Danish Cancer Institute

NEWS: We are incredibly excited to announce the arrival of four new research groups at the Danish Cancer Institute. The groups will bring expertise in genome organisation, cell signalling, CRISPR technology, and epigenetics. ?? ?? “These teams and their group leaders bring world-class expertise in genetics and epi-genetics. They also bring state-of-the-art equipment, which will enable us to strengthen our scientific work and explore new areas of cancer research”, says Research Director Mads Melbye. ?? As well as leading the research group Epigenome Replication and Maintenance (ERM), Professor Anja Groth will establish a new Centre of Excellence in Epigenetics, opening in 2025. As a leading international researcher in her field, she has pioneered research into how epigenetic information is copied during cell division—crucial for understanding cancer and ageing. ?? Professor Jakob Nilsson will lead a new Optical Pooled Screening Facility, investigating how protein phosphatases regulate cell growth and how defects in these processes contribute to cancer. His work, using CRISPR gene editing, has significantly advanced cancer research and drug development. ?? Professor Niels Mailand, an expert in DNA repair mechanisms, will head the Genome Maintenance and Cancer Vulnerabilities group. His research has led to the discovery of key proteins involved in maintaining genetic stability, which is essential for preventing diseases like cancer. ?? Associate Professor Nils Krietenstein will lead the Genome Organisation and Gene Regulation group, studying how the 3D folding of DNA influences gene expression and disease development. His work has introduced cutting-edge methods to the field of 3D genomics. With these additions, DCI continues to grow as a leading international center for innovative cancer research!

?? We’re Hiring! The Frankel Group at the Danish Cancer Institute is looking for a computational postdoc to join the team and contribute to their ongoing efforts in subcellular RNA sequencing analysis and its integration with other multi-omics datasets. This role offers an opportunity to develop and refine computational pipelines, optimise data processing workflows, and collaborate with a dynamic team conducting cutting-edge basic cancer research. If you are passionate about computational biology and eager to make a meaningful impact in cancer research, we would love to hear from you! Find out more and apply here: https://rb.gy/doe8au, or contact Group Leader Lisa Frankel at frankel@cancer for further details.

Patients with low tumour mutational burden (low-TMB) currently have very few treatment options, as they typically do not respond well to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Now, thanks to innovative work by scientists at the Danish Cancer Institute, we might be one step closer to a breakthrough that could change this. By using the drug 6-thioguanine (6TG) to increase tumour mutations, researchers found that the immune system could recognise and attack these previously resistant cancers more effectively. When combined with anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 therapies, this approach led to remarkable tumour shrinkage in preclinical models—and even triggered long-term immune memory. In this video head of the melanoma team at the DCI Daniela De Zio explains more about the findings. Link to the article ???? https://lnkd.in/drUbwJHG

?? We're hiring! Interested in exploring epigenetic cell memory? Come join us! We have 6 PhD and postdoc positions available in our new Center for Epigenetic Cell Memory (EpiC)?at the Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark. EpiC is a new Center of Excellence based on funding by the Danish National Research Foundation. Together EpiC researchers aim to understand mechanisms that underpin epigenetic cell memory and how cell proliferation drives cell plasticity and cell fate decisions in development, aging and cancer. As part of the launch of EpiC in June 2025, there will be 6 funded postdoctoral (3 years) and PhD (3 years) positions available. The successful applicants will have excellent opportunities to acquire expertise in a broad panel of cutting-edge technologies, including high-resolution and single cell functional genomics, advanced CRISPR screening, and in silico protein modelling. EpiC unites four research groups with leading expertise across epigenetics, 3D genome, genome stability, cell division, and complementary technological strongholds: Anja Groth (Center Director), Niels Mailand, Jakob Nilsson and Nils Kritenstein. The application deadline is April 1st,?2025. Read more via the link below ?? ?? https://shorturl.at/TXu0V

?? Rising life expectancy across the Nordic countries is influencing breast cancer rates, particularly among elderly women. PhD Frederik Palshof from the Danish Cancer Institute explains: ?? "As life expectancy increases, more elderly individuals are maintaining good health. This means that more people are now fit enough to receive a cancer diagnosis and undergo both surgery and post-treatment care. Twenty years ago, cancer treatment was not as widely offered to older patients, as they were often not physically strong enough to endure it." ?? Analysing data from 2012 to 2021, Palshof and his colleagues found a significant rise in breast cancer incidence among women aged 80 and above, with the ER+/HER2- subtype driving the increase. The good news is that this subtype has the best prognosis and the gentlest treatment options. The growing number of elderly cancer patients is already shaping healthcare demands, and these findings can help prepare for the future. ?? "The more we understand about the patients entering the healthcare system, the better we can care for them and allocate resources effectively," says Palshof. The research was published here:? https://lnkd.in/dQyrAiXn

At the Danish Cancer Institute, we take great pride in our role in educating the scientists who will shape the future of cancer research ?? Every year, students successfully defend their master’s degrees and Ph.D.s with top marks. Through hands-on training, collaborative research, and close mentorship, we aim to equip the next generation with the best possible skills to succeed in advancing scientific discoveries ?? During her time at the DCI, Postdoc Victoria Alexandra Bjerregaard has mentored four students. She finds teaching and mentoring the next generation of scientists to be one of the most rewarding aspects of her job. “Sharing your curiosity and passion is truly fulfilling. As scientists, we sometimes get caught up in the challenges and routines of our work and forget just how exciting and impactful it really is — until our students show up with eager faces, express their fascination, and remind us why we love science,” Bjerregaard says. Most recently, Caroline Ryge Koch Oppelstrup received high praise after defending her thesis ?????? ???????? ???? ??????2?? ???? ?????????????????? ???????????????????? ?????????????????? ???? ????????????. “I highly recommend the DCI as a research environment for future students. The institute fosters a unique and dynamic atmosphere where knowledge and ideas are openly shared, creating an inspiring and supportive setting for scientific work,” Caroline says. If you’d like to join us at the DCI, keep an eye out for vacant positions on our web page: https://lnkd.in/dvTzhHNW?

