Danish Cancer Institute

🔬 Breakthroughs in microscopy are transforming the way we study and treat cancer. Scientists in the Cancer Invasion and Resistance group at the Danish Cancer Institute use a number of advanced microscopes in their research. In this video we see an example of their work with tumour organoids. This is image of an ovarian cancer spheroid, a 3D cell structure that closely mimics tumor growth in the human body. By staining the spheroid with different colours, our researchers can examine various cancer-related features. 🔬 The nucleus is stained blue, while e-cadherin—a protein crucial for cell adhesion—is highlighted in red. These complex details are captured using the advanced CD7 confocal microscope, a vital resource from the Danish Bioimaging Network. #cancerresearch #science #microscopy

Next in the spotlight for our 🌟 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 🌟 is Sabina Elmi. 👩🔬 Sabina is a Ph.d. student in the Membrane Integrity group, which researches the molecular mechanisms of cells. 🟢 What is your research focus? 💬 My research focuses on compromising plasma membrane repair in glioblastoma cells. Cancer cells rely on efficient repair during oxidative stress and migration through dense tissue. We aim to disrupt their membrane integrity using clinically-used permeabilising equipment combined with plasma membrane repair inhibition. By reducing their ability to repair, we can induce cell death, thereby providing a potential therapeutic strategy to combat cancer. 🟢 How did you become interested in cancer research? 💬 My interest in cancer research began during my time at university when I learned more about cancer in general. I was fascinated by how tricky and sneaky cancer cells can be, constantly adapting to survive and thrive under adverse conditions. This complexity awoke my curiosity and inspired me to explore ways to tackle cancer cells at the molecular level. 🟢 What is your research ambition? 💬 My ultimate research ambition is to translate our findings into viable clinical treatments that can improve the prognosis and quality of life for glioblastoma patients, as the treatment options are quite limited. #cancer #cancerresearch #research #science #cells

📢 Research from the Danish Cancer Institute provides knowledge about a chain reaction inside of melanoma cancer cells that can make them resistant to treatment. #cancer #cancerresearch #research #science #melanoma #cellbiology

Next in the spotlight for our 🌟 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 🌟 is Group Leader in the Redox Biology group Giuseppe Filomeni. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀? I have a background in biochemistry, and since my Ph.D., I have been focusing on the peculiar ability of cancer cells to respond to a series of signals—produced both from outside and inside the cells—adapt, and actually take advantage of them to progress towards more aggressive states. In particular, I am interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms through which these signals propagate in cancer cells. I have concentrated my attention on a class of highly reactive molecules called free radicals, such as oxygen free radicals and nitric oxide. Although these molecules are dangerous to life, cancer cells have developed the ability to cope with them and use them to increase their malignancy. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵? Curiosity is what mainly drives a researcher. Next comes resilience, which is necessary to cope with the many failures a researcher encounters every day, and the ambition to bequeath something to future generations. Define it as altruism or, in more general terms, “philanthropy”; I don’t know. But the sense of fulfilment I get from understanding the molecular mechanisms causing cancer and, based on knowledge advancements, proposing new treatment strategies that could make a big difference in improving health outcomes—and maybe even saving lives—is the most rewarding feeling that better explains why I have become interested in cancer research. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗿? Over the past few years, I have contributed to understanding how S-nitrosylation—a still-not-fully-characterised protein posttranslational modification induced by nitric oxide—contributes to cancer. With the Redox Biology research group, I discovered that improper control of S-nitrosylation contributes to the aggressiveness of cancer cells by specifically modifying a set of proteins involved in several processes that accelerate cancer progression. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? Like all cancer researchers, my main goal is to gain new knowledge that might help understand how cancer cells behave and translate it into new therapeutic strategies that could contribute to eradicating cancer. More specifically related to my research, I aspire to map the “S-nitroso-oncoproteome,” namely, to identify all the proteins that play a role in cancer and are also targets of S-nitrosylation. Although ambitious, this comprehensive analysis would yield a wealth of information about the impact of S-nitrosylation on various deregulated processes in cancer (from enhanced and uncontrolled growth to the acquisition of metastatic and tissue-invasive abilities) and their potential druggability.

