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 2026
- Northern Lights / SNOG Symposium, Copenhagen, April 2026
- German Surgical Society, Leipzig, April 2026
- Neurolympics, Rome, May 2026
- AINO (Association of Italian Neuro-oncology) Annual Meeting, Rome, May 2026
- Slovak Neurosurgical Society Annual meeting, Bratislava, June 2026
- EANO (European Association of Neuro-Oncology) Annual Meeting, Rome, September 2026
- EANS (European Association of Neurosurgical Societies) Annual meeting, Hamburg, October 2026
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
Dima Harba
Paula Klurfan
Anna Lipatnikova
Okizeva Rapi
Isabelle Rydén
Katja Werlenius
Preparatory studies:
Ayman Al Zuabi
Mohammad Amairi
Erik Elgeskog
Andrew Lycett
Lotta Weyhenmeyer
Main Collaborators in Gothenburg Area
Helena Carén
Ida Häggström - Chalmers University of Technology
Selected publications
A prognostic classification system for extent of resection in IDH-mutant grade 2 glioma: an international, multicentre, retrospective cohort study with external validation by the RANO resect group.
Karschnia P, Young JS, Wijnenga MMJ, Sciortino T, Teske N, Corell A, Wagner A, Youssef G, Park YW, Häni L, Jünger ST, Dono A, Ehret F, Mireles EEM, Neidert N, Bruno F, Tuchek CA, van der Vaart T, Rossi M, Nibali MC, Gay L, Gramelt A, Tandon N, Ahn SS, Chang JH, Weller M, Vincent AJPE, Goldbrunner R, Cahill DP, Huang RY, Raabe A, Meyer B, Beck J, Molinaro AM, Chang SM, Vogelbaum MA, Rudà R, Vik-Mo EO, Dietrich J, Esquenazi Y, Grau SJ, Wen PY, Jakola AS, Schnell O, Bello L, van den Bent MJ, Hervey-Jumper S, Berger MS, Tonn JC.
Lancet Oncol. 2025 Dec;26(12):1638-1650. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(25)00534-0. PMID: 41308678
Reliable cognitive changes the first year following guideline-based treatment of IDH mutated gliomas: a longitudinal multicenter study.
Rydén I, Latini F, Munkhammar ÅA, Hellström P, Neimantaite A, Lycett A, Harba D, Carstam L, Blomstrand M, Zetterling M, Smits A, Jakola AS.
Neuro Oncol. 2025 Nov 9:noaf263. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noaf263. Online ahead of print. PMID: 41206933
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
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
A comprehensive framework for glioma surgery by the PIONEER Consortium and RANO resect group, part 2: perioperative recommendations for neurological, language, functional, and quality-of-life assessment.
Gerritsen JKW, Karschnia P, Bello L, Hervey-Jumper S, Young JS, Seidel K, Satoer DD, Schnell O, Parsons M, Nahed BV, Menna G, Teske N; External Rater Panel; Smith TR, Sanai N, Krieg SM, Schucht P, Broekman MLD, De Vleeschouwer S, Jakola AS, van den Bent MJ, Chang SM, Vogelbaum MA, Vincent AJPE, Tonn JC, Berger MS.
Lancet Oncol. 2026 Jan;27(1):e24-e32. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(25)00532-7. PMID: 41449155 Review.
A comprehensive framework for glioma surgery by the PIONEER Consortium and RANO resect group, part 1: intraoperative recommendations for mapping, monitoring, and decision making.
Gerritsen JKW, Karschnia P, Bello L, Hervey-Jumper S, Young JS, Seidel K, Satoer DD, Schnell O, Parsons M, Nahed BV, Menna G, Teske N; External Rater Panel; Smith TR, Sanai N, Krieg SM, Schucht P, Broekman MLD, De Vleeschouwer S, Jakola AS, van den Bent MJ, Chang SM, Vogelbaum MA, Vincent AJPE, Tonn JC, Berger MS.
Lancet Oncol. 2026 Jan;27(1):e11-e23. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(25)00531-5. PMID: 41449153 Review.
EANS-EANO Guidelines on the extent of resection in gliomas.
Goldbrunner R, Foroglou N, Signorelli F, Schucht P, Jakola AS, Minniti G, Rola R, Renovanz M, Preusser M, Furtner J, Grossman R, Mawrin C, Demetriades A, Weller M, Simon M.
Neuro Oncol. 2025 Sep 17:noaf217. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noaf217. Online ahead of print. PMID: 40973061
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
Research news
Many older women may have undetected brain tumors [2025-06-25]
Cognitive decline after treatment of slow-growing brain tumor [2025-11-25]