| The overall aim of this scientific programme is to study various aspects of cancer involving the nervous system, in close collaboration with many departments, including the departments of Pathology, Immunology, Internal Oncology and Radiotherapy. The programme focuses on the following three maintopics: 1. Primary Brain Tumors. 1.1 Identify molecular markers predicting treatment response in glial tumors using FISH, micro-array and high-end mass spectrometry. 1.2 Develop experimental gene therapy modality for treatment of primary brain tumors. 1.3 Establish an effective treatment for patients with primary brain tumors. The department participates in phase I trials and is coordinator/initiator of several large international phase II-III trials 2. Paraneoplastic disorders. 2.1 Identify the association between paraneoplastic autoantibodies, clinical neurological syndrome and associated tumor. 2.2 Clone the target antigen of newly identified paraneoplastic autoantibodies. 2.3 Study the role of the paraneoplastic autoimmune response in anti-tumor immunity and neurological dysfunction. 3. Pain. 3.1 Study the role of neurotrophic factors in pain transmission in the superficial dorsal horn in animal models. 3.2 Establish an effective treatment for patients with cancer pain, focusing on neuropathic cancer pain and breakthrough pain. The department has initiated several clinical pain studies and coordinates an international randomized study to evaluate a new treatment modality for breakthrough pain. |
