BRECT - Breast Cancer Theme Center
The Breast Cancer Theme Center (BRECT) brings together the breadth of breast cancer research at Karolinska Institutet – from fundamental tumour biology and population-based research to artificial intelligence, prevention, precision diagnostics and clinical trials – with the shared goal of translating new knowledge into better breast cancer prevention and care.
BRECT is a multidisciplinary research centre and collaborative environment that connects researchers and clinicians across Karolinska Institutet and its clinical research environments. By bringing together expertise in basic, molecular, epidemiological, computational and clinical research, BRECT creates opportunities for collaboration across traditional scientific and organisational boundaries and strengthens the translation of discoveries between research and clinical practice.
Breast cancer research at Karolinska Institutet
Breast cancer research at Karolinska Institutet spans the full continuum from understanding the fundamental mechanisms underlying breast cancer development and progression to prevention, early detection, precision diagnostics, treatment and survivorship.
Basic and translational research explores tumour biology, hormonal signalling, tumour heterogeneity and evolution, the tumour microenvironment, genomics and mechanisms of treatment response and resistance. Epidemiological and population-based research investigates genetic and non-genetic determinants of breast cancer risk and prognosis, mammographic density, familial risk, screening and opportunities for improved risk prediction and prevention.
Breast imaging, artificial intelligence, computational science and precision pathology are increasingly integrated with molecular and clinical research to develop new approaches to screening, diagnosis, prognostication and treatment prediction. Clinical and translational programmes in surgery, radiotherapy and systemic treatment combine biomarkers, molecular profiling, imaging, patient and population data, and prospective clinical studies and trials to develop more precise and individualised approaches to breast cancer prevention and care.
Together, these complementary research areas provide a strong foundation for multidisciplinary and translational breast cancer research. BRECT connects this expertise across KI and its clinical research environments, creating opportunities for discoveries in laboratory, computational and population-based research to inform clinical research and practice – and for questions arising from patients and clinical care to generate new scientific directions.
Connecting expertise and advancing breast cancer research
BRECT provides a common scientific environment for the diverse disciplines involved in breast cancer research at KI. By connecting expertise across departments, research areas and clinical environments, the centre aims to catalyse new collaborations, promote the exchange of methods and ideas, and enable multidisciplinary research that extends beyond individual research groups and disciplines.
An important part of this mission is to connect researchers across career stages and support the next generation of breast cancer researchers. Scientific seminars, symposia, retreats and the Stockholm Breast Cancer Summit provide opportunities for researchers and clinicians from KI to interact with leading national and international experts, share emerging research and establish new collaborations.
Through its scientific community and collaborative activities, BRECT aims to strengthen the quality, visibility and impact of breast cancer research at Karolinska Institutet and accelerate the translation of research advances into improved prevention, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes.
BRECT is open to all researchers at Karolinska Institutet with an interest in breast cancer research.
Upcoming meetings
Stockholm Breast Cancer Summit:
November 16-17, 2026, at Ellery Beach House on Lidingö.
The registration is now closed. If you are interested in a late registration, please contact the steering committee by contacting emelie.karlsson.2@ki.se. We will let you know if a spot becomes available.
Stockholm Breast Cancer Summit 2026 - Uniting discovery, translation and clinical impact
Welcome
Arrival and welcome sandwich
Opening remarks
BRECT Director, Professor Johan Hartman
Keynote speaker Robert Clarke, University of Manchester, UK
"Targeting Hormonal Pathways for Breast Cancer Prevention: Anti-progestin Therapy and Beyond”
Break
Bröstcancerförbundet
Session 1
11:15–11:40 Hege Russnes (Oslo University Hospital, NO) ”From Intratumour Heterogeneity to Immune Exhaustion: Precision Medicine in Breast Cancer”
11:40–12:05 Mattias Rantalainen (Karolinska Institutet, SE) ” Artificial Intelligence-based precision pathology: scalable phenotyping and clinical precision diagnostics for breast cancer”
12:05–12:30 Fredrik Wärnberg (Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE) ”Deescalation in breast cancer surgery and axillary staging”
12:30–12:40 Short talk: Constance Boissin ”AI-based predictions of bulk RNA expression using digitized whole slide images in breast cancer"
12:40–12:50 Short talk: Linda Adwall "Major systemic postoperative infection and oncological outcomes after breast cancer surgery: timing and receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy in a population‑based cohort study"
Lunch
Keynote speaker Marleen Kok, NKI, Amsterdam, NL
“Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy and Immune Biomarkers in Early-Stage Triple-Nega ve and Luminal Breast Cancer”
Coffee break
Session 2
15:15–15:40 Carina Strell (University of Bergen, NO) ”In Situ Immune and Signalling Biomarkers to Refine Prognosis in Early Breast Cancer”
15:40–16:05 Kristian Pietras (Lund University, SE) ”Spatial and Functional Heterogeneity of the Breast Tumor Microenvironment”
16:05–16:30 Jonas Bergh (Karolinska Institutet, SE) ”Breast cancer care faces large regional gaps in adopting new innovations, despite clear research findings”
16:30–16:40 Short talk: Ceren Boyaci "Prognostic Role of Progesterone Receptor status across the ER expression spectrum in Breast Cancer: Real World data from a Nationwide Cohort Study from Sweden"
16.40–16.50 Short talk: Yu Bai "Failed stromal encapsulation as a potential driver of progression in ductal carcinoma in situ"
Leisure time
Dinner
Poster session
Breakfast and checkout
Keynote speaker Christos Sotiriou, Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels, BE
“Spatial Transcriptomics and Immune Biomarkers in Triple-Negative and Lobular Breast Cancer”
Radiumhemmets Forskningsfonder
Session 3
09:25–09:50 Per Karlsson (Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE), "Predicting Radiotherapy Response in Breast Cancer: Gene Expression Signatures and Immune Responses"
09:50–10:15 Arne Östman (Karolinska Institutet, SE) ”Stromal PDGFR Signalling, Fibroblast Heterogeneity and Biomarkers of Therapy Response in Breast Cancer”
10:15–10:25 Short talk: Renske Altena "Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (HER2)-targeted PET-imaging with [68Ga]Ga-ABY-025 to predict targeted-therapy response in HER2-expressing metastatic breast cancer: study protocol of a multicentre, prospective, open-label trial”
10.25–10.35 Short talk: Kelin Gonçalves de Oliveira "Prolactin receptor (PRLR) levels as a predictor of breast cancer events in relation to endocrine treatment ̶ a breast cancer cohort study"
Coffee break
Session 4
11:00–11:25 Kristina Lång (Lund University, SE) ”AI-Supported Mammography Screening: Performance, Interval Cancer and Radiologists’ Trust”
11:25–11:50 Johan Staaf (Lund University, SE), "From DNA to Phenotype: Multi-Omics Dissection of the Breast Cancer Ecosystem"
11:50–12:00 Short talk: Jo De Vos "Tumour Infiltrating Lymphocytes and the Long-term Risk of Distant Metastasis in ER-positive Premenopausal Breast Cancer Patients: Insights From the STO-5 trials with 20 years Follow-up"
12:00–12:10 Short talk: Sen Li "Multi-omic profiling of luminal breast cancers during neoadjuvant therapy reveals therapy response predictors"
Keynote speaker Jana de Boniface, KI, Stockholm, Sweden
“Refining Axillary Surgery and De-escalation Strategies in Contemporary Breast Cancer Care”