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
We are thrilled to share that our PhD student, Saika Hasnat has been awarded a grant from Suomen Naishammaslääkärit— an association supporting female dentists in science— in recognition of her outstanding research.
This award reflects not only Saika's dedication and scientific rigor, but also the kind of researcher she is: curious, persistent, and never quite doing just one thing at a time — as the photo can confirm :)
Huge well done, Saika!
Photo caption: Multitasking in the lab: pipetting while following a Zoom lecture.
The public doctoral examination of our PhD candidate DDS. Sini Karinen was successfully held at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki. The opponent was Adjunct Professor Elisa Närvä (University of Turku), the President of the Finnish Society of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology. The examination was characterised by a high-level and engaging scientific discussion.
In her thesis, Sini investigated the role of the lymphatic receptor LYVE-1 in oral cancer. The work brings together her background in human genetics and her clinical training in dentistry, focusing on how LYVE-1 and lymphatic signalling may contribute to tumour behaviour in the oral cavity. The research sheds light on mechanisms that may influence tumour progression and the interaction between cancer cells and their microenvironment, with potential long-term relevance for diagnosis and treatment strategies in oral oncology. Congratulations!
Our PhD Candidate Sini Karinen received the Best Graduation Thesis Award of the Dental school at the University of Helsinki.
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.
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
How do bacteria shape cancer biology — and can this knowledge be translated into new therapeutic strategies?
We are pleased to announce a new Scientific Reports Collection titled “Bacteria-cancer interaction: from mechanism to therapy,” for which Dr. Abdelhakim Salem will serve as Guest Editor.
The relationship between bacteria and cancer is emerging as one of the most exciting frontiers in microbiology, oncology, immunology, and translational medicine. Bacteria and bacterial products can influence tumour initiation, progression, immune evasion, therapy response, and metastatic behaviour, while tumour microenvironments may also reshape local and systemic microbial communities. Understanding this dynamic crosstalk offers new opportunities to uncover disease mechanisms, identify biomarkers, and develop innovative therapeutic approaches.
This Collection invites both original research and review articles that advance our understanding of the diverse roles of bacteria, bacterial products, and tumour-associated microbial communities in cancer biology and therapy. We particularly welcome studies addressing fundamental mechanisms, biomedical models, preclinical discoveries, translational approaches, and clinical insights.
Researchers working in this rapidly developing field are warmly invited to submit their original research manuscripts and contribute to this timely Collection.
Submission details will be available through the official Scientific Reports Collection page once the Collection is launched.
The Head and Neck Oncobiome Research Group (Salem Lab) at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, is seeking a motivated and skilled postdoctoral researcher to join an innovative project exploring how oral microbiome contributes to the initiation and progression of head and neck cancers. The position is initially funded for one year (with the possibility of extension), and will commence as soon as a suitable candidate is identified.
We seek a candidate with:
Application Instructions:
Interested candidates are invited to send the following documents combined into a single PDF file by email to:
Please apply by 15.6.2026
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!