Frits Alan Thorsen

Professor, Platform Leader Molecular Imaging Center

E-mailFrits.Thorsen@uib.no
Phone+47 55 58 62 72+47 957 49 681
Visitor Address
Jonas Lies vei 91

5009 Bergen
Postal Address
Postboks 7804

5020 Bergen

Background

Brain metastasis is a complication occurring in one third of all cancer patients. Metastases to the brain occur 10 times more often than primary malignant brain tumors. The most common sources of metastatic brain lesions involve the lung (50-60%), breast (15-20%), skin (5-10%) and gastrointestinal tract (4-6%).

Patients with metastatic spread to the central nervous system (CNS) have a poor prognosis. Treatment strategies available today are ineffective, with low response rates, as current chemotherapeutic agents are ineffective. Clearly there is a need for suitable animal models in which spontaneous CNS metastases develop when cancer cells metastasize from the primary lesion in a manner that reflects the patient setting.

Development of new metastatic animal models

We have recently developed novel model systems where tumor cells from human melanoma brain metastases are injected systemically in immunodeficient mice and metastasize to the mouse brain. This animal model recapitulates most steps of the metastatic cascade, and a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind tumor metastasis may thus be obtained.

Ongoing research activities

Our work focuses on 3 main avenues:

We have performed genetic studies on our model systems, and performed bioinformatics analysis to determine a brain metastasis-specific gene signature. This work has resulted in determination of several novel drugs originally used for other conditions than cancer, which shows inhibitory effects on brain metastases in vivo.

We are also studying the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which prevents therapeutic drugs from entering the brain. We are currently collaborating with partners from Germany, UK, China and the US, to modulate the BBB for prevention and treatment of brain metastases.

Currently, we are studying the effect of exosomes on the tumor microenvironment, and have encouraging data showing that miRNAs delivered to the brain by exosomes are important in preparing the pre-metastatic niche. This is an ongoing collaboration with our partners at Shandong University, China, and University of Luxembourg.

POPULAR SCIENCE ARTICLES

1. Mottok kinesiske forskningsmidler. Medical Faculty web site, University of Bergen, October 2, 2020 (In Norwegian). https://www.uib.no/med/139047/mottok-kinesiske-forskningsmidler

2. Fikk kinesisk æresprofessorat. På Høyden, October 31, 2018 (In Norwegian). http://pahoyden.no/2018/10/fikk-kinesisk-aeresprofessorat

3. Slik jobber 100 forskere i Bergen hver dag for å løse kreftgåten. Bergens Tidende, July 22, 2017 (In Norwegian). https://www.bt.no/btmagasinet/i/voqmV/Bruker-designermus-for-a-lose-kreftgaten?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#link_time=1500704688

4. 30 millioner til kreftforskning. University of Bergen web site, Nov 1, 2016 (In Norwegian). http://www.uib.no/mofa/102056/30-millioner-til-kreftforskning

5. 207 millioner til kreftforskning. Kreftforeningen (blog), Oct 27, 2015 (In Norwegian). (http://www.kreftforeningens-blogg.no/2015/10/207-millioner-til-kreftforskning/ )

6. Nøttestoff reduserte kreft i musehjerner. Forskning.no, July 25, 2015 (In Norwegian). https://forskning.no/2015/07/nottestoff-reduserte-kreft-i-musehjerner

7. Forsker: Jeg trodde det var for godt til å være sant. Bergens Tidende, July 2, 2015 (In Norwegian). (http://www.bt.no/nyheter/lokalt/--Jeg-har-ikke-sett-lignende-i-mine-20-ar-som-forsker-3393563.html ).

8. Nøtter kan redusere kreft med spredning til hjernen. Kreftforeningen.no, July 1, 2015 (In Norwegian). (https://kreftforeningen.no/forskning/forskningsprosjekter-vi-stotter/notter-kan-redusere-kreft-med-spredning-til-hjernen/?utm_source=apsis-anp-3&utm_medium=email&utm_content=unspecified&utm_campaign=01.%20juli ).

