Helene Rundqvist

Dr Rundqvist holds a Senior Researcher position at the Department of Laboratory Medicine, combining basic science research in Exercise Oncology with patient intervention studies. She is currently co-PI of two H2020 funded exercise oncology clinical trials, PREFERABLE EFFECT and PREFERABLE LION.

Dr Helene Rundqvist has a degree in Molecular Biology, and a PhD in Physiology as well as post doctoral experience focusing on the contribution of the immune system to metastatic dissemination in animal models (University of California, SD) and exercise interventions for transgenic animal models of cancer (Department of Oncology and Pathology, KI). 

The benefits of physical exercise for patients with a cancer diagnosis are increasingly recognized. We and others have shown that exercise interventions reduce symptom burden, enhance physical functioning, and improve health related quality of life (e.g. OptiTrain and PREFERABLE randomized controlled trials).

Epidemiological evidence and emerging data from randomized studies suggests that patients who maintain a physically active lifestyle after a cancer diagnosis have a reduced risk of recurrence and improved disease specific survival compared to sedentary individuals. There is increasing evidence, including data from the Rundqvist lab, that a significant part of the anti-neoplastic effects of exercise can be attributed to improved immune cell function.

Immune surveillance is a critical step in controlling solid tumor progression, accomplished primarily by cytotoxic T-cells and NK-cells. The short-term stress of a single bout of physical exercise induces a transient release of immune cells into circulation. Our current efforts include close characterization of NK and CD8+ T-cells after exercise interventions, with a specifc focus on metabolism, homing and antitumoral effects in animal models of breast cancer metastasis and in patients with advanced disease.

Extensive experience from teaching at undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate levels giving lectures, seminars, workshop, practicals etc in Statistics, Physiology, Immunology, Cell Biology, Tumor Microenvironment and Metabolism. Responsible course leader and organizer of a 5 week course in Scientific Theory and Statistics, Karolinska Institutet. Supervision of graduate students and post doctoral fellows.