Colorectal cancer
We perform translational research on colorectal cancer in an interdisciplinary research program. The program is a collaborative network of biomedical researchers and clinicians from different disciplines and at different sites of the hospital. Our research group represents the core experimental lab and computational analysis unit.
Patients are included from clinical studies and we collect prospective biobanks of patient samples, including tissue from resected specimens of primary tumors and/or liver metastases. We model tumor heterogeneity among multiregional samples and multiple lesions from each patient using different cancer genomics technologies. We also culture corresponding tumor organoids in a living biobank to model treatment responses and perform preclinical pharmacogenomics studies. The EVIDENT clinical trial is currently conducted to evaluate prospective treatment selection based on ex vivo drug sensitivity testing of such personalized cancer models. We also have a molecular pathology team, and perform spatial in situ tumor biomarker analyses using multiplex fluorescent immunohistochemistry.
The colorectal cancer translational research program has been appointed Strategic Research Area of Oslo University Hospital in two consecutive periods.
SMART-CRC (2014-2018): Screening, Management, Research and Translation of Colorectal cancer
TEAM-ACT (2019-2024): Tumor Evolution in Advanced Models to Accelerate precision Cancer Therapy
We have developed the program as PIs and participants of several large research centers and networks, including the Center of Excellence – Cancer Biomedicine (Lothe was co-Director), the K.G. Jebsen medical centre (Lothe was Director), the Norwegian Cancer Genomics Consortium (Lothe was PI and WP leader), and Toppforsk – a major grant from the University of Oslo and Research Council of Norway (Lothe was PI and leader). We also have long term support and several ongoing grants from the Norwegian Cancer Society and the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authorities.
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| 2022-27 | (HSØ) 2020-26 |
Toppforsk 2017-22 |
Colorectal cancer research centre 2014-20 |
2012-19 | Cancer Biomedicine 2007-17 |