Anthony Wright

In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, there is a lot of attention on virus mutations. Cause these higher infectivity or resistance to the vaccine? In a similar way, mutations have a fundamental importance in the field of cancer, both for cancer development and the development of resistance to drugs (especially the new generation of "targeted" drugs that are more specific with fewer side effects but at the same time are more exposed to resistance-developing mutations than e.g. e.g. cytostatics). Some mutations are inherited in families. Here, better conditions are needed for the genetic guidance/handling of individuals with cancer-causing mutations. The project investigates signaling systems, molecular mechanisms and the epigenetic phenomena that regulate the residence of lymphoma cells in microenvironments where they have optimal conditions for survival and proliferation compared to competing normal cells. How the mechanisms are affected by drugs (individually or in combination) is also studied using an in vitro cell system. The project further develops static models that use the effect of mutations on the properties of the p53 protein to predict the cancer outcome for various inherited mutations in the important TP53 "tumor suppressor" gene. The project is basic scientific in nature, but questions are mainly based on clinical problems. The hope is that the research can provide answers that can then be applied clinically. We hope to be able to identify drug combinations with a lower risk of the development of resistance compared to other combinations or individual drugs. Furthermore, we hope that the results will lead to improved genetic guidance and management of individuals with inherited mutations in the important TP53 gene. This mainly applies to the type of cancer they can be expected to get (Li Fraumeni Syndrome or breast cancer) and at what age they can be expected to get it.

Cancer development is an evolutionary process that takes place in a way that resembles other evolutionary processes first described by, among others, Charles Darwin. Cells are altered by adaptations in the genome to cancer cells that are selected in competition with normal cells. A basic understanding of cancer development therefore requires knowledge of the mechanisms that promote cancer-causing adaptations in the genome and knowledge of the particular environments in the body that promote the growth and survival of cancer cells. Such environments lead to the selection of cancer cells at the expense of the original cells. The purpose of the project is to identify the properties of cancer related proteins that make display proteins particularly adaptable during cancer development. Our previous studies indicate that protein regions that lack a solid structure are easier to adapt functionally. Furthermore, we will study how specific cellular environments can promote growth and survival of mantle cell lymphoma cells. Finally, special functions of cancer proteins are studied under stress conditions that occur during cancer development. We hope that better knowledge of the adaptation mechanisms that affect cancer proteins will provide the conditions for the design of better drugs for cancer. The studies on mantle cell lymph will provide increased knowledge of the signals between cells that increase cancer cell growth and survival in specific body environments. Increased knowledge of this can lead to new biomarkers or treatment strategies relevant to mantle cell lymphoma. Today, there is no treatment for mantle cell lymphoma patients after the recurrence of the disease that occurs in almost all patients 1-2 years after the first treatment.

Cancer development is an evolutionary process that takes place in a way that resembles other evolutionary processes first described by, among others, Charles Darwin. Cells are altered by adaptations in the genome to cancer cells that are selected in competition with normal cells. A basic understanding of cancer development therefore requires knowledge of the mechanisms that promote cancer-causing adaptations in the genome and knowledge of the particular environments in the body that promote the growth and survival of cancer cells. Such environments lead to the selection of cancer cells at the expense of the original cells. The purpose of the project is to identify the properties of cancer related proteins that make display proteins particularly adaptable during cancer development. Our previous studies indicate that protein regions that lack a solid structure are easier to adapt functionally. Furthermore, we will study how specific cellular environments can promote growth and survival of mantle cell lymphoma cells. Finally, special functions of cancer proteins are studied under stress conditions that occur during cancer development. We hope that better knowledge of the adaptation mechanisms that affect cancer proteins will provide the conditions for the design of better drugs for cancer. The studies on mantle cell lymph will provide increased knowledge of the signals between cells that increase cancer cell growth and survival in specific body environments. Increased knowledge of this can lead to new biomarkers or treatment strategies relevant to mantle cell lymphoma. Today, there is no treatment for mantle cell lymphoma patients after the recurrence of the disease that occurs in almost all patients 1-2 years after the first treatment.