Ongoing projects

A.    Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

HPV infection is involved in development of cancer in the uterine cervix as well as in vagina and vulva of women. In both sexes, HPV causes cancer in the anal and ear, nose and neck (ENT) regions. Our research projects are partly focused on the pathogenesis of HPV in cervical cancer, and partly on the rising incidence of HPV in ENT cancers. Subprojects:

1. HPV types involved in the progression from initial infection to high-grade cellular lesions in uterine cervix. This is a clinical retrospective follow-up study of about 1000 women in Western Norway, who are under surveillance for equivocal or low-grade cervical lesions.
2. Quality control of HPV testing in women with equivocal or low-grade cervical lesions.
3. HPV types involved in recurrent high-grade cervical lesions, a post-conisation study.
4. HPV types involved in high-grade cervical lesions including cancer. This is a pan-European multicenter study with local REK approval and funding through GlaxoSmithKline. 
5. Role of HPV in pathogenesis of oral cancer, especially in back of tongue and pharyngeal tonsillar cancer. In recent years, HPV has surfaced as a major player in the pathogenesis of ENT cancer. Patients with ENT-cancer caused by HPV infection have a better long-term survival after treatment than HPV-negative ENT cancers. This a collaborative research project lead by prof. Aarstad at the ENT Department at Haukeland University Hospital.

 B.    Lymphomas.

Our lymphoma studies are focused on molecular diagnostic parameters in lymphomas, including immunoglobulin clonal rearrangements and other molecular prognostic biomarkers.

Subprojects:

1. Role of immunoglobulin molecular analysis in lymphomas. This study aims to validate current diagnostic approaches and to improve the clinical molecular analysis employed in the diagnosis of lymphoma, including detection of bone marrow affection and early detection of residual disease. This is a PhD project for Ellen Berget, MD.
2. Prognostic molecular biomarkers in lymphomas, especially in follicular lymphomas.

 C.    Sarcomas.

Sarcomas are a diverse group of malign spindle cell tumors that sometimes also affect children. In these tumors, very distinct molecular genetic aberrations occur that are important for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment options. Subprojects:

1. Molecular analysis in lipomas, atypical lipomas, and liposarcomas. This is a quality assurance study to improve the molecular diagnosis, obtaining better discrimination of benign from low-grade and high-grade lipomatous soft tissue tumors.
2. Mutational analysis in gastro-intestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Over the past few years a number of activating gene mutations have been discovered in the KIT and PDGFB genes. New treatment strategies have become available in which the response to therapy depends on the type of mutations involved.

D. Non-small cell lung cancer.