Publications
Read below the 20 most recent publications from iCAN.
- by Romana T PopThe emergence of high-throughput omics technologies has resulted in their wide application to cancer studies, greatly increasing our understanding of the disruptions occurring at different molecular levels. To fully harness these data, integrative approaches have emerged as essential tools, enabling the combination of multiple omics modalities to uncover disease mechanisms. However, many such approaches overlook […]
- by Narjes YazdiPolyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs) contribute to resistance against various cancer therapies. This study investigates whether HER2-directed antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) induce PGCCs and their role in drug resistance. HER2-positive breast cancer (JIMT-1) and gastric cancer (MKN7, SNU-216) cells were treated with HER2-directed ADCs, trastuzumab emtansine, trastuzumab deruxtecan, XMT-1522, and disitamab vedotin (DV). The induced persister […]
- by Divyesh PatelDerepression of transposable elements (TE) by epigenetic therapy leads to the activation of immune response in cancer cells. However, the molecular mechanism of TE regulation by distinct chromatin modifier enzymes (CME) in context of p53 is still elusive. Here, we used FDA-approved epigenetic drugs to systematically inhibit distinct CMEs in p53 wild-type and p53-mutant colorectal, […]
- by Ladislav HovanGene regulatory networks modelled from experimental data can be improved through the use of prior biological knowledge on e.g. transcription factor binding. There are several tools that utilise this information. However, the prior networks used with them are often not updated and may fail to reflect the most up-to-date information. Here we present SPONGE, a […]
- by Bolivar Arcos-EncarnaciónAlzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by β-amyloid (βA) accumulation, neuroinflammation, excessive synaptic pruning, and cognitive decline. Despite extensive research, effective treatments remain elusive. Here, we identify potassium channel-interacting protein 3 (KChIP3) as a key driver of AD pathology using the 5XFAD mouse model. KChIP3 levels were significantly elevated in the hippocampus […]
- by Bassel AlsaedThe two most common and mutually exclusive driver mutations in non-small cell lung cancer affect EGFR and KRAS oncogenes. While EGFR mutations typically arise in non-smokers and are correlated with non-inflamed tumor microenvironment, KRAS mutations are associated with tobacco smoking, high mutational burden, and immunologically more active tumors. Consequently, current cancer immunotherapies have failed in […]
- by Qianwen LiTo address tamoxifen (TAM) resistance in estrogen receptor α (ERα)-positive breast cancer and enhance the bio availability of baicalin (BA), this research developed pH/folate dual-responsive bovine serum albumin (BSA)-based nanoparticles (NPs) to improve TAM sensitivity. Four BA-loaded BSA NPs were engineered: non-targeted (BA@BSA NPs), folate-targeted (BA@FA BSA NPs), pH-sensitive (BA@mPEGA BSA NPs), and dual-responsive (BA@mPEGA […]
- by Santeri A PakolaPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a cancer with dismal prognosis due to resistance to most current therapies. Although immunotherapy has improved the treatment of many solid cancers, pancreatic cancer remains resistant to immunotherapy due to immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, limited lymphocyte infiltration and lack of neoantigens. Oncolytic adenoviruses are a possible solution to treatment resistance in […]
- by Fengjie LiuCONCLUSION: This study established a novel preparation method for albumin nanoparticles, providing a new methodology for the construction of nano-drug delivery systems based on albumin materials. The developed BA@mPEG-FA-BSA NPs, with their relatively small particle size, demonstrated enhanced cellular uptake and anti-breast cancer activity of BA, highlight the potential for further optimization and clinical translation.
- by Suvi-Katri LeivonenCancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a heterogeneous population of stromal cells, which modulate the immune system and can have both pro- and anti-tumorigenic effects. In classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), the role of CAFs has remained largely undefined. We applied multiplexed immunofluorescence imaging and spatial analysis on tumor samples from two independent cHL patient cohorts (n = […]
- by Leo MerirantaClinical tools to guide treatment decisions in relapsed and refractory mantle cell lymphoma (R/R MCL) are limited. Moreover, the translational potential of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) remains largely unproven. We designed and applied panel-based duplex sequencing of ctDNA to study molecular determinants of response and outcome in 58 R/R MCL patients treated with venetoclax, lenalidomide, […]
- by Panu AaltonenCONCLUSIONS: VTE associated with a worse survival, whether occurring before or after a GC diagnosis. Pre-diagnosis VTE associated with a lower likelihood of curative-intent surgery presumably due to more advanced GC or VTE-related treatment interference.
- by Maritta RäisänenAberrations in the regulatory genome play a pivotal role in population-level disease predisposition. Annotation of the regulatory regions using appropriate primary tissues – instead of cell lines affected by selection and other confounding factors – could shed new light into mechanisms underlying common conditions. We test this approach in uterine leiomyomas, highly prevalent benign neoplasms […]
- by Leevi H WesterlundGlioblastoma and brain metastases from peripheral tumors account for most cases of tumors in the central nervous system while also being the deadliest. From a structural point of view, malignant brain tumors are classically characterized by hypercellularity of glioma and vascular endothelial cells. Given these atypical histologic features, glioblastoma and brain metastases have long been […]
- by Carlos Bravo-PerezBACKGROUNDT cell large granular lymphocyte leukemia (T-LGLL) is a lymphoproliferative disorder of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), often with gain-of-function STAT3 mutations. T-LGLL represents a unique model for the study of persistent CTL expansions. Albeit autoimmunity is implied, various paradoxical observations led us to investigate whether immunodeficiency traits underpin T-LGLL.METHODSThis is a comprehensive immunogenomic study of […]
- by Emil HiitolaClonal hematopoiesis (CH) becomes more prevalent with aging and may influence inflammatory diseases by altering immune function. While CH of indeterminate potential (CHIP) promotes inflammation in nonmalignant conditions, its relationship with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains unknown. We analyzed CHIP mutations in RA using two population-level cohorts and patients with newly diagnosed RA. CHIP was associated […]
- by Anna KaisanlahtiExtracellular vesicles (EVs), nanoparticles secreted by both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, carry various biomolecules and cross biological barriers. Gut microbiota-derived EVs are currently being investigated as a communication mechanism between the microbiota and the host. Few clinical studies, however, have investigated gut microbiota-derived EVs. Here, we show that machine learning models were able to accurately […]
- by Rayan NikkiläCONCLUSION: The GWAS detected two novel genetic associations with OTSCC. Further research is needed to identify the genes at these loci that contribute to the molecular pathogenesis of OTSCC.
- by Ruth NousiainenHepatoblastoma is a rare pediatric liver malignancy usually treated with surgery and chemotherapy. To explore new treatment options for hepatoblastoma, drug screening was performed using six cell models established from aggressive hepatoblastoma tumors and healthy pediatric primary hepatocytes. Of the 527 screened compounds, 98 demonstrated cancer-selective activity in at least one hepatoblastoma model. The kinesin […]
- by Päivi NummiCONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals a stark contrast in somatic transposon activity between colorectal cancers and uterine leiomyomas, and highlights differences between somatic and germline transposition. This suggests potentially different conditions in malignant and non-malignant tissues, as well as in germline and somatic tissues, which could be involved in the transposition process. Long-read sequencing provided important […]