About the group

The Neuro-Oncology Research Group is anchored at the Institute of Clinical Medicine (Klinmed), University of Oslo, and Oslo University Hospital, Department of Oncology.

The group is multidisciplinary and includes:

  • clinical oncologists
  • radiologists
  • PhD candidates
  • postdoctoral fellows
  • research nurses
  • medical physicists
  • radiation therapists

The group has a strong clinical profile, with a particular emphasis on interventional clinical studies. There is a close link between daily clinical work and research activities.

Research activities span a broad range of fields, including:

  • epidemiology
  • clinical trials
  • translational research
  • quality of life
  • late effects

Long-term aims

The Neuro-Oncology Research Group has two overarching goals:

Improving survival

The group develops and evaluates new treatment strategies, including national and international clinical interventional studies.

Improving quality of life

Research also focuses on treatment-related side effects, late complications, and rehabilitation, aiming to improve long-term patient outcomes.

A key priority is to offer patients inclusion in clinical studies, including:

  • investigator-initiated studies
  • national and international academic studies
  • international industry-sponsored trials

Other prioritized research areas include:

  • effects and side effects of proton therapy
  • use of real-world data
  • development and improvement of patient pathways
  • collaboration with international and industrial partners

Projects

We currently include patients in the following interventional clinical studies:

  • PRO-GLIO – proton versus photon therapy in IDH-mutated diffuse glioma grade 2 and 3
  • INSULA – melflufen in patients with recurrent glioblastoma
  • Lomustine study – lomustine as add-on in patients with MGMT unmethylated newly-diagnosed glioblastoma
  • ISM-GBM – individualized therapy in patients with recurrent glioblastoma
  • DEN-STEM – individualized vaccine therapy in patients with MGMT methylated newly-diagnosed glioblastoma
  • LEGATO – reirradiation in patients with recurrent glioblastoma
  • LUMEN1 – Lutathera in patients with meningioma and no available anti-neoplastic therapy
  • IMPRESS Norway – individualized targeted therapy in patients with brain tumors with no available anti-neoplastic therapy
  • MATRIX-RARE - individualized targeted therapy in patients with brain tumors at primary diagnosis
  • FORTE – plixorafenib in patients with BRAF-altered brain tumors

We have included patients in the following interventional clinical studies which are now closed for enrolment:

  • EORTC 1320 – trabectedin in recurrent higher grade meningioma
  • ROAR - BRAF-targeted treatment in BRAF V600E-mutated diffuse glioma
  • CA 209-498 – nivolumab in MGMT-negative newly-diagnosed glioblastoma
  • CA 209-548 - nivolumab in MGMT-positive newly-diagnosed glioblastoma
  • DIRECT – disulfiram and copper in recurrent glioblastoma
  • EORTC 1709/MIRAGE – marizomib in newly-diagnosed glioblastoma
  • CC90010-GBM-002 – bromodomain and extraterminal domain inhibitor in newly-diagnosed glioblastoma
  • VIGAS2 – valganciclovir in newly-diagnosed glioblastoma
  • IMPRESS losartan – losartan in newly-diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma
  • BORTEM – bortezomib in recurrent glioblastoma

Collaboration partners and funding sources

We collaborate with both national and international institutions and partners.

National

  • Norwegian Cancer Society
  • South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority
  • Norwegian Neuro-Oncology Interest Group (NNOIG)
  • Norwegian Brain Tumour Association
  • Norwegian Brain Tumour Consortium (NBTC)
  • Vilhelm Magnus Laboratory, Oslo University Hospital
  • MRI Research & Technology, Oslo University Hospital

International 

  • Skandion Clinic
  • University of Gothenburg, Department of Oncology
  • Danish Comprehensive Cancer Center Brain Tumor Center
  • Karolinska Institutet
  • Oncopeptides

Publications

  • Werlenius K, Parcaoglu F, Zupancic M,… Brandal P, et al (2026). Unexpected frequency of radiation induced contrast enhancement after proton radiotherapy in glioma patients treated within the Swedish PRO-CNS study. Radiotherapy and Oncology, 2026, doi.org/10.1016/j.radonc.2026.111569
  • Heggebø LC, Fjæra LF, Garrote FLB, et al (2026) Case Report: Proton beam therapy – friend or foe for patients with IDH-mutated WHO grade 2 and 3 gliomas?. Front. Oncol. 16:1803943. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2026.1803943
  • Heggebø LC, Johannessen TA, Magelssen H, et al (2026). Norwegian consensus guidelines for selection of neuro-oncology patients to proton therapy. Clin Transl Radiat Oncol. 2026 Feb 25;58:101140. doi: 10.1016/j.ctro.2026.101140. eCollection 2026 May. PMID: 41798870
  • Heggebø LC, Garrote FLB, Fjæra LF, et al (2025). Protons or Photons in Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors-That Is Not the Question. Int J Part Ther. 2025 Jun 18;17:101194. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpt.2025.101194. PMID: 40678408; PMCID: PMC12268004
  • Heggebø LC, Borgen IMH, Rylander H, et al (2023). Investigating survival, quality of life and cognition in PROton versus photon therapy for IDH-mutated diffuse grade 2 and 3 GLIOmas (PRO-GLIO): a randomised controlled trial in Norway and Sweden (2023). BMJ Open. Mar 20;13(3):e070071. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-070071.PMID: 36940951
  • Brandal P, Bergfeldt K, Aggerholm-Pedersen N, et al (2020). A Nordic-Baltic perspective on indications for proton therapy with strategies for identification of proper patients. Acta Oncol. 2020 Oct;59(10):1157-1163. doi: 10.1080/0284186X.2020.1817977. Epub 2020 Sep 9.PMID: 32902341
  • Stensvold E, Stadskleiv K, Myklebust TÅ,… Brandal P (2020. Unmet rehabilitation needs in 86% of Norwegian paediatric embryonal brain tumour survivors). Acta Paediatr, 109(9):1875-188. PMID 31977119
  • Clarke M, Mackay A, Ismer B,.. Brandal P, et al (2020). Infant high grade gliomas comprise multiple subgroups characterized by novel targetable gene fusions and favorable outcomes. Cancer Discov, 10(7):942-963. PMID 32238360
  • Indelicato DJ, Merchant T, Laperriere N,…. Brandal P, et al (2016). Consensus report from the Stockholm pediatric proton therapy conference. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 96 (2), 387-92. PMID: 27598806
  • Brandal P, Teixeira M, Heim S (2010). Genotypic and phenotypic classification of cancer: How should the impact of the two diagnostic approaches be balanced? Genes Chromosomes Cancer, 49(9):763-74. PMID: 20607708