Group Sukanya Raghavan

Research summary

Our research focuses on patients with lung cancer treated with immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting PD-1. By blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction, these therapies have transformed cancer care and can lead to long-lasting responses and in some patients, complete remission. However, many patients do not benefit from the treatment. Some show no response from the start (primary resistance), while others initially respond but later relapse (acquired resistance). The mechanisms driving relapse are still not fully understood, and addressing this gap is a central focus of our research.

Today, treatment response is mainly monitored using CT scans every 12 weeks. While this remains an important tool, it provides relatively late feedback and limited insight into the underlying biology of the tumor. More frequent imaging is often not feasible due to cost, logistics, and radiation exposure. We believe there is a need for minimally invasive, real-time approaches that can better track treatment response and detect early signs of resistance, allowing for more timely and informed treatment decisions.

Our work aims to integrate clinical data with molecular and immune profiling to better understand how patients respond to immunotherapy. We analyze tumor mutation profiles, circulating tumor DNA, systemic inflammatory markers, treatment-related side effects, and immune cell populations in blood. By combining these data, we seek to identify which patients are most likely to benefit from treatment and which may be at risk of relapse.

In parallel, we are developing patient-derived cell culture models that incorporate both tumor and immune cells. These models allow us to study mechanisms of resistance more directly and explore new therapeutic strategies in a setting that reflects the patient’s own biology.

Overall, our goal is to improve how treatment response is monitored in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), enabling earlier, more informed, and individualized care. Through close clinical collaboration and access to well-established patient cohorts, we aim to ensure that our research can be translated into improvements in patient outcomes.

Research tools and resources

In collaboration with Anna Rohlin at the Center for clinical genetics, we have established a patient-specific assays for monitoring relapse after treatment by measuring the ctDNA in circulation. We have also established a biobank of samples from patients, pre- and post-immunotherapy and longitudinally over a period of 2 years that also us to monitor biomarkers of response and relapse. 

We culture primary cells and have set up assays for studying the tumour-antigen specific responses. Methods include bioinformatics analysis and primary cell culture, potency assays, multi-parameter flow cytometry, 6-color immunofluorescence staining and multiplex cytokine analysis.

Current group members

Sukanya Raghavan, PhD, Associate Professor, PI
Anna Rohlin, PI at Clinical Genetics
Ida Karlsson, Clinical research fellow
Johanna Svensson, PhD student at Clinical Genetics
Christina Krångh Turesson, Nurse at Oncology