Due to copyright issues, an electronic copy of the thesis must be ordered from the faculty. For the faculty to have time to process the order, the order must be received by the faculty at the latest 2 days before the public defence. Orders received later than 2 days before the defence will not be processed. After the public defence, please address any inquiries regarding the thesis to the candidate.
Trial Lecture – time and place
See Trial Lecture.
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Associate Professor Catarina Brito, Nova University
- Second opponent: Apl. Professor Angelika Hausser, University of Stuttgart
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Professor Jason Matthews, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Professor II Inger Nina Farstad, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Lina Prasmickaite, Oslo University Hospital
Summary
Chemotherapy remains an integral part of the treatment for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Patients that develop chemoresistance face a less favorable prognosis and a need for further treatment. Chemotherapy can instigate heterogenous adaptive responses in both cancer cells and the tumor immune microenvironment, facilitating resistance, but also creating new opportunities for subsequent treatment.
This thesis investigated tumor-intrinsic and immune microenvironment-related alterations associated with chemoresistance, with the aim to identify evolving actionable targets or stratification parameters. We employed cancer cell lines and patient-derived xenografts that modelled recurrent disease after chemotherapy. By profiling the transcriptome, secretome and immune modulating abilities in resistant versus sensitive tumor models, we revealed alterations in intracellular signalling and influences on immune cells. The clinical relevance of the findings was assessed in resistant breast cancer patient cohorts. In conclusion, this thesis uncovered molecular and immunological adaptations that accompany acquired chemoresistance in TNBC and discussed therapeutic opportunities based on the adaptive responses.
Additional information
Contact the research support staff.