Rolf Lewensohn

Rolf Lewensohn

Professor, Senior
E-postadress: rolf.lewensohn@ki.se
Besöksadress: BioClinicum vän 6, Visionsgatan 4, 17164 Solna
Postadress: K7 Onkologi-Patologi, K7 Forskning Ekman Viktorsson, 171 77 Stockholm

Om mig

  • Professor i onkologi vid Karolinska Institutet, överläkare vid Karolinska Sjukhusets onkologiska klinik.

    - Född 1949, leder en forskargrupp med ca 20 medarbetare på institutionen för onkologi-patologi.
    - Programdirektör för Socialstyrelsens Kunskapscentrum för strålningsmedicin vid katastrofer (KcRN; SREMC) som är en beredskapsfunktion vid Centrum för strålningsmedicin.
    - Ledamot i flera forskningsnämnder, t ex för Konung Gustaf V:s Jubileumsfond.
    - Över 110 vetenskapliga publikationer om cancer.

Forskningsbeskrivning

  • Rolf Lewensohns vetenskapliga bakgrund innefattar DNA-reparation och apoptos-signalering med sikte på cancer och cancerbehandling. Han har varit ledande i uppbyggnaden av ett kliniskt vård- och forskningsprogram för lungcancer i Stockholmsregionen och har byggt upp ett kliniskt forskningsprogram för utveckling av ny cancerbehandling. Han är drivande i att etablera ”personalized cancer medicine” vid Karolinska Institutet.

    Lewensohn och hans forskningsgrupp studerar hur kemoterapi och strålbehandling orsakar skador i tumörcellernas DNA och nedströms signalering. Han har tillsammans med sina medarbetare funnit att tumörer som har hög förmåga att reparera DNA-skador visar resistens mot strål- respektive kemoterapi av solida tumörer. Lewensohns forskargrupp arbetar med att identifiera proteiner som är ansvariga för behandlingsresistens samt även med läkemedel som kan användas för att kringgå sådan resistens.

    För ytterligare, mer detaljerad information, se den engelska presentationssidan.

