CCBIO's vision is to discover, validate and apply biomarkers to improve the understanding of cancer biology, increase diagnostic precision, and improve targeted treatment in a cost-effective and socially responsible way.
During 2013-2024, CCBIO has advanced the understanding of tumor-microenvironment interactions and has reported novel protein-based and functional single-cell biomarkers, improving precision treatment and companion diagnostics. CCBIO has fundamentally improved the integration with societal studies and presented data on economic evaluation and priority models related to biomarkers. The CCBIO signature includes a strong focus on education and communication.
The center explores the concept that cancer development and progression can be understood not just in terms of intrinsic changes in tumor cells, but also by their interaction with the tumor microenvironment (TME) in complex tissue niches, and that such mechanisms might be reflected by biomarkers to improve patient stratification and precision therapy. CCBIO uses preclinical models (cell lines, organoids, PDX, imaging) and sample collections (tissue, blood) from human cancer cohorts and trials. Cutting-edge technology has been established (e.g. imaging mass cytometry, single-cell analytics).
CCBIO has uncovered novel biological properties of the cancer organism by which tumor cells can interact with the surrounding TME to support their growth and spread, and how to monitor such processes locally and systemically. Related molecular biomarkers have been translated to improve precision therapy for cancer patients.
The center has spearheaded economic evaluation and ethical studies of biomarkers (ELSA/RRI), aiming to examine new biomarkers from a societal perspective, investigating priority models and how new markers and treatments influence costs and benefits.
Projects are performed in a context of strong educational programs provided by the CCBIO Research School for Cancer Studies. Since 2022, the CCBIO Masterclass mentoring program has been running to promote early career development.
During 2013-2024, data on how tumor cells influence local and distant TME tissues have been reported, including the balance between immune stimulation and immune suppression (Sui et al., Nat Commun 2022). Proteomic analysis of TME tissue indicates unique stromal programs as features of cancer progression, including hypoxia induced metabolic switches (Kjølle et al., Nat Commun 2023). Imaging Mass Cytometry with single-cell mapping and spatial analysis have been established to advance deeper studies of cancer tissues (Lien et al., eBioMedicine 2022). The field of cancer neuroscience is emerging, and novel data on how nerve cells interact with breast cancer cells to increase aggressiveness have been reported (Bjørnstad et al., eBioMedicine 2024).
Biomarker-intense clinical trials have been conducted. Receptor sequencing of T-lymphocytes has demonstrated marked diversity of the immune response following cryo-immunotherapy for advanced prostate cancer (Thomsen et al., Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023). In leukemia, functional assays by single-cell profiling have been developed as a basis for early-phase dynamic monitoring and adaptive treatment (Tislevoll et al., Nat Commun 2023). Anti-Axl therapy by bemcentinib has been shown to restore PD-1 blockade sensitivity in a lung cancer subgroup by increasing CD8 T-cells (Li et al., Cell Rep Med 2022).
CCBIO has strong and increasing internal and international collaboration, also by recruitment of 17 international top scientists to adjunct positions. The center has organized 11 international symposia and multiple larger meetings and workshops, e.g. symposia on P53 (2017), Liquid Biopsies (2018), and Deep Tissue Profiling (2019). In 2016, CCBIO initiated the annual Scandinavian network symposium for tissue-based tumor studies (SCANPATH).
CCBIO builds long term competences, e.g. through the open research school with 12 key courses, monthly seminars with international speakers, and the CCBIO Junior Scientist Symposium organized by postdocs and PhD students 4 times annually. CCBIO’s INTPART program was funded twice in collaboration with the Vascular Biology Program (VBP) at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard. The CCBIO-VBP Research Meeting was organized in 2019 and 2024.
Significant external funding was achieved during 2013-2024 (320 mill NOK / 41%), including a Trond Mohn Foundation (TMF) Starting Grant to Dr. Carina Strell, from Uppsala University. In 2023, OF Norheim received CoE-funding from RCN, and in 2024, BT Gjertsen received funding for a KG Jebsen centre. Four CCBIO books have been published, two of them in 2022: Akslen & Watnick, eds. Biomarkers of the Tumor Microenvironment. (Springer, 2022; textbook, 2. ed.) ; Bremer & Strand, eds: Precision Oncology and Cancer Biomarkers: Issues at Stake and Matters of Concern. (Springer, 2022).
CCBIO has entailed multiple contributions in the field of cancer biomarkers - to other researchers, patients, and to society.
Outcomes: Novel data have been published, on single protein biomarkers, immuno-profiling, and proteomic and transcriptomic signatures, leading to better understanding of cancer biology. Many of the biomarkers have been derived from clinical cohorts, and improvement of patient stratification has been shown. Several markers are tested in clinical trials (e.g. Axl, Erk1/2, proteomic signatures, CTC). Novel pathology-based markers have been included in national guidelines. Data are made available to the research community.
CCBIO has performed and participated in multiple clinical trials, on novel therapy for cancer patients, with attached studies on predictive biomarkers. New protocols and procedures for biomarker studies in trials have been presented.
CCBIO has modernized and reshaped the education of early-career cancer researchers nationally with its widely acclaimed research school. The CCBIO research school was established in 2014 and offers a comprehensive portfolio of courses for the master, PhD and postdoc levels, as well as many seminars, meetings and symposia. The educational impact of the research school goes beyond Norway, with wide international participation and due to networking with the Vascular Biology Program (VBP) at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School (funded by RCN-INTPART grants). This has secured bilateral exchange of research students and teachers since 2016 and two CCBIO-VBP Research Meetings (2019, 2024). The Masterclass Program at CCBIO is important for career development.
