Research for better prostate cancer diagnostics

As a Wallenberg Scholar, Joakim Lundeberg wants to use the latest research results to develop a new way of detecting and monitoring prostate cancer.

The introduction of spatial molecular methods for tissue sectioning has revolutionised the study of tumours. The spatial analysis has resulted in a very comprehensive understanding of the heterogeneity of tumours, the tumour microenvironment, the stroma, and the overall cellular architecture. 

New biomarkers

Joakim Lundeberg and his research team want to take advantage of the latest findings in prostate cancer, achieved by spatial methods, to develop a conceptually new set of biomarkers and methods for blood and urine samples. 

Their goal is to develop:

• broad tumour biomarker panels from spatial data for the whole prostate.
• broad stromal biomarkers from prostate and matched metastases
• 3D alignment and visualisation of gene expression and small molecules using machine learning.
• strategies to explore the new spatial biomarkers in clinical cohorts.

In this way, the research team wants to take the first step in translating spatial findings to the diagnosis and monitoring of prostate cancer, one of the most common types of cancer.