9. Nøtter kan redusere kreft med spredning til hjernen. University of Bergen web site, July 1, 2015 (In Norwegian). (http://www.uib.no/aktuelt/89958/n%C3%B8tter-kan-redusere-kreft-med-spredning-til-hjernen ).

10. Frits Thorsen in Bergens Tidende: Exciting findings in preventing metastatic spreading. http://www.uib.no/en/rg/mic/90150/frits-thorsen-bergens-tidende-exciting-findings-preventing-metastatic-spreading

1989-2002 Teacher in Radiation Physics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.

1991-1994 Teacher, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bergen Univ. College, Norway.

1993-2006 Clinical Consultant, Elekta Instrument AB, Stockholm, Sweden

2004-2023 Histology and Anatomy Teacher, Dept. of Biomedicine, UiB.

2008-2022 Invited Lecturer at 18 International Cancer Conferences.

Academic article

Show author(s) (2024). Fluspirilene exerts an anti-glioblastoma effect through suppression of the FOXM1-KIF20A/BIRC5 axis. . Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine.

Show author(s) (2023). Inhibition of extracellular vesicle-derived miR-146a-5p decreases progression of melanoma brain metastasis via Notch pathway dysregulation in astrocytes. Journal of Extracellular Vesicles.
Show author(s) (2023). A flow cytometry-based protocol for syngenic isolation of neurovascular unit cells from mouse and human tissues. Nature Protocols. 1510-1542.

Show author(s) (2022). CCT196969 effectively inhibits growth and survival of melanoma brain metastasis cells. PLOS ONE. 1-16.

Show author(s) (2021). Loss of COPZ1 induces NCOA4 mediated autophagy and ferroptosis in glioblastoma cell lines. Oncogene. 1425-1439.
Show author(s) (2021). Current landscape and future perspectives in preclinical MR and PET imaging of brain metastasis. Neuro-Oncology Advances (NOA). 14 pages.
Show author(s) (2021). Cabozantinib is effective in melanoma brain metastasis cell lines and affects key signaling pathways. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 1-15.

Show author(s) (2020). Trifluoperazine prolongs the survival of experimental brain metastases by STAT3-dependent lysosome membrane permeabilization. . American Journal of Cancer Research. 545-563.
Show author(s) (2020). TRIM22 activates NF-κB signaling in glioblastoma by accelerating the degradation of IκBα. . Cell Death and Differentiation. 367-381.
Show author(s) (2020). Identification of immune-related genes contributing to the development of glioblastoma using weighted gene co-expression network analysis. . Frontiers in Immunology.
Show author(s) (2020). Glioblastoma Therapy Using Codelivery of Cisplatin and Glutathione Peroxidase Targeting siRNA from Iron Oxide Nanoparticles. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

Show author(s) (2019). Therapeutic implications of altered cholesterol homeostasis mediated by loss of CYP46A1 in human glioblastoma. EMBO Molecular Medicine.
Show author(s) (2019). Reduced expression of proteolipid protein 2 increases ER stress-induced apoptosis and autophagy in glioblastoma. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine.
Show author(s) (2019). PMEPA1 isoform a drives progression of glioblastoma by promoting protein degradation of the Hippo pathway kinase LATS1. Oncogene. 1-15.
Show author(s) (2019). Long Noncoding RNA SChLAP1 Forms a Growth-Promoting Complex with HNRNPL in Human Glioblastoma through Stabilization of ACTN4 and Activation of NF-kappa B Signaling. Clinical Cancer Research. 6868-6881.
Show author(s) (2019). Interfering with long non-coding RNA MIR22HG processing inhibits glioblastoma progression through suppression of Wnt/β-catenin signalling. Brain. 512-530.
Show author(s) (2019). Inhibition of mitochondrial respiration prevents BRAF-mutant melanoma brain metastasis. Acta neuropathologica communications. 1-19.
Show author(s) (2019). Improved drug delivery to brain metastases by peptide-mediated permeabilization of the blood-brain barrier. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. 2171-2181.
Show author(s) (2019). Impact of Docetaxel on blood-brain barrier function and formation of breast cancer brain metastases. Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research.
Show author(s) (2019). Effective treatment of metastatic melanoma by combining mapk and pi3k signaling pathway inhibitors. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 1-19.

