Research team Catharina Larsson

Recognition of individuals at risk of cancer, early disease detection and prevention of metastatic spread are central goals in cancer research, which require detailed understanding of underlying and associated molecular events. The diverse mechanistic backgrounds of tumor etiology and development have profound impacts on the presentation and natural course of the diseases. Ongoing dissections of these key events have already given important insights concerning cancer origin, genetic predisposition and other risk factors, molecular pathways in disease development, as well as basic disease mechanisms. These events include classical genetic alterations such as genomic rearrangements, copy number alterations and DNA mutations acting alongside dynamic epigenetic alterations of e.g. DNA methylation, histone modifications and small RNAs, in turn affecting the local expression pattern and cellular functions.

Endocrine tumours are found throughout the human body, with the most commonly known originating in the parathyroid glands, the thyroid, the adrenals or neuro-endocrine cells of the abdomen. The endocrine tumour entity encompasses the entire spectra from indolent and benign to mankind’s worst cancer forms. In addition, many endocrine tumours produce hormones that give rise to severe symptoms, although the tumours themselves may not be a threat to the patient. Heritable disease is common and associations with hormonal status are recognised. These circumstances indicate that several principally different mechanisms are involved in tumour risk, etiology and development. They further enable elucidation of molecular events starting from very early tumor development through eventual progression.

Our studies aim to explore and solve problems related to the following general questions:

- Tumor etiology concerning risk, predisposing factors and natural course
- Tumor detection, prognostication, and follow-up
- Key genetic events in sporadic and heritable disease
- Static and dynamic molecular aberrations underlying or caused by cancer development
- Functional understanding of growth in relation to hormonal production and sensitivity
- Novel targets for diagnostics and therapy development

List of publications Catharina Larsson

List of publications Anders Höög

CV Catharina Larsson

Contact

Catharina Larsson
Department of Oncology-Pathology, KI, Karolinska University Hospital-Solna Bioclinicum J6:20; SE-171 64, Stockholm, Sweden
E-mail: Catharina.Larsson@ki.se
Phone: +46-8-123 73930

Team members

Catharina Larsson, MD, Professor, Group leader
Anders Höög, Associate Professor, Director of studies in pathology (Other employment: Senior consultant in clinical pathology, Karolinska University Hospital-Solna)
Yiyi Xu, PhD student (CSC)
Karolina Solhuslökk-Höse, PhD student (KID)
Fredrika Svahn, MD licensed, PhD (Other employment: Resident in Radiology, Karolinska University Hospital)
Ninni Mu, MD licensed, PhD, (Other employment: ClinicalGenetics, Karolinska University Hospital-Solna)
Anastasios Sofiadis, MD, PhD, Affiliated (Employment: Oncology specialist at Capio St Göran Hospital, Stockholm)
Cristian Ortiz-Villalón, MD, PhD, Affiliated (Employment: Head of Department of Pathology, Karolinska University Laboratory at Danderyds Hospital)
Lorand Kis, MD, PhD, Affiliated (Employment: Pathology specialist at Capio St Göran Hospital, Stockholm)
Carlos Rubio, Associate Professor, Specialist in Pathology, Affiliated 

Funding

The present research is generously supported by grants from:

• The Swedish Cancer Society
• The Swedish Research Council
• Karolinska Institutet
• Stockholm County Council
• The Cancer Research Foundations of Radiumhemmet