Clinical Brain Tumor Research
Short description
Clinical Brain Tumor Research focuses on optimizing the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with various types of brain tumors. We perform interventional, observational and epidemiological studies, and are involved in translational studies in close collaboration with researchers in basic sciences.
Summary of research
We are an interdisciplinary group that studies areas related to clinical brain tumor research with a broad focus, both in terms of area and methodology. We conduct research in all stages of patient care, from diagnostics and treatment to quality of life, mostly for different types of gliomas, but also meningioma and other tumors involving the central nervous system.
The goals of the research group are to improve the quality of life and survival for patients with brain tumors, stimulate evidence-based research and teaching in the brain tumor area, create a stimulating scientific environment in neuro-oncology, and encourage interdisciplinary collaborations with researchers in basic sciences.
In addition to a close collaboration between and within GU and VGR, we collaborate with Chalmers in projects involving machine learning, as well as several other research groups, both in Sweden and abroad.
Ongoing research projects in selection:
- Supramarginal surgery in glioblastoma (https://www.supramarginaltrial.com)
- Long-term follow-up of patients with brain tumors
- Low-grade gliomas and consequences for daily life
- Imaging analyses for diagnosis/classification, prognostication, and evaluation of treatment in patients with brain tumors
- Liquid biopsies for tumors within the central nervous system
- Evaluation of novel surgical techniques (in treating brain tumors)
- Biomarker and diagnostic studies in patients with brain tumors, focusing on methylation-based techniques, immunohistochemistry and proteomics
Conferences our team will present at during autumn 2025
- National brain tumor day, Lund, September 2025
- EANO (European Association of Neuro-Oncology) Annual Meeting, Prague, October 2025
- AINO (Association of Italian Neuro-oncology), Annual Meeting, Naples, October 2025
Group members
Principal Investigators:
Asgeir Jakola
Anja Smits
Bertil Rydenhag
Researchers:
Malin Blomstrand
Thomas Olsson Bontell
Louise Carstam
Alba Corell
Tomás Gómez Vecchio
Anneli Ozanne
Erik Thurin
Research assistants and nurses:
Annie Andersson
Lovisa Aronsson
Anna Dénes
Doctoral students:
Hanna Barchéus
Paula Klurfan
Anna Lipatnikova
Alice Neimantaite
Isabelle Rydén
Pernilla Ståhl
Katja Werlenius
Preparatory studies:
Mohammad Al Masri
Ayman Al Zuabi
Erik Elgeskog
Dima Harba
Sophia Leiss
Andrew Lycett
Okizeva Rapi
Lotta Weyhenmeyer
Main Collaborators in Gothenburg Area
Helena Carén
Ida Häggström
Selected publications
Survival prediction with radiomics for patients with IDH mutated lower-grade glioma.
Neimantaite A, Carstam L, Gómez Vecchio T, Häggström I, Dunås T, Latini F, Zetterling M, Blomstrand M, Bartek J, Jensdottir M, Thurin E, Smits A, Jakola AS.
J Neurooncol. 2025 Mar 18. doi: 10.1007/s11060-025-05006-z. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40100522
The T1/T2 Ratio is Associated With Resectability in Patients With Isocitrate Dehydrogenase-Mutant Astrocytomas Central Nervous System World Health Organization Grades 2 and 3.
Weller J, de Dios E, Katzendobler S, Corell A, Dénes A, Schmutzer-Sondergeld M, Javanmardi N, Thon N, Tonn JC, Jakola AS. Neurosurgery. 2024 Jun 26. doi: 10.1227/neu.0000000000003069. Online ahead of print. PMID: 38920377
Global health status and fatigue score in isocitrate dehydrogenase-mutant diffuse glioma grades 2 and 3: A longitudinal population-based study from surgery to 12-month follow-up.
Gómez Vecchio T, Rydén I, Ozanne A, Blomstrand M, Carstam L, Smits A, Jakola AS.
Neurooncol Pract. 2024 Mar 1;11(3):347-357. doi: 10.1093/nop/npae017. PMID: 38737607
Tailoring vascular phenotype through AAV therapy promotes anti-tumor immunity in glioma.
Ramachandran M, Vaccaro A, van de Walle T, Georganaki M, Lugano R, Vemuri K, Kourougkiaouri D, Vazaios K, Hedlund M, Tsaridou G, Uhrbom L, Pietilä I, Martikainen M, van Hooren L, Olsson Bontell T, Jakola AS, Yu D, Westermark B, Essand M, Dimberg A.
Cancer Cell. 2023 Jun 12;41(6):1134-1151.e10. doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.04.010. Epub 2023 May 11.PMID: 37172581
Effect of Disulfiram and Copper Plus Chemotherapy vs Chemotherapy Alone on Survival in Patients With Recurrent Glioblastoma: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Werlenius K, Kinhult S, Solheim TS, Magelssen H, Löfgren D, Mudaisi M, Hylin S, Bartek J Jr, Strandéus M, Lindskog M, Bahroz Rashid H, Carstam L, Gulati S, Solheim O, Bartek J, Salvesen Ø, Jakola AS.
JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(3):e234149. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.4149
Longitudinal DNA methylation analysis of adult-type IDH-mutant gliomas.
Ferreyra Vega S, Olsson Bontell T, Kling T, Jakola AS, Carén H.
Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2023;11(1). doi:10.1186/s40478-023-01520-1
Reviews and guidelines
Role of the tumor board when prescribing mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase inhibitors to patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase-mutant glioma.
Roth P, Capper D, Calabrese E, Halasz LM, Jakola AS.
Neurooncol Pract. 2024 Dec 4;12(Suppl 1):i29-i37. doi: 10.1093/nop/npae100. eCollection 2025 Feb.PMID: 39776528
Translating the theranostic concept to neuro-oncology: disrupting barriers.
Albert NL, Le Rhun E, Minniti G, Mair MJ, Galldiks N, Tolboom N, Jakola AS, Niyazi M, Smits M, Verger A, Cicone F, Weller M, Preusser M;
European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Brain Tumor Group.Lancet Oncol. 2024 Sep;25(9):e441-e451. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(24)00145-1.PMID: 39214115 Review
The oncological role of resection in newly diagnosed diffuse adult-type glioma defined by the WHO 2021 classification: a Review by the RANO resect group.
Karschnia P, Gerritsen JKW, Teske N, Cahill DP, Jakola AS, van den Bent M, Weller M, Schnell O, Vik-Mo EO, Thon N, Vincent AJPE, Kim MM, Reifenberger G, Chang SM, Hervey-Jumper SL, Berger MS, Tonn JC.
Lancet Oncol. 2024 Sep;25(9):e404-e419. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(24)00130-X
EANO guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of diffuse gliomas of adulthood.
Weller M, van den Bent M, Preusser M, Le Rhun E, Tonn JC, Minniti G, Bendszus M, Balana C, Chinot O, Dirven L, French P, Hegi ME, Jakola AS, Platten M, Roth P, Rudà R, Short S, Smits M, Taphoorn MJB, von Deimling A, Westphal M, Soffietti R, Reifenberger G, Wick W.
Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2021 Mar;18(3):170-186. doi: 10.1038/s41571-020-00447-z. Epub 2020 Dec 8.PMID: 33293629
