On October 11th, 2024, our PhD Candidate Marjut Metsäniitty has successfully defended her doctoral thesis at the University of Helsinki, focusing on the innovative exploration of bacterial-derived extracellular vesicles in oral cancer and the development of serum resistance.
The defence was conducted under the expert examination of the Opponent Prof. Margaret Sällberg Chen, from Karolinska Institutet, who provided valuable insights and engaged in a lively academic discussion.
The thesis was awarded the grade "Approved with Distinction", which is the highest merit granted by the University, recognizing the exceptional quality and impact of the dissertation.
Thesis title: Role of extracellular vesicles from periodontopathogens in serum resistance and oral cancer
Thesis supervisor: Doc. Abdelhakim Salem
Read more: https://helda.helsinki.fi/items/03829fcd-d739-41d1-bfb4-d61e8d3155c3
Our PhD Candidate Sini Karinen received the Best Graduation Thesis Award of the Dental school at the University of Helsinki on March 17th, 2023.
The thesis work is focused on lymphangiogenesis as a key process in cancer development and metastasis. Lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 (LYVE‐1) is a widely used marker for lymphatic endothelial cells, which also mediates immune and cancer cell migration. We provided a unifying detailed assessment of its prognostic utility in different cancer types.
We are excited to share the latest results from our lab exploring the molecular mechanisms behind tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC), one of the most aggressive forms of head and neck cancers.
Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, we successfully knocked out the LYVE-1 gene in human tongue cancer cells. This allowed us to examine how LYVE-1 contributes to tumour progression at the transcriptomic level. Our results revealed that LYVE-1 plays a key role in regulating genes involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), extracellular matrix remodelling, and immune modulation—three crucial processes driving metastasis.
These findings not only deepen our understanding of LYVE-1’s tumour-promoting functions but also highlight the power of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in identifying molecular targets in cancer. The study opens new avenues for therapeutic strategies aimed at preventing lymphatic metastasis in TSCC.
Stay tuned for more research updates!
Congratulations to our PhD Candidate Roosa Hujanen who has successfully defended her doctoral thesis at the University of Helsinki on December 8th, 2023, investigating the role of vasculogenic mimicry in head and cancers including drug resistance.
The defence was enriched by the expertise of the Opponent Docent Maria Sundvall, University of Turku, who held an engaging lively academic dialogue.
Thesis title: Vasculogenic mimicry in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Thesis supervisor: Doc. Abdelhakim Salem