Patrikainen L, Salmela M, Pokki J, Kivento M, Väänänen J, Suomi T, Nevalaita L, Mutka M, Kovanen P, Leidenius M, Meretoja T, Hukkinen K, Monni O, Pouwels J, Sahu B, Mattson J, Joensuu H, Heikkilä P, Elo LL, Metcalfe C, Junttila MR, Ikkala O, Klefström J.Nat Commun. 2021 Nov 29;12(1):6967. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-27220-9.PMID: 34845227 Free PMC article.
Sortilin-related receptor is a druggable therapeutic target in breast cancer
Al-Akhrass H, Pietilä M, Lilja J, Vesilahti EM, Anttila JM, Haikala HM, Munne PM, Klefström J, Peuhu E, Ivaska J.Mol Oncol. 2022 Jan;16(1):116-129. doi: 10.1002/1878-0261.13106. Epub 2021 Oct 10.PMID: 34564954 Free article.
Haikala HM, Anttila JM, Marques E, Raatikainen T, Ilander M, Hakanen H, Ala-Hongisto H, Savelius M, Balboa D, Von Eyss B, Eskelinen V, Munne P, Nieminen AI, Otonkoski T, Schüler J, Laajala TD, Aittokallio T, Sihto H, Mattson J, Heikkilä P, Leidenius M, Joensuu H, Mustjoki S, Kovanen P, Eilers M, Leverson JD, Klefström J.Nat Commun. 2019 Feb 6;10(1):620. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-08541-2.PMID: 30728358 Free PMC article.
The seminar is organized by FICAN South (Eteläinen syöpäkeskus in Finnish)
COMPREHENSIVE GENE PROFILING, MOLECULAR TUMOR BOARD (MTB) AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH RARE ADULT CANCERS
This workshop is accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME). Medical professional participants will obtain CME credits by answering to the feedback questionnaire during the Workshop. In addition, the workshop has been approved for PhD doctoral studies and medical doctor specializing education (allergology and pulmonary diseases, clinical pharmacology and medicine, haematology, paediatrics, pathology, genetics, oncology, urology, otorhinolaryngology) at the University of Turku.