World-class cancer research
Cancer is one of the most common diseases and one in which Lund University conducts extensive research. Ongoing research efforts focus both on understanding the basic mechanisms of cancer and on clinical studies which can more rapidly benefit patients.
Our cancer research areas
The most common forms of cancer in Sweden are
- Breast cancer and
- Prostate cancer
Many of our researchers are focusing on these forms of cancer.
Interesting cancer research is also underway in
- melanoma (skin cancer)
- colon cancer (intestinal and rectal cancer)
- lymphoma
- neuroblastoma
- leukaemia
- kidney cancer
- lung cancer and
- pancreatic cancer
Cancer researchers explain
See short YouTube clips of some of our cancer researchers:
- Targeted missiles against aggressive cancer cells
- How cancer cells communicate
- New method detects more breast cancer in screening
Many questions remain to be answered
In order to improve diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and care, researchers are examining in detail issues such as:
- How cancer cells communicate and what mechanisms control cell growth.
- The inflammatory process during tumour development.
- The micro-environment of tumours to better understand molecules and to identify treatment opportunities.
- The reasons underlying the occurrence of cancer. For example, researchers map genetic factors and study various genetic mutations in tumour development. This knowledge can also be used to characterise different types of cancer.
- Identification and analysis of biomarkers, i.e. disease-specific indicators, with the aim of using them as diagnostic or therapeutic tools.
- Treatment of cancer from various angles, such as side-effects, the resistance of tumours to treatment or the treatment of metastases.
- Several comprehensive collections of biological and clinical material, in which deep analyses have generated large amounts of data for various research issues, have resulted from research at Lund University, enabling many exciting discoveries.
Cancer researchers at Lund University
Research initiatives
Initiatives within Lund University’s cancer research – read more on the relevant website:
- LUCC is the new cancer organisation at Lund University which has started up in 2019.
LUCC
- BioCARE is a strategic research area (SRA) for cancer 2010–2019, with government funding, whose overall aim is to support cancer research of the most outstanding international class, and to enable researchers to develop their findings to benefit patients, in cooperation with public health care and pharmaceutical companies.
BioCARE website
- The CREATE Health Cancer Centre develops biomarkers for early diagnosis and improved treatment of cancer, with the objective of enabling personalised treatment at an early stage.
CREATE Health information on the Faculty of Engineering website
- EpiHealth is a strategic research area within epidemiology with the aim of improving our understanding of the causal links behind common diseases, including cancer.
EpiHealth website
- MAD for Cancer is an interdisciplinary programme which departs from the traditional picture of the tumour as consisting only of tumour cells, focusing instead on the tumour as a complex organ to be attacked from several angles, using various biological and chemical principles.
MAD for Cancer website
- The Malmö Cancer Centre studies the processes common to many cancers, with the aim of identifying the correct treatment strategy as well as new treatment opportunities.
Malmö Cancer Centre information on the Faculty of Medicine website (in Swedish)
- The Malmö Diet and CancerStudy is a major cohort study investigating the links between diet and the risk of developing cancer.
Malmö Diet and Cancer Study information on the Faculty of Medicine website (in Swedish)