Patrick Micke – Integrative Lung Cancer Pathology

Our research focuses on identifying genes and proteins that are altered in lung cancer tissues. The overall aim is to develop improved treatment strategies for this severe disease.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in Sweden with an incidence of approximately 4000 new cases each year. In recent years, a fundamentally different treatment strategy has emerged in clinical oncology. The inhibition of regulatory elements of the T-cell activation, so called immune-checkpoints, has shown that the immune system can eliminate cancer. Several drugs are now approved or in late clinical trials, demonstrating impressive
long-lasting response rates in lung cancer patients.

A tumour contains different cell types

These findings prove the notion that cancer is a complex composition of different cell types, where the malignant epithelial component often represents the minority of the cells. Pathologists have for a long time recognized that the proliferation of stroma cells and the infiltration of immune cells proceed or accompany tumourigenesis.

Molecular analyses of lung cancer tissues

The focus of our research group is to address the complex cellular composition of lung cancer. We use human lung cancer tissue and perform molecular analyses that are based on the concert of different cell types in the in situ environment. In this integrative approach, we combine genomic information with clinical parameters to identify molecular interactions that can be utilized as biomarkers or new treatment targets.

Read more about our research