The tumor microenvironment in sarcomas – Monica Ehnman's Team

Cells of the tumor microenvironment control tumor growth, metastasis and response to treatment. These aspects of tumor biology are well studied in tumors derived from epithelial cells, but much less described in sarcomas. These malignant tumors of mesenchymal origin can be found almost anywhere in the body and include subtypes like rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma and osteosarcoma.

Portrait of Monika Ehnman
PhD Monika Ehnman. Photo: Ulf Sirborn

Our research

The sarcoma tumor microenvironment (TME) team focuses on understanding how malignant and non-malignant cells communicate and educate each other during sarcoma progression.

We have currently developed several distinct in vitro and in vivo model systems for sarcoma TME studies. Methods used in the lab, or together with our national or international collaborators, include advanced cell culture, flow cytometry, qPCR and gene expression analysis (including bioinformatics), immunostaining (including multiplexing) of human or mouse tissue material, and microscopy/image analysis. Our projects are translational and involve collaborations with bioinformaticians, pathologists, oncologists and surgeons.

For further information and Publications, see https://ki.se/en/people/monika-ehnman 

Funding

  • Cancerföreningen
  • Barncancerfonden
  • Åke Wibergs stiftelse

Staff and contact

Group leader

All members of the group

Alumni

Postdocs/visiting researchers: Yue Zhang, Maya Hestnes Nisancioglu
PhD students: Binbin Zhao, Yanhong Su, Yi Chen (co-supervisor)
Master students: Aditi Kallai, Ioanna Tsea, Shanlin Tong
Bachelor students: Karim Katkhada, Nike Olabiyi
ERASMUS: Lilou Germain, Lennart Linke