David Gisselsson Nord is Research Leader for this research group

We make genetic and functional maps of cancer cell evolution in patients by analyzing multiple tumour samples from the same patient. In particular, we aim to: 1. Make phylogenetic maps of cancer cell variation over anatomic space and treatment time in order to understand the conditions leading to treatment resistance; 2. Assess the functional effect on the RNA and protein levels of genetic variation in tumours; 3. Analyze to what extent clinical biomarkers exhibit variability within a tumour lineage – a potentially important source of error in clinical decision making; 4. Evaluate the potential of using parameters of genetic variation as biomarkers for response to treatment. To reach these aims we use a combination of traditional histopathology and next-generation sequencing technologies. We focus on three of the most common solid tumours in children: neuroblastoma, Wilms tumour and rhabdomyosarcoma.