Show author(s) (2018). Ultrasound-mediated delivery and distribution of polymeric nanoparticles in the normal brain parenchyma of a metastatic brain tumour model. PLOS ONE. 18 pages.
Show author(s) (2018). Inhibition of glioma growth by flavokawain B is mediated through endoplasmic reticulum stress induced autophagy. Autophagy. 2007-2022.
Show author(s) (2018). CD74 regulates complexity of tumor cell HLA class II peptidome in brain metastasis and is a positive prognostic marker for patient survival. Acta neuropathologica communications. 18.

Show author(s) (2017). Trifluoperazine, a novel autophagy inhibitor, increases radiosensitivity in glioblastoma by impairing homologous recombination. Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research. 1-13.
Show author(s) (2017). The angiogenic switch leads to a metabolic shift in human glioblastoma. Neuro-Oncology. 383-393.

Show author(s) (2016). Bevacizumab prevents brain metastases formation in lung adenocarcinoma. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. 702-710.

Show author(s) (2015). Melanoma brain metastasis is independent of lactate dehydrogenase A expression. Neuro-Oncology. 1374-1385.
Show author(s) (2015). A novel nanoprobe for multimodal imaging is effectively incorporated into human melanoma metastatic cell lines. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 21658-21680.

Show author(s) (2014). Multimodal imaging of gliomas in the context of evolving cellular and molecular therapies. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews. 98-115.
Show author(s) (2014). In vitro treatment of melanoma brain metastasis by simultaneously targeting the MAPK and PI3K signaling pathways. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 8773-8794.
Show author(s) (2014). Dynamic contrast enhanced MRI detects early response to adoptive NK cellular immunotherapy targeting the NG2 proteoglycan in a rat model of glioblastoma. PLOS ONE.
Show author(s) (2014). Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MRI Detects Early Response to Adoptive NK Cellular Immunotherapy Targeting the NG2 Proteoglycan in a Rat Model of Glioblastoma. PLOS ONE. 12 pages.

Show author(s) (2013). Targeting glioblastoma with NK cells and mAb against NG2/CSPG4 prolongs animal survival. OncoTarget. 1527-1546.
Show author(s) (2013). Multimodal imaging enables early detection and characterization of changes in tumor permeability of brain metastases. Journal of Controlled Release. 812-822.
Show author(s) (2013). Hydrolyzed casein reduces diet-induced obesity in male C57BL/6J mice. Journal of Nutrition. 1367-1375.
Show author(s) (2013). Automated tracking of nanoparticle-labeled melanoma cells improves the predictive power of a brain metastasis model. Cancer Research. 2445-2456.

Show author(s) (2012). Gamma knife surgery versus reoperation for recurrent glioblastoma multiforme. World Neurosurgery. 658-669.
Show author(s) (2012). Analysis of the growth dynamics of angiogenesis-dependent and -independent experimental glioblastomas by multimodal small-animal PET and MRI. Journal of Nuclear Medicine. 1135-1145.

Show author(s) (2011). Reprogramming of cell junction modules during stepwise epithelial to mesenchymal transition and accumulation of malignant features in vitro in a prostate cell model. Experimental Cell Research. 234-247.
Show author(s) (2011). MRI of experimental gliomas. Methods in molecular biology. 451-471.
Show author(s) (2011). Anti-VEGF treatment reduces blood supply and increases tumor cell invasion in glioblastoma. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 3749-3754.
Show author(s) (2011). A novel brain metastases model developed in immunodeficient rats closely mimics the growth of metastatic brain tumours in patients. Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology. 189-205.