Artiklar

Alla övriga publikationer

Forskningsbidrag

  • Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2022
    Treatment of lung cancer (LC) with targeted drugs (LM) and tumor-targeted immune antibodies usually gives a good treatment effect, but usually leaves behind a tumor residue. We now hope that precision radiation therapy, stereotactic radiation therapy (SBRT), which we as pioneers in the field developed, will be able to supplement the effect of the LM treatment. For LC patients with non-spread disease, with SBRT we have achieved very good tumor control (approx. 90%) with minor side effects. SBRT has the potential to be used for the treatment of larger tumors and/or metastases alone and in combination with LM against tumor remnants that cannot be eliminated with LM, which we recently demonstrated. For further development of SBRT, we are testing dose limits f.a. in the chest and works on predicting the tumor effect. We follow tumor growth/toxicity with radiological methods (CT/PET). In tissue samples/blood samples from individual patients, biomarkers are analyzed to predict treatment effect. We are investigating how SBRT can enhance immunotherapy and whether SBRT can be combined with targeted drugs against ALK or EGFR for the treatment of tumor remnants. By analyzing tumor and immune cells in new ways (in tissue samples/blood), we map the molecules responsible for tumor effects in individual patients. We want to be able to cure or significantly extend the lives of both lung cancer (LC) patients with a limited primary tumor and those with a few metastases. With the project, we want to understand the risks and benefits of treatment, but also find non-invasive ways to follow the tumor disease. With the addition of SBRT to targeted treatments (against growth factor receptors or to strengthen the immune response against the tumor) we want to provide the possibility of significantly prolonged survival for LC patients with metastases. With our molecular analyses, we want to create the conditions for individualized treatment for patients with disseminated LC.
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2019 - 31 December 2022
  • Development of new curative treatment for lung cancer using precision radiation therapy alone and combined with targeting drugs or immunotherapy.
    Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2018
    Treatment of lung cancer (LC), with targeting drugs (LM) and tumor-directed immune antibodies, has taken a major step forward. The contribution also has precision radiation therapy, stereotactic radiation therapy (SBRT), which we as pioneers in the field developed and are now used around the world. For LC patients with non-spread disease, we have achieved very good tumor control (about 90%) with little side effects. SBRT also has the potential to be used for the treatment of larger tumors and / or metastases alone and in combination with LM against tumor residues that cannot be eliminated with LM. We utv. SBRT for major tumors and metastases. What radiation doses are possible? Can we predict the tumor effect? We follow tumor growth / toxicity by radiological methods (CT / PET) and also develop new automated tumor response reading. In tissue samples / blood samples from individual patients, biomarkers are analyzed to predict treatment effect. We are investigating how SBRT can enhance immunotherapy and whether SBRT can be combined with targeting LM against mutated EGFR for the treatment of tumor residues. By analyzing tumor and immune cells in new ways (in tissue samples / blood), we map the molecules responsible for tumor effect in individual patients. We want to be able to cure or significantly extend the lives of both LC patients with limited primary tumor and those who have a few metastases. With the project, we want to understand the risks and benefits of treatment but also find non-invasive ways to follow the tumor disease. With the addition of SBRT to targeting therapies (against growth factor receptors or to enhance immune response to the tumor), we want to allow for significantly prolonged survival for LC patients with metastatic disease. With our molecular analyzes, we want to create the conditions for individualized treatment for patients with spread LC.
  • Molecular and clinical studies of lung cancer with the goal of creating improved and individualized treatment.
    Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2017
    Radiation therapy (ST) and cytostatics are central to the treatment of lung cancer (LC). These therapies knock out tumor cells by damaging DNA and activating cell death. In some LCpat. does not respond to the tumor on treatment and research has shown that the capacity of the tumor cell to repair DNA damage but also the ability to produce survival factors contributes. This knowledge has given targeted drugs (LM) which, when combined with ST and / or chemotherapy drugs, result in increased tumor cell death. It is important to understand what needs. the patient is sensitive to and individualize the needs. The project seeks to find such factors but also new treatment methods. Our focus is lung cancer (LC) and the goal is to optimize radiation therapy (ST) and create new targeting, individualized treatment regimes. With precision irradiation of LC tumors, we have shown that one can achieve better response than with conv. radiation therapy. We now want to evaluate this therapy for the treatment of metastases. With molecular methods, we compare signal paths in LC cells that respond well or badly to ST. In this way, we have found several new signaling pathways that some LC cells use to survive ST / cytostatics. Through studies of these signal paths in LC pat. We want to see material if they can be new target molecules with therapeutic potential. In our molecular project we want to find new molecules which can serve as markers to predict therapy effect but also target molecules for therapeutic intervention that can increase the effectiveness of radiation and chemotherapy treatment for patients with lung cancer (LC). Through validation in animal models of LC and studies in LC material, we want to understand for which patients these targeting therapies could function and increase the effect of ST and cytostatics. In the project on precision radiation therapy, we want to be able to cure early LC with both central and peripheral location in the lung but also be able to offer this therapy for patients with metastases.
  • Molecular and clinical studies of lung cancer with the goal of creating improved and individualized treatment.
    Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2016
