Events

September 28

FiCAN Seminar

Juha Klefström, FICAN Research Professor University of Helsinki Organized by FICAN South
Uncovering the full potential of patient-derived explant cultures – exploring human breast cancer biology, lethal MYC signaling, microenvironment and antitumor immunity at the bench.

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.

 

Pharmacological reactivation of MYC-dependent apoptosis induces susceptibility to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy

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)  

Start time: 28/09/2022 15:00
End time: 28/09/2022 16:00
Duration:
Location:
Type: Seminar
Organization: Finnish Cancer Center (FICAN)
Contact person: tuula.kallioinen@hus.fi
September 29

COMPREHENSIVE GENE PROFILING, MOLECULAR TUMOR BOARD (MTB) AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH RARE ADULT CANCERS

Organizer: FICAN WEST Cancer Centre and Turku University Hospital (TYKS) and ERN-EURACAN and GENTURIS

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.




Start time: 29/09/2022 09:00
End time: 30/09/2022 13:00
Duration: 27 hours
Location: Medisiina D, Conference room Lauren 2, Kiinamyllynkatu 10 D, Turku, Finland
Type: Seminar
Organization: Finnish Cancer Center (FICAN)
Contact person: tuula.kallioinen@hus.fi
September 30

Dissertation: Henrik Husu

Henrik Husu, University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Doctoral Program in Clinical Research
Severe acute pancreatitis : mortality, complications, and surgical treatment
Opponent: professor Jan De Waele, Ghent University


Start time: 30/09/2022 12:00
End time: 30/09/2022 14:00
Duration: 2 hours
Location: Biomedicum1, lecture hall 2, Haartmaninkatu 8, 00290 Helsinki
Type: Dissertation
Organization: UH, Faculty of Medicine
Contact person: henrik.husu@hus.fi
October 01

Dissertation: Laura Mustonen

​Laura Mustonen, University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Doctoral Programme Brain and Mind
What makes nerve injury painful? : Characterization of neuropathic pain after intercostobrachial nerve resection in women treated for breast cancer
Opponent: professor Nanna Finnerup, Aarhus University


Start time: 01/10/2022 10:00
End time: 01/10/2022 12:00
Duration: 2 hours
Location: Naistenklinikka, Seth Wichmann -sali, Haartmaninkatu 2
Type: Dissertation
Organization: UH, Faculty of Medicine
Contact person: laura.mustonen@helsinki.fi
October 03

Special Seminar Dr. Kathleen J Green

Linking Epidermal Morphogenesis and the Immune Barrier through Desmosomes
Dr. Green is the Joseph L. Mayberry Professor of Pathology at Northwestern University and Professor in the Department of Dermatology.  She serves as Associate Director for Basic Sciences in the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois. She received her Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology from Washington University in St. Louis and carried out Postdoctoral Training in the Department of Cell Biology at Northwestern University, where she joined the faculty in 1987.
Dr. Green's research focuses on how cadherins and their associated proteins direct tissue morphogenesis and differentiation. Her pioneering work on intercellular junctions called desmosomes contributed to the discovery of their involvement in diseases of the skin and heart. The lab is currently determining how keratinocyte cadherins that appeared late in evolution integrate mechanical and chemical signaling pathways to direct formation of complex tissues through both cell autonomous and paracrine signaling.  Dr. Green served as Secretary for the American Society for Cell Biology and is past President of the Society for Investigative Dermatology. An Honorary Member of the Society for Investigative Dermatology and European Society for Dermatological Research, Dr. Green was elected into the German National Academy of Sciences in 2016.

Relevant References:
a. Nekrasova, O., R.M. Harmon, J.A. Broussard, J.L. Koetsier, L.M. Godsel, G.N. Fitz, M. Gardel and K.J. Green.  (2018). Desmosomal cadherin association with Tctex-1 and cortactin-Arp2/3 drives perijunctional actin polymerization to promote keratinocyte delamination. Nat. Commun. 9 (1): 1053. Doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03414-6. PMC5849617.
b. Broussard, J.A., J.L. Koetsier, M. Hegazy and K.J. Green.  (2021). Desmosomes polarize and integrate chemical and mechanical signaling to govern epidermal tissue form and function.  Curr. Biol. 31: 3275-91. PMC8355090.
c. Godsel, L.M.*, Q.R. Roth-Carter*, J.L. Koetsier, L.C. Tsoi, J.A. Broussard, G.N. Fitz, S.M. Lloyd, J. Kweon, A.L. Huffine, H.E. Burks, M. Hegazy, S. Amagai, P.W. Harms, J.L. Johnson, G. Urciuli, L.T. Doglio, W.R. Swindell, R. Awatramani, E. Sprecher, X. Bao, E. Cohen-Barak, C. Missero, J.E. Gudjonsson and K.J. Green. (2022). Translational implications of Th17-skewed inflammation due to genetic deficiency of a cadherin stress sensor. J. Clin. Invest. 1132: e144363. PMC8803337.
d. Hegazy M, J.L. Koetsier, A.L. Huffine, J.A. Broussard, B.M. Godsel, L.M. Godsel*, K.J. Green*. Epidermal stratification requires retromer-mediated Desmoglein-1 recycling. (2021). BioRxiv. 2021.10.25.464989. 10.1101/2021.10.25.464989. *Co-corresponding authors.  
e. REVIEW:   Hegazy, M., A.L. Perl, S.A. Svoboda, K.J. Green (2022). Desmosomal cadherins in health and disease. Ann. Rev. Pathol. 17: 47-72. DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathol-042320-092912. PMC87992335.


Start time: 03/10/2022 12:00
End time: 03/10/2022 13:00
Duration:
Location: Biomedicum1, lecture hall 3, Haartmaninkatu 8, 00290 Helsinki
Type: Seminar
Organization: UH, Faculty of Medicine
Contact person: sara.wickstrom@helsinki.fi