AI and computational biology are playing an increasingly larger role in cancer research 🖥 🔬 At the Danish Cancer Institute our researchers are at the forefront of implementing modern computational technologies in their research 🚀 In a series of articles we will be highlighting the increasingly important role of AI and computational biology in our work 🧬 This is the first part of a two-part series on how modern computational technologies, from computational biology to the latest advances in AI, are utilised at DCI. The first part focuses on computational biology. #cancerresearch #science #ai #computationalbiology

Next in the spotlight for our 🌟 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 🌟 is Ph.d. student in the Cancer and Medicine group, Frederik Palshof. 🟢 What is your research focus? 💬 Currently, I am working on my Ph.d. and researching why we are seeing more cancer cases in Denmark. I am investigating what drives this increase, whether it is due to known risk factors for cancer such as smoking, alcohol, and obesity, or because there are more elderly people in the population. Additionally, I have a particular focus on the development of subtypes of breast cancer. 🟢 How did you become interested in cancer research? 💬 During my medical education, I conducted research on breast cancer at the Department of Breast Surgery at Gentofte Hospital, where I worked. It is an exciting field of research with significant developments. After my master's thesis, my co-supervisor asked if I wanted to pursue a Ph.d. At first, I was unsure because it is a substantial project. A year later, I was tempted again by the project I am currently working on, and I decided to go for it. 🟢 What has been the highlight of your research career so far? 💬 It was probably when I received funding for my Ph.d. Starting a Ph.d. program is a long process that involves arranging meetings with collaborators and applying for funding, and the latter is crucial for the project's viability. So, when I secured a significant amount of funding and could start the project, it made all the preparations worthwhile. 🟢 What are your research ambitions? 💬 In my view, research should solve problems and contribute new knowledge that is significant for society. Regarding the healthcare system, we face projections indicating that up to 25% more people will get cancer in Denmark in 30 years. We are already struggling with a shortage of healthcare workers and keeping up with the demand. To ensure proper diagnosis and treatment for patients in the future, research must highlight the problem and provide solutions for prevention, cheaper treatments, and generally how to handle more elderly cancer patients, who often have other health issues besides cancer. My ambition is to contribute research that can shed light on future challenges in the healthcare system and hopefully solve some of them. #cancer #cancerresearch #research

🌟Introducing the Cancer Invasion and Resistance Group (CIR)🌟 CIR is one of the 17 research groups here at DCI. The group focuses on finding new treatments for ovarian cancer patients with aggressive, relapsing disease 🔬 Scroll through the slides below to find out more about the CIR team 👇

𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩, 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲 - 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐏𝐕 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬! About a decade after the link between HPV and cervical cancer had first been established a wave of studies, including a number authored by our scientists, has confirmed that HPV vaccination is effective in preventing HPV infection and HPV related cancers 📊 We are incredibly proud that scientists from the Danish Cancer Institute has played a significant role in documenting which cancers are caused by the HPV-virus, and the huge impact the vaccine has and will have on public health in the future 💚 In this video Director of the DCI and Research Director at Kræftens Bekæmpelse (Danish Cancer Society) Mads Melbye and Professor Susanne Krüger Kjær talks about the role their research has played in this incredible journey.

📺 Our Research Director, Mads Melbye, made the rounds on TV2 and TV News yesterday, discussing how AI is revolutionising cancer research. At the Danish Cancer Institute, our researchers are at the forefront of computational biology, applying these advanced techniques to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in cancer research 🚀 Over the coming months, we will share insights into how our scientists are integrating AI into their research. Stay tuned for more 🤩 #cancerresearch #research #cancer #AI #science #computational #biology

🌟 Introducing our summer series: Meet the scientists🌟 This summer, we are excited to launch a special series featuring some of the exceptional scientists at the Danish Cancer Institute (DCI). Each week, we will shine a spotlight on a researcher who makes a difference in cancer research every day. 👩🏻🔬 Meet Katerina Skorda – Ph.d.- student in the Cancer Invasion and Resistance Group. Katerina is one of our many international colleagues here at the Danish Cancer Institute She is originally from Volos in Greece 🇬🇷 and came to Denmark in 2018 to start her Master in Medicinal Chemistry at KU. Find out more about Katerina 👇 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀? I generate high-grade serous ovarian cancer organoids derived from patient tissue, including different cytological sites and phases of patient treatment. On these, I perform drug studies based on whole-genome and RNA sequencing data, aiming to create a platform for personalised treatment options, with the potential to be used by clinicians as a tool to help their clinical decisions. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵? The idea of working on research projects that are applicable and can help so many people actively kept me interested and made my Ph.d. feasible. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗿? Apart from my publications, the enthusiasm and appreciation for my research from a worldwide scientific audience when I presented my work at the @american-association-for-cancer-research symposium in New Orleans was a big highlight. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? Firstly, regarding the case studies we are working on, that our research will help clinicians decide on the best treatment plan for patients. Further, that our research will lead to the design of new clinical trials future. #cancer #science #cancerresearch #cellbiologi #organoids