Show author(s) (2010). Gamma knife surgery of meningiomas involving the cavernous sinus: long-term follow-up of 100 patients. Neurosurgery. 661-669.
Show author(s) (2010). Atrial natriuretic peptide modulation of albumin clearance and contrast agent permeability in mouse skeletal muscle and skin: role in regulation of plasma volume. Journal of Physiology. 325-339.

Show author(s) (2009). Gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery of Nelson syndrome. European Journal of Endocrinology (EJE). 143-148.
Show author(s) (2009). Effects of dietary intervention on MRI activity, de- and remyelination in the cuprizone model for demyelination. Experimental Neurology. 160-166.

Show author(s) (2008). Two distinct tumor phenotypes isolated from glioblastomas show different MRS characteristics. NMR in Biomedicine. 830-838.
Show author(s) (2008). Oncolytic herpes simplex virus type-1 therapy in a highly infiltrative animal model of human glioblastoma. Clinical Cancer Research. 1571-1580.
Show author(s) (2008). CD133 negative glioma cells form tumors in nude rats and give rise to CD133 positive cells. International Journal of Cancer. 761-768.

Show author(s) (2007). Human glioblastoma biopsy spheroids xenografted into the nude rat brain show growth inhibition after stereotactic radiosurgery. Journal of Neuro-Oncology. 1-10.
Show author(s) (2007). Gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery for acromegaly. European Journal of Endocrinology (EJE). 255-263.
Show author(s) (2007). Comparison of effective radiation doses in patients undergoing unenhanced MDCT and excretory urography for acute flank pain. American Journal of Roentgenology. 934-939.
Show author(s) (2007). Cellular multiparametric MRI of neural stem cell therapy in a rat glioma model. NeuroImage. 769-782.

Show author(s) (2006). Antitumor efficacy improved by local delivery of species-specific endostatin. Journal of Neurosurgery. 118-128.
Show author(s) (2006). Adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotypes 2, 4 and 5 display similar transduction profiles and penetrate solid tumor tissue in models of human glioma. Journal of Gene Medicine. 1131-1140.

Lecture

Show author(s) (2016). Ultrasound-mediated delivery and distribution of polymeric nanoparticles in the normal brain parenchyma and melanoma metastases.

Academic lecture

Show author(s) (2016). Focused ultrasound-mediated transport of poly(alkyl) cyanoacrylate nanoparticles across the blood-brain barrier in a melanoma brain metastasis model.
Show author(s) (2016). Focused ultrasound-mediated transport of poly(alkyl) cyanoacrylate nanoparticles across the blood-brain barrier in a melanoma brain metastasis model.

Show author(s) (2009). EMT Promotes Malignant Transformation of Prostate Epithelial Cells in Culture.

Show author(s) (2001). Gamma Knife Radiosurgery of meningiomas involving the cavernous sinus.

Editorial

Show author(s) (2022). Editorial: The Role of the Immune Response in Brain Metastasis. Frontiers in Oncology.

Show author(s) (2019). Glioblastoma: A prognostic value of AMT-PET? Neuro-Oncology. 146-147.

Masters thesis

Show author(s) (2023). 3D Modelling of Brain Metastasis Microenvironment for Evaluation of Tumour-Stromal Interactions.

Show author(s) (2021). Development of 3D in vitro Interaction Models for the Evaluation and Treatment of Brain Metastases.

Show author(s) (2020). In vitro study of a selective PI3K inhibitor on brain metastases.

Show author(s) (2019). Characterization of Melanoma Brain Metastasis Cell Lines.

Show author(s) (2017). In vitro study of the effect of cabozantinib (XL184) on canine oral melanoma cell lines.
Show author(s) (2017). An In vitro Drug Study of Cabozantinib on Glioblastoma Cell Lines.

Show author(s) (2016). In vitro and in vivo studies of a novel blood brain barrier permeabilizing peptide K16ApoE. And novel in vivo treatment of melanoma brain metastases.

