Our group, which is lead by prof Anders Österborg and prof Håkan Mellstedt, has a tradition since the early 1980ies in developing targeted therapies for patients with B cell malignancies (chronic lymphocytic leukemia and B cell lymphomas).
The aim is to develop and optimize precision therapy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) to prolong survival, prevent multidrug resistance and reduce long-term toxicity. Our research is conducted in 5 separate areas, see the Projects tab.
A clinical part of our research activity where we often are national PI within global phase 2 or 3 trials in CLL. Examples of publications: Brown J et al, N Engl J Med 2023 and Blood 2024; Shadman et al, J Clin Oncol 2025.
Team leader: Ali Moshfegh, PhD
We have a current focus on ROR1, an embryonic antigen expressed by many tumor types but abundant on most normal cells. Extensive characterization of ROR1 is performed and first-in-class small molecule inhibitors of ROR1 are developed. Another focus is TME (tumor microenvironment) and in particular nurse-like cells, that are inhibited in vitro by drug-mediated (KAND567, Kancera AB) interference with the fractalkine axis. Examples of publications: Ghaderi A et al, Pharmaceutics 2022; Zhong et al, Mol Med 2024.
Team leader: Marzia Palma, MD, PhD, Assoc. Prof.
We perform in-depth analysis of immunoregulatory cell populations preferentially in patients with CLL and Hodgkin’s disease. An important part is monitoring of immune functions during targeted therapies such as BTK-inhibitors and Bcl-2 inhibitors in patients. Examples of publications: Palma M et al, Front Immunol 2021; Mulder T et al, HemaSphere 2022; Andersson M et al, Eur J Haematol 2023.
Team leader: Jeanette Lundin, MD, PhD, Assoc. Prof.
The aim to develop optimized chemotherapy-free treatment regimens, including but not limited to BTK and Bcl-2 inhibitors. An important project is the ongoing ibrutinib “On-Off-Repeat” phase 2 study, with the aim to reduce the risk of acquired resistance (BTK-mutation) and long-term side effects. Another study explores pre-emptive therapy in early-stage high-risk CLL. Examples of publications: Lundin J et al, eJHaem 2021; Ma S et al, Leuk Res 2022.
Team leader: Lotta Hansson, MD, PhD, Assoc. Prof.
Here we aim to describe the true effects of new (high-cost) targeted therapeutics in a wider population of patients treated real-world i.e. outside clinical trials that often recruit selected patients. Real-world evidence (RWE) is of major importance for patients, health care professionals and society as a whole. We also study viral immunology, currently with a focus on SARS-CoV-2, in CLL including mRNA vaccination. Examples of recent publications: Blixt L et al, Leukemia 2022 and Blood 2022; Mattsson A et al, Blood Neoplasia 2024; Hedberg et al, Blood Advances 2025.