CCBIO has given priority to third mission activities. This has resulted in public reports and evaluations, hundreds of public attendances, TV and radio interviews, popular dissemination articles, and commentaries, web page, newsletters and SOME posts.
Impacts: CCBIO is a cancer research center with a mission to perform fundamental studies along the translational value chain. Regarding long-term influences, we believe that our outcomes are significantly improving the precision of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in cancer medicine, with better outcome for patients. Subsequently, this leads to a better cost-effectiveness profile and more responsible cancer management. Thus, we contribute to the improvement of public health in Norway and elsewhere.
Studies of economic evaluation of trials, in the context of biomarker use, are performed. Also, analyses of models for priorities and reimbursement policies are presented. Such results are essential as a basis for improved health care.
By its unique integration of social sciences and the humanities, CCBIO contributes to cultural development in the sense of a reflexive understanding of personalized cancer medicine. Through our interdisciplinary research efforts, we work to combine state-of-the-art biomedical knowledge with philosophically grounded reflections.
English version
The vision of the Centre for Cancer Biomarkers is to discover, validate and translate functional cancer biomarkers to improve biological understanding, diagnosis and treatment of aggressive cancer. The Centre builds on the novel concept of a "contextual cancer code" where tumor cells are educated by the microenvironment to behave aggressively. Understanding the complex cancer tissue landscape requires new approaches that capture the influence of tumor stroma and move beyond the linear focu s on genetic alterations. The Centre aims to develop current knowledge and competence in this novel field by: 1) characterizing biological and molecular mechanisms in tumor-stroma interactions, and 2) identifying and validating new diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for rapid clinical implementation (such as Axl, Stathmin, Prosaposin).
The vision will be fulfilled through three integrated and overlapping research programs, each with complementary projects: 1. Mechanisms of tumor-microenvironment interactions (preclinical models); 2. Identification and validation of prognostic and predictive biomarkers; 3. Clinical implementation of biomarkers and targets (clinical studies and trials).
The CCBIO will rely on innovative preclinical models comprising multiple cell types and matrix components, and novel interrogation methods for measuring underlying molecular mechanisms of tumor-stroma interactions. Further, the Centre will use large biobanks and collections of specimens and clinical information ( in-house and through collaboration), and a Clinical Trials Unit. The Centre model will promote rapid clinical translation of basic studies through long-term competence building, researcher training facilitated by strong collaboration networks, investigator mobility and collaboration with industry partners. This approach aims to provide an extended "molecular taxonomy of cancer" beyond standard schemes, to enable a "molecular forecast" of cancer prognosis and response to treatment.
Norwegian version
Centre for Cancer Biomarkers visjon er å finne, validere og anvende gode biomarkører for kreft. Dette vil forbedre vår forståelse av sykdommens biologi, og dermed øke presisjonen i diagnostisk utredning og bedre effekten av målrettet behandling av ulike kreft former. Senteret bygger på det nye konseptet om en kontekstuell kreft-kode, dette at kreftsykdommers utvikling og progresjon må forståes ikke bare utifra endringer i selve kreftcellene, men også deres interaksjon med mikromiljøet i svulstene. Det å fors tå det komplekse vevslandskapet i svulster krever nye tilnærminger som inkluderer bedret forståelse av tumors støttevev. Senteret sikter mot å utvikle kunnskap og kompetanse innen dette nye feltet ved å: 1) karakterisere biologiske og molekylære mekanisme r for tumor-stroma og tumor-vaskulær interaksjon, og 2) identifisere og validere nye diagnostiske markører og terapeutiske mål for rask klinisk anvendelse (eksempelvis Axl, Stathmin, Prosaposin). I tillegg til biologisk rettet forskning vil senteret etablere prosjekter innen etikk og helseøkonomi, for å undersøke hvordan bruken av nye kreftmarkører virker i et samfunnsperspektiv.
Visjonen vil bli oppfylt gjennom tre integrerte forskningsprogrammer, hvert av disse med prosjekter som utfyller hverandre: 1. Mekanismer for interaksjon mellom tumorceller og mikromiljø (prekliniske modeller), 2. Identifisering og validering av prognostiske og prediktive biomarkører, 3: Klinisk anvendelse av biomarkører og nye behandlingsmål (kliniske studier og utprøvende diagnostikk og behandling).
Senteret vil basere seg på innovative prekliniske modeller som inkluderer et bredt spekter av celletyper og matrixkomponenter (in vitro) og ulike dyremodeller med avansert bildeanalyse (in vivo). Senteret vil anvende store biobanker og databanker med klinisk informasjon (lokalt og gjennom vitenskapelig samarbeid). Senterets organisering vil søke å fremme rask klinisk anvendelse av resultatene. I tillegg vil senteret bidra til mer langsiktig kompetansebygging, forskerutdanning tilre ttelagt gjennom sterke samarbeidsnettverk nasjonalt og internasjonalt med god forskermobilitet, og samarbeid med industrielle partnere. God formidling av senterets aktivitet og resultater blir en viktig oppgave.
Senterets tilnærming tar sikte på å forbedre molekylær klassifisering av kreftsvulster for å forbedre diagnostikk og skreddersydd behandling.