?? World Cancer Day ??? This year’s campaign, "United by Unique", highlights the importance of patient-centred care, ensuring every cancer patient’s unique needs are met. At the Danish Cancer Institute, we are dedicated to research that will improve equitable and patient-centred care for all cancer patients. The need for research in this field is highlighted in this new study that reveals a troubling tendency: ?????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????? ?????????? – ?????? ?????? ?????? ????????????????. ?? In a nationwide population-based study, researchers from the Danish Cancer Institute have investigated how socioeconomic characteristics are associated with relapse and survival outcomes in childhood cancer. ?? The study finds that children of parents from non-Western countries have a significantly higher risk of dying from cancer compared to their peers.? ? PhD in the Cancer Survivorship group at the DCI, Fie Stegenborg, led the research. The findings raise critical questions about why such differences exist in a country with universal healthcare, she said: ?? "???? ?? ?????????????? ???????? ??????????????, ?????????? ????, ???? ??????????????????, ???????? ?????????? ???????????? ???? ???????????????????? ????????????????, ???? ???? ?????????? ??????????????-?????????????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ??????????????????. ?????????? ???? ???????????????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? ????????????????????, ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???? ?? ?????????????????????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????????????????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????????? ??????????????????." These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted strategies to ensure that all children - regardless of their parents’ background - receive the same high-quality care and support. The results are published in ACTA ONCOLOGICA: https://lnkd.in/dM4S9m5t

?? Researchers from the ?????????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ???????Danish Cancer Institute have published a comprehensive review in Redox Biology, exploring the ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????? ???????????????? ????????????????. Senior scientist and co-author of the review, Salvatore Rizza, explains: "???????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???????????????????? ???? ?????????? ?????????????????? ???????????? ???? ???? ?????????????????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????? ??????????????????????, ???? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ?????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ??????????????????—?????????????????? ?????????????????????? ???? ?????????? ?????????????????????? ?????? ????????????????????. ???? ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????????????????????????? ?????????????????? ?????????? ???????????????? ????????????????, ???? ?????????? ???? ?????????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????? ??????????????, ???????????????? ?? ???????????? ?????????????????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???????? ????????????????????????." The paper is ???????? ?????????????and can be found here: https://lnkd.in/dHHuMtvD

Scientists from the Danish Cancer Institute, in collaboration with Dr. Shyam Sharan Deputy director of the Mouse Cancer Genetics Program at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), have taken a significant step forward in understanding which mutations in BRCA2 significantly increase the risk of breast cancer. Around 45% of women who inherit a harmful BRCA2 mutation will develop breast cancer by the age of 70. However, not all mutations are harmful. DNA testing can identify these mutations, but in many cases, results fall into a grey area labelled “variants of uncertain significance.” This leaves both patients and doctors uncertain about whether a mutation is dangerous. Now, researchers from the Danish Cancer Institute, in collaboration with international colleagues, have made a breakthrough in determining which BRCA2 mutations increase cancer risk. Using advanced CRISPR technology, a humanised mouse embryonic stem cell model and high-throughput computational mutational scans, the team analysed more than 6,500 potential mutations, creating a detailed “mutation map” that distinguishes between harmful and harmless genetic changes. Group leader Elena Papaleo at the Danish Cancer Institute explains: ?? "We hope these findings transform uncertainty into actionable information for patients with BRCA2 variants. Many genetic tests reveal ‘variants of uncertain significance,’ leaving patients without clear guidance. Our study provides functional data to classify thousands of these variants as benign or harmful, helping clinicians interpret test results. For those with harmful variants, this could mean earlier interventions or personalised treatments, such as cisplatin or PARP inhibitors." The study, published in Nature, demonstrates the power of innovation and international collaboration in cancer research. It is exciting to see how bioinformatics, cellular biology, and clinical research are united to better understand BRCA2 and its variants, Elena Papaleo added. ?? "The multidisciplinary nature of this project allowed us to approach the problem from multiple angles and consider real-world implications. This synergy not only made the work deeply rewarding but also highlights how science thrives when people with different expertise come together to tackle complex and meaningful questions." Sahu, S., Galloux, M., Southon, E.?et al.?Saturation genome editing-based clinical classification of?BRCA2?variants.?Nature?(2025) https://lnkd.in/dh6RY9cE

?? Earlier this week, everyone at the Danish Cancer Institute gathered for the DCI Annual Retreat. This year was special as we were joined by 55 new colleagues, four new research groups, who will be joining us here at the DCI next month ?? The annual retreat is a great way to strengthen our collaboration and team spirit. A big shoutout to all colleagues for contributing such great science, lively discussions, great posters, intense networking, and a wonderful time together. Also a big thank you to guest speaker Professor Jens Juul Holst for a fascinating lecture on the study of GLP-1. We are thrilled to welcome our new colleagues and groups to the team ?? Thank you to everyone who made this year's DCI Annual Retreat a memorable event ?? The energy and insights from the retreat have left us all inspired and ready for the challenges ahead ??