Publications
Read below the 20 most recent publications from iCAN.
- by Sara C DegerholmCONCLUSIONS: Mucosal melanoma is a highly aggressive malignancy with poor survival; thus, prompt diagnosis is essential.
- by Katariina LuukkainenThe cellular composition of the chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) bone marrow (BM) beyond granulocyte enrichment remains poorly understood. We analyzed 1548 routinely stained BM aspirate slides from 598 patients across seven sites using deep learning-based image analysis to identify cytomorphological markers predictive of major molecular response. Erythroid precursor enrichment, monocyte nuclear lobulation, and low peripheral […]
- by Maria VitaleFamilial hypercholesterolemia is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the LDL receptor, leading to impaired uptake of low-density lipoprotein and its accumulation in arterial walls and other tissues. This accumulation results in cardiovascular disease and early mortality. Treatments, including statins, ezetimibe, and PCSK9 inhibitors, and bempedoic acid, are often insufficient in homozygous FH patients, […]
- by Päivi NummiL1s are repetitive sequences capable of copying themselves into new genomic loci. While L1s are typically repressed by DNA methylation in somatic tissues, they can become reactivated in cancer. Although L1 sequences are highly repetitive, ~25% of insertions carry a unique downstream sequence, transduction, that can be used to trace the source L1. Here, we […]
- by Francesco PignattiExternal comparator cohort (ECC) studies with real-world data (RWD) may provide more reliable estimates of treatment differences compared to single-arm trials (SAT), yet they face limitations such as selection bias and data heterogeneity. This study assessed the perceived strength of evidence of ECC studies compared to SAT and randomized controlled studies (RCT). The study included […]
- by Elina Mari Susanna SalasuoNo abstract
- by Theerin LanamtiengOver the past two decades, targeted therapies have been adopted in the treatment of myeloid neoplasms. However, their impact on overall survival (OS) and healthcare spending remains uncertain. We performed a comprehensive retrospective observational study on patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML, n = 684), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS, n = 899) and myelofibrosis (MF, n […]
- by Vincent CuminettiDespite intriguing roles for the Succinate receptor (Sucnr1) in inflammation, few studies have explored its role in hematopoiesis. Here, we show that low SUCNR1 represents a marker for reduced overall and progression-free survival in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Succinic acid, which displays Sucnr1-dependent and independent effects, promotes disease in mouse models of pre-leukemic myelopoiesis, […]
- by Irene López-SánchezBACKGROUND: Real-world evidence provides valuable insights into cancer burden, presentation, and care variations. Through a large-scale federated approach, this study aims to explore patient characteristics and overall survival for eight cancers using data from 11 electronic health records and cancer registries from eight European countries, mapped to the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model […]
- by Teijo PellinenBackground: In contrast to most solid tumors, high immune cell infiltration in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is associated with poor patient prognosis. The biological mechanisms underlying this paradox remain unclear, particularly regarding tumor cell-microenvironment interactions promoting local invasion and recurrence. This study aimed to identify spatially resolved tumor, immune, and stromal features that […]
- by Firas HamdanColorectal cancer (CRC) remains refractory to most immunotherapies, with cancer vaccines failing due to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Here, we show that β-glucan-induced trained immunity overcomes these barriers by reprogramming macrophages through H3K4me3-dependent epigenetic modifications and metabolic rewiring. In female mice vaccinated with peptide-coated adenovirus-based vaccine PeptiCrad, training enhances glycolysis with creatine metabolism sustaining CXCL9/10 […]
- by Uladzislau VadadokhauPublic proteomics repositories now host vast amounts of mass spectrometry data, yet much of it remains difficult to reuse, risking "data tombs" that are open access but not practically re-analyzable. In spring 2025, a graduate-level course at the University of Helsinki tasked six student teams with reanalyzing six projects from the Proteomics Identification Database (label-free […]
- by Sini IlvesCONCLUSION: This study revealed uterine leiomyoma subtypes to have distinct chromosomal aberration landscapes. Our large sample collection, detailed subclassification, and extensive expression data integration enabled the identification of rare aberrations and subtype-specificity not previously feasible. Further research is implicated in studying the recurrently aberrant regions to identify the specific targets. This study shows, once again, […]
- by Ida VänttinenThe B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) inhibitor venetoclax (VEN) in combination with hypomethylating agents (HMAs) has improved treatment outcomes for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients unfit for intensive chemotherapy and is increasingly used in the relapsed/refractory setting. However, primary resistance remains a significant challenge, affecting 20%-35% of treatment-naïve and around 50% of previously treated AML patients. […]
- by Samantha MartinCONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal differences between sporadic MSI and LS tumours in T cell and myeloid immune cell landscapes, and in immune evasion. These differences may contribute to the variable immunotherapy responses among MSI CRC patients and are targetable by emerging therapeutic approaches.
- by Erlend RavloEnteroviruses infect multiple human tissues and cause diseases including meningitis, the common cold, myocarditis, pancreatitis, hepatitis, poliomyelitis, sepsis, type 1 diabetes, hand, foot, and mouth disease. Despite this burden, no antiviral therapy has been approved to date. Progress has been limited by the structural and topical diversity of enteroviruses because many variants are intrinsically insensitive […]
- Ex vivo drug sensitivity profiling to complement molecular profiling in pediatric precision oncologyby Marlinde C SchoonbeekPediatric patients with high-risk extra-cranial solid tumors face a 5-year survival rate below 50%. As molecular profiling alone is insufficient to guide treatment at relapse, complementary strategies like drug screening are urgently needed. We evaluated short-term drug screening as a rapid, reliable method to assess drug sensitivities in pediatric solid tumors using ex vivo cultures […]
- by Erwan SallardThe adenoviral vector-based AstraZeneca and Janssen COVID-19 vaccines have been associated with rare cases of thrombosis, believed to be triggered, among other factors, by vector binding to the blood protein platelet factor 4 (PF4). To identify vectors with lower thrombosis risk, we screened 50 natural and hexon-modified adenoviruses (Ads). Unlike the applied COVID-19 vaccines and […]
- by Xin WangPrecision oncology involves the use of predictive biomarkers to personalize treatment. However, for most cancer therapeutics or combination regimens, effective biomarkers have been elusive. This challenge has fuelled efforts to interrogate increasingly diverse and complex clinical and molecular determinants of treatment response. Some molecular predictors have been identified (for example, based on analysis of transcriptomic […]
- by Tuija TapaninenCONCLUSION: The transition to targeted therapies has improved outcomes for high-risk CLL patients. Nevertheless, outcomes for high-risk CLL patients remain inferior to those reported in clinical trials, underscoring the need for real-world evidence and improved therapies.