Show author(s) (2015). In vitro effects of BEZ-235 on human melanoma metastatic cell lines.

Show author(s) (2014). Visualization of metastatic melanoma cells by fluorescence microscopy and MRI using a novel glycogen nanoprobe.

Show author(s) (2010). IN VITRO EFFECTS OF NANOPARTICLE CONTRAST AGENTS ON CELLULAR FUNCTIONS AND RELAXOMETRY.

Doctoral dissertation

Show author(s) (2019). Treatment strategies for experimental melanoma brain metastases.

Abstract

Show author(s) (2013). EARLY TUMOR DETECTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CHANGES IN TUMOR PERMEABILITY OF BRAINMETASTASES USING MULTIMODAL IMAGING. Neuro-Oncology. 241-241.
Show author(s) (2013). BRAIN-SPECIFIC GENE SIGNATURE OF MELANOMA METASTASIS. Neuro-Oncology. 27-27.

Show author(s) (2012). Early MRI findings of targeting the NG2 proteoglycan in GBM. The FASEB Journal. 1 pages.

Show author(s) (2011). Treatment of Solid Cancers Using a New Cationic Cytolytic Peptide. European Journal of Cancer. S148-S148.
Show author(s) (2011). Separate analysis of the cancer and stroma cell populations from orthotopically implanted tumor biopsies in eGFP scid mice. Clinical and Experimental Metastasis. 203-203.
Show author(s) (2011). Molecular imaging and genetic studies reveal selective homing of human brain metastatic cells to various organs in NOD/SCID mice. Clinical and Experimental Metastasis. 194-194.
Show author(s) (2011). A novel and clinically relevant mouse model reflecting the disease progression in melanoma brain metastasis in patients. Clinical and Experimental Metastasis. 238-238.

Show author(s) (2010). THERAPEUTIC TARGETING OF THE NG2 PROTEOGLYCAN WITH MAB 9.2.27 AND ADOPTIVELY TRANSFERRED NK CELLS LYSES HUMAN GLIOBLASTOMA MULTIFORME IN VIVO. Neuro-Oncology. 9-9.
Show author(s) (2010). A NOVEL PATIENT MELANOMA BRAIN METASTASIS MODEL DEVELOPED IN NOD-SCID MICE REFLECTS THE CLINICAL METASTATIC DISEASE PROGRESSION IN PATIENTS. Neuro-Oncology. 135-136.

Show author(s) (2009). PHENOTYPIC AND PHYSIOLOGIC EFFECTS OF BEVACIZUMAB IN A HIGHLY INFILTRATIVE AND ANGIOGENIC HUMAN GLIOBLASTOMA MODEL. Neuro-Oncology. 906-906.

Show author(s) (2008). DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW BRAIN METASTASES MODEL IN IMMUNODEFICIENT ANIMALS. Neuro-Oncology. 854-854.

Poster

Show author(s) (2019). Effective Treatment Of Metastatic Melanomas Using Combined MAPK And PI3K Pathways Inhibitors.

Show author(s) (2017). Multiparametric MRI for optimal prostate cancer detection in TRAMP mice.

Show author(s) (2016). Focused ultrasound-mediated transport of poly(alkyl) cyanoacrylate nanoparticles across the blood-brain barrier in a melanoma brain metastasis model.

Show author(s) (2011). Therapeutic Targeting of NG2 Proteoglycan with MAb & Pre-Armed NK Cells in Human GMB Evaluated with Dynamic Enhanced & Diffusion Weighted MRI in Rats.

Academic literature review

Show author(s) (2020). Brain Metastasis Cell Lines Panel: a public resource of organotropic cell lines. . Cancer Research. 4314-4323.

Show author(s) (2014). A physiological perspective on the use of imaging to assess the in vivo delivery of therapeutics. Annals of Biomedical Engineering. 280-298.

Show author(s) (2013). In vivo animal models for studying brain metastasis: value and limitations. Clinical and Experimental Metastasis. 695-710.

