Research Erik Norberg Group
A defining hallmark of cancer is altered metabolism. Cancer cells enhance their metabolism by elevating the expression/activity of metabolic enzymes to fulfil their higher bioenergetics and biosynthetic needs, required for rapid proliferation. Targeting metabolic pathways holds great promise for improved cancer therapy as the altered metabolism represents a fundamental difference that exists between cancer and normal healthy cells.
Main Projects
Molecular regulation mechanisms of cancer metabolism.
While signaling downstream of ongogenes and tumor suppressors are central regulators of metabolism, several new players are emerging. We aim to identify novel regulation mechanisms as for how the metabolic phenotype is shaped.
Regulation and maintenance of metabolic heterogeneity
The metabolic program of tumors are known display a large heterogeneity both within and across distinct tumor types. We try to understand how this heterogeneity occurs and is maintained.
Pharmacological Approaches to Target Metabolic Circuits.
We perform small-molecule screenings to target metabolic regulation nodes identified in #1 and #2 with the ultimate goal to identify novel drug targets.
To study these questions we employ a translational approach starting from primary patient material paralleled by studies to elucidate the molecular mechanisms in cancer cells, normal cells and cancer mouse models, with the ultimate goal of identifying novel drug targets and prognostic markers.