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Abstract
Deconstructing tissue-specific mechanisms of carcinogenesis
Cancers in different tissues arise through mutations in distinctive sets of cancer driver genes. However, the mechanisms that underlie cancer type-specific activities of cancer mutations have remained poorly understood. In this seminar, Dr Vanharanta will discuss recent experimental data and emerging concepts that are starting to shed light on the molecular basis of tissue-specificity in cancer.
About the speaker
Sakari Vanharanta studied medicine at the University of Helsinki, Finland, where he attended the MD/PhD programme. He completed his PhD studies on human tumour genetics under the supervision of Lauri A. Aaltonen. After graduation he spent some time in clinical training before joining the laboratory of Joan Massagué at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, where he worked on the molecular mechanisms of metastatic cancer progression. In 2014 Dr Vanharanta joined the MRC Cancer Unit at the University of Cambridge, UK, as an independent group leader, with promotion to programme leader in 2019. In 2022 he relocated to the Translational Cancer Medicine Program at the University of Helsinki, where he has recently been appointed as the Sigrid Jusélius Professor in basic medicine. His current work explores the mechanisms that control oncogenic transcriptional programmes at different stages of tumour progression.
Meet the speaker
If you wish to meet and discuss with Dr. Sakari Vanharanta on Tuesday Oct. 31st, you are welcome to book a time slot on jotform.
Recent publications
1. The SWI/SNF complex member SMARCB1 supports lineage fidelity in kidney cancer. Wesolowski L, Ge J, Castillon L, Sesia D, Dyas A, Hirosue S, Caraffini V, Warren AY, Rodrigues P, Ciriello G, Patel SA, Vanharanta S. iScience. 2023
2. Dynamic partitioning of branched-chain amino acids-derived nitrogen supports renal cancer progression. Sciacovelli M, Dugourd A, Jimenez LV, Yang M, Nikitopoulou E, Costa ASH, Tronci L, Caraffini V, Rodrigues P, Schmidt C, Ryan DG, Young T, Zecchini VR, Rossi SH, Massie C, Lohoff C, Masid M, Hatzimanikatis V, Kuppe C, Von Kriegsheim A, Kramann R, Gnanapragasam V, Warren AY, Stewart GD, Erez A, Vanharanta S, Saez-Rodriguez J, Frezza C. Nat Commun. 2022
3. The renal lineage factor PAX8 controls oncogenic signalling in kidney cancer. Patel SA, Hirosue S, Rodrigues P, Vojtasova E, Richardson EK, Ge J, Syafruddin SE, Speed A, Papachristou EK, Baker D, Clarke D, Purvis S, Wesolowski L, Dyas A, Castillon L, Caraffini V, Bihary D, Yong C, Harrison DJ, Stewart GD, Machiela MJ, Purdue MP, Chanock SJ, Warren AY, Samarajiwa SA, Carroll JS, Vanharanta S. Nature 2022
4. HIRA loss transforms FH-deficient cells. Valcarcel-Jimenez L, Rogerson C, Yong C, Schmidt C, Yang M, Cremades-Rodelgo M, Harle V, Offord V, Wong K, Mora A, Speed A, Caraffini V, Tran MGB, Maher ER, Stewart GD, Vanharanta S, Adams DJ, Frezza C. Sci Adv. 2022
5. Acquired resistance to anti-MAPK targeted therapy confers an immune-evasive tumor microenvironment and cross-resistance to immunotherapy in melanoma. Haas L, Elewaut A, Gerard CL, Umkehrer C, Leiendecker L, Pedersen M, Krecioch I, Hoffmann D, Novatchkova M, Kuttke M, Neumann T, da Silva IP, Witthock H, Cuendet MA, Carotta S, Harrington KJ, Zuber J, Scolyer RA, Long GV, Wilmott JS, Michielin O, Vanharanta S, Wiesner T, Obenauf AC. Nat Cancer. 2021
About the seminar series
Once a month, NCMM invites international guest speakers to present on topics within molecular life science and medicine. The seminar is open to all, with no registration needed. Tea, coffee and a simple lunch will be served before the start of the seminar.