Show author(s) (2012). In vivo models of primary brain tumors: pitfalls and perspectives. Neuro-Oncology. 979-993.

Medical Student Research Thesis

Show author(s) (2014). In Vitro Treatment of Melanoma Brain Metastasis by Simultaneously Targeting the MAPK and PI3K Signaling Pathways.

Article in business/trade/industry journal

Show author(s) (2022). Hjernemetastasar – diagnostikk og behandling. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening. 1-7.

More information in national current research information system (CRIStin)

Publication list 2013-2023

* = shared last authorship

Rigg E, Wang J, Xue Z, Lunavat T, Liu G, Hoang T, Parajuli H, Han M, Bjerkvig R, Nazarov P, Nicot N, Kreis S, Margue CW, Nomigni MT, Utikal J, Miletic H, Sundstrøm T, Li X, Thorsen F. Inhibition of extracellular vesicle derived miR-146a-5p decreases progression of melanoma brain metastasis via Notch pathway dysregulation in astrocytes. J Extracell Ves 2023, Oct; 12(10):e12363. doi: 10.1002/jev2.12363.
Spitzer D, Guérit S, Khel M, Pütz T, Zinke J, Jia X, Sommer K, Filipski K, Thorsen F, Freiman T, Harter P, Reiss Y, Liebner S, Di Tacchio M, Devraj K. A flow cytometry based protocol for syngenic isolation of neurovascular unit cells from mouse and human tissues. Nat Protoc 2023 May, 18(5):1510-1542. doi:10.1038/s41596-023-00805-y.
Taule EM, Schipmann-Miletic S, Thorsen F, Johannessen TA, Miletic H, Storstein A, Oltedal L, Sundstrøm T. Hjernemetastasar – diagnostikk og behandling. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 2022, Oct 10;142(14). doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.21.0809. Review, in Norwegian.
Reigstad A, Herdlevær CF, Rigg E, Hoang T, Bjørnstad OV, Aasen SN, Preiss J, Haan C, Sundstrøm T, Thorsen F. CCT196969 effectively inhibits growth and survival of melanoma brain metastasis cells. PLoS One 2022 Sep 9, 17(9):e0273711. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273711. [IF 3.24]
Sibson NR, Thorsen F, Sarmiente Soto M. The role of the immune response in brain metastasis. Front Oncol 10 May 2022. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.922700. Editorial.
Aasen SN, Espedal H, Keunen O, Adamsen TCH, Bjerkvig R*, Thorsen F*. Current landscape and future perspectives in preclinical MR and PET imaging of brain metastasis. Neuro-Oncol Adv, 3(1):1-14, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1093/noajnl/vdab151. Review.
Mannsåker TA, Hoang T, Aasen SN, Bjørnstad OV, Parajuli H, Sundstrøm T, Thorsen F. Cabozantinib is effective in melanoma brain metastasis cell lines and affects key signaling pathways. Int J Mol Sci 2021 Nov 14, 22(22):12296. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222212296. [IF 5.923].
Zhang Y, Kong Y, Ma Y, Ni S, Wikerholmen T, Xi K, Zhao F, Zhao Z, Wang J, Huang B, Chen A, Yao Z, Han M, Feng Z, Hu Y, Thorsen F*, Wang J*, Li X*. Loss of COPZ1 induces NCOA4 mediated autophagy and ferroptosis in glioblastoma cell lines. Oncogene 2021 Jan 8, 40(8):1425-1439. doi: 10.1038/s41388-020-01622-3.