    Radiation therapy (ST) and cytostatics are central to the treatment of lung cancer (LC). These therapies knock out tumor cells by damaging DNA and activating cell death. In some LCpat. does not respond to the tumor on treatment and research has shown that the capacity of the tumor cell to repair DNA damage but also the ability to produce survival factors contributes. This knowledge has given targeted drugs (LM) which, when combined with ST and / or chemotherapy drugs, result in increased tumor cell death. It is important to understand what needs. the patient is sensitive to and individualize the needs. The project seeks to find such factors but also new treatment methods. Our focus is lung cancer (LC) and the goal is to optimize radiation therapy (ST) and create new targeting, individualized treatment regimes. With precision irradiation of LC tumors, we have shown that one can achieve better response than with conv. radiation therapy. We now want to evaluate this therapy for the treatment of metastases. With molecular methods, we compare signal paths in LC cells that respond well or badly to ST. In this way, we have found several new signaling pathways that some LC cells use to survive ST / cytostatics. Through studies of these signal paths in LC pat. We want to see material if they can be new target molecules with therapeutic potential. In our molecular project we want to find new molecules which can serve as markers to predict therapy effect but also target molecules for therapeutic intervention that can increase the effectiveness of radiation and chemotherapy treatment for patients with lung cancer (LC). Through validation in animal models of LC and studies in LC material, we want to understand for which patients these targeting therapies could function and increase the effect of ST and cytostatics. In the project on precision radiation therapy, we want to be able to cure early LC with both central and peripheral location in the lung but also be able to offer this therapy for patients with metastases.
  • National Workshop on ”Personalized Cancer Medicine” (PCM)
    Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research
    10 August 2015 - 30 June 2016
  • Molecular and clinical studies of lung cancer with the goal of creating improved and individualized treatment.
    Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2015
    Radiation therapy (ST) and cytostatics are central to the treatment of lung cancer (LC). These therapies knock out tumor cells by damaging DNA and activating cell death. In some LCpat. does not respond to the tumor on treatment and research has shown that the capacity of the tumor cell to repair DNA damage but also the ability to produce survival factors contributes. This knowledge has given targeted drugs (LM) which, when combined with ST and / or chemotherapy drugs, result in increased tumor cell death. It is important to understand what needs. the patient is sensitive to and individualize the needs. The project seeks to find such factors but also new treatment methods. Our focus is lung cancer (LC) and the goal is to optimize radiation therapy (ST) and create new targeting, individualized treatment regimes. With precision irradiation of LC tumors, we have shown that one can achieve better response than with conv. radiation therapy. We now want to evaluate this therapy for the treatment of metastases. With molecular methods, we compare signal paths in LC cells that respond well or badly to ST. In this way, we have found several new signaling pathways that some LC cells use to survive ST / cytostatics. Through studies of these signal paths in LC pat. We want to see material if they can be new target molecules with therapeutic potential. In our molecular project we want to find new molecules which can serve as markers to predict therapy effect but also target molecules for therapeutic intervention that can increase the effectiveness of radiation and chemotherapy treatment for patients with lung cancer (LC). Through validation in animal models of LC and studies in LC material, we want to understand for which patients these targeting therapies could function and increase the effect of ST and cytostatics. In the project on precision radiation therapy, we want to be able to cure early LC with both central and peripheral location in the lung but also be able to offer this therapy for patients with metastases.
  • Molecular and clinical studies of lung cancer with the goal of creating improved and individualized treatment.
    Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2014
    Radiation therapy (ST) and cytostatics are central to the treatment of lung cancer (LC). These therapies knock out tumor cells by damaging DNA and activating cell death. In some LCpat. does not respond to the tumor on treatment and research has shown that the capacity of the tumor cell to repair DNA damage but also the ability to produce survival factors contributes. This knowledge has resulted in targeted drugs (LM) which, when combined with ST, result in increased tumor cell death. It is important to understand what needs. the patient is sensitive to and individualize the needs. The project seeks to find factors that show the individual sensitivity but also new treatment methods. Our focus is lung cancer (LC) and the goal is to optimize radiation therapy (ST) and create new targeting, individualized treatment regimes. With precision irradiation of LC tumors, we have shown that one can achieve better response than with conv. radiation therapy. We now want to evaluate this therapy for the treatment of metastases. With molecular methods, we compare signal paths in LC cells that respond well or badly to ST. In this way, we have found several new signaling pathways that some LC cells use to survive ST / cytostatics. Through studies of these signal paths in LC pat. We want to see material if they can be new target molecules with therapeutic potential. In our molecular project we want to find new molecules which can serve as markers to predict therapy effect but also target molecules for therapeutic intervention that can increase the effectiveness of radiation and chemotherapy treatment for patients with lung cancer (LC). Through validation in animal models of LC and studies in LC material, we want to understand for which patients these targeting therapies could function and increase the effect of ST and cytostatics. In the project on precision radiation therapy, we want to be able to cure early LC with both central and peripheral location in the lung but also be able to offer this therapy for patients with metastases.

Anställningar

  • Professor, Senior, Onkologi-Patologi, Karolinska Institutet, 2025-2025
  • Professor, Onkologi-Patologi, Karolinska Institutet, 2020-2024

Examina och utbildning

  • Docent, Onkologi, Karolinska Institutet, 1982

Nyheter från KI

Kalenderhändelser från KI