Zhang Y, Fu X, Jia J, Wikerholmen T, Xi K, Kong Y, Wang J, Chen H, Ma Y, Li Z, Wang C, Qi Q, Thorsen F, Wang J, Cui J, Li X, Ni S. Glioblastoma therapy using codelivery of cisplatin and gluthathione peroxidase targeting siRNA from iron oxide particles. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2020 Sep 4.
Ji J, Ding K, Luo T, Zhang X, Chen A, Zhang D, Li G, Thorsen F, Huang B, Li X, Wang J. TRIM22 activates NF-κB signaling in glioblastoma by accelerating the degradation of IκBα. Cell Death & Diff 2020 Aug 19, 18:6938-15.
Kong Y, Feng Z, Zhang Y, Liu X, Yuan M, Zhao Z, Huang B, Chen A, Zhang D, Thorsen F, Wang J, Yang N, Li X. Identification of immune-related genes contributing to the development of glioblastoma using weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Front Immunol 2020 July 16, 11:1281.
Valiente M, Van Swearingen AED, Anders C, Bairoch A, Boire A, Bos P, Cittelly D, Erez N, Ferraro G, Fukumura D, Gril BM, Herlyn M, Holmen SL, Jain RK, Joyce JA, Lorger M, Massagué J, Neman J, Sibson N, Steeg P, Thorsen F, Young L, Vareslija D, Vultur A, Weis-García F, Winkler F. Brain Metastasis Cell Lines Panel: a public resource of organotropic cell lines. Cancer Res 2020 July 8.
Feng Z, Zhou W, Wang J, Qi Q, Han M, Kong Y, Zhang Y, Chen A, Huang B, Chen A, Zhang D, Li W, Zhang Q, Bjerkvig R, Wang J*, Thorsen F*, Li X*. Reduced expression of proteolipid 2 increases ER-stress-induced apoptosis and autophagy in glioblastoma. J Cell Mol Med 2020 Mar 17, 24(5):2847-2856.
Zhang X, Ding K, Ji J, Parajuli H, Aasen SN, Espedal H, Huang B, Chen A, Wang J*, Li X*, Thorsen F*. Trifluoperazine prolongs the survival of experimental brain metastases by STAT3-dependent lysosome membrane permeabilization. Am J Cancer Res 2020 Feb 1, 10(2):545-563.
Han M, Wang S, Fritah S, Zhou W, Yang N, Huang B, Chen A, Li G, Miletic H, Thorsen F, Bjerkvig R, Li X, Wang J. Interfering with long non-coding RNA MIR22HG processing inhibits glioma progression through suppression of Wnt/b-catenin signalling. Brain 2020 Feb 1, 143(2):512-530.
Ji J, Ding K, LuoT, Xu R, Zhang X, Huang B, Chen A, Zhang D, Miletic H, Bjerkvig R*, Thorsen F*, Wang J*, Li X*. PMEPA1 isoform a drives progression of glioblastoma by promoting protein degradation of the Hippo pathway kinase LATS1. Oncogene 2020 Jan 11, 39(5):1125-1139.
Han M, Wang S, Zhao W, Kong Y, Huang B, Chen A, Saed HS, Li G, Miletic H, Thorsen F, Bjerkvig R, Li X, Wang J. Therapeutic implications of altered cholesterol homeostasis mediated by loss of CYP46A1 in human glioblastoma. EMBO Mol Med, 2020 Jan 9;12(1):e10924.
Bernatz S, Ilina E, Devraj K, Harter PN, Mueller K, Kleber S, Braun Y, Penski C, Renner C, Halder R, Jennewein L, Solbach C, Thorsen F, Pestalozzi BC, Mischo A, Mittelbronn M. Impact of docetaxel on blood-brain barrier function and formation of breast cancer brain metastases. J Exp & Clin Cancer Res 2019 Oct 29;38(1):434.
Ji J, Xu R, Ding K, Bao G, Zhang X, Huang B, Wang X, Martinez A, Wang X, Li G, Miletic H, Thorsen F, Bjerkvig R, Xiang L, Han B, Chen A, Li X, Wang J. Long noncoding RNA SChLAP1 forms a growth promoting complex with HNRNPL in human glioblastoma through stabilization and activation of NF-kB signalling. Clin Cancer Res 2019 Sep. 6.
Aasen SN, Espedal H, Holte CF, Keunen O, Karlsen TV, Tenstad O, Maherally Z, Miletic H, Hoang T, Eikeland AV, Baghirov H, Olberg DE, Pilkington GJ, Sarkar G, Jenkins R, Sundstrøm T, Bjerkvig R, Thorsen F. Improved drug delivery to experimental melanoma brain metastasis by peptide-mediated permeabilization of the blood-brain barrier. Mol Cancer Ther 2019 Aug 29.
Aasen SN, Parajuli H, Roy K, Hoang T, Stokke K, Wang J, Feng Z, Bjerkvig R, Thorsen F. Effective treatment of metastatic melanoma by combining MAPK and PI3K signaling pathway inhibitors. Int J Mol Sci 20(17):4235, Aug 29, 2019.
Sundstrøm T, Prestegarden L, Azuaje F, Røsland GV, Varughese JK, Aasen SN, Bernatz S, Braun Y, Harter PN, Skaftnesmo KO, Inghem ES, Mahakian LM, Tam S, Tepper CG, Petersen K, Ferrara KW, Tronstad KJ, Lund-Johansen M, Bjerkvig R*, Thorsen F*. Inhibition of mitochondrial respiration prevents BRAF-mutant melanoma brain metastasis. Acta Neuropathol Comm 7:55, Apr 10, 2019. doi: 10.1186/s40478-019-0712-8.
Bjerkvig R, Thorsen F. Glioblastoma: a prognostic value of AMT-PET? Neuro-Oncol 21(2):146-147, Feb 14, 2019.
Wang J, Qi Q, Zhou W, Feng Z, Huang B, Chen A, Zhang D, Li W, Zhang Q, Bjerkvig R, Prestegarden L, Thorsen F, Li X, Wang J. Inhibition of glioma growth by flavokawain B is mediated through endoplasmatic reticulum stress induced autophagy. Autophagy 2018 Jul 19.
Zeiner PS, Zinke J, Kowalewski DJ, Bernatz S, Tichy J, Ronellenfitsch MW, Thorsen F, Berger A, Forster MT, Muller A, Steinbach JP, Beschorner R, Wischhusen J, Kvasnicka HM, Plate KH, Stefanovic S, Weide B, Mittelbronn M, Harter PN. CD74 regulates complexity of tumor cell HLA class II peptidome in brain metastasis and is a positive prognostic marker for patient survival. Acta Neuropathol Comm 6:18, 2018.
Baghirov H, Snipstad S, Sulheim E, Berg S, Hansen R, Thorsen F, Mørch Y, de Lange Davies C, Åslund ÅKO. Ultrasound-mediated delivery and distribution of polymeric nanoparticles in the normal brain parenchyma of a metastatic brain tumour model. PLoS ONE, 13(1):e0191102, 2018.
Zhang X, Xu R, Zhang C, Xu Y, Han M, Huang B, Chen A, Qiu C, Thorsen F, Prestegarden L, Bjerkvig R, Wang J, Li XG. Trifluoperazine, a novel autophagy inhibitor, increases radiosensitivity in glioblastoma by impairing homologous recombination. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 36(1):118, 2017. doi:10.1186/s13046-017-0588-z.
Talasila KM, Røsland G, Hagland H, Eskilsson E, Tran GT, Fritah S, Azuaje F, Atai N, Harter P, Mittelbronn M, Anderson M, van Noorden R, Niclou SP, Thorsen F, Tronstad KJ, Tzoulis C, Bjerkvig R, Miletic H. The angiogenic switch leads to a metabolic switch in human glioblastoma. Neuro-Oncol Sep 19(3):383-393, 2017.
Ilhan-Mutlu A, Osswald M, Liao Y, Gömmel M, Reck M, Miles D, Mariani P, Gianni L, Lutiger B, Nendel V, Srock S, Perez-Moreno P, Thorsen F, von Baumgarten L, Preusser M, Wick W, Winkler F. Bevacizumab prevents brain metastases formation in lung adenocarcinoma. Mol Cancer Ther Jan 25, 15(4):702-710, 2016.
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