How can we more effectively destroy pancreatic and lung cancer cells?

Cancer tumours arise from the abnormal functioning of malignant cells, and abnormal cell signalling promotes cancer cell division and survival. KRAS gene mutations drive the development and progression of pancreatic and lung cancers, which are extremely difficult to cure. KRAS proteins regulate cell division, and when mutated, they often cause excessive cell division and tumour formation. However, the cells’ signalling pathways are highly sensitive. There is now evidence that KRAS protein signalling can be over-activated in a way that kills cancer cells.

"KRAS signalling research can reveal many new insights into the mechanisms of cancer development and progression. Finding new treatments for KRAS-mutant pancreatic and lung cancers would be especially beneficial. Particularly in the case of pancreatic cancer, drug treatments often only make the patient feel better, but can’t actually cure the disease," says Johanna Lilja, post-doctoral researcher at the University of Turku.

Lilja works in Professor Johanna Ivaska's research laboratory, which studies cancer cells’ functioning mechanisms and is developing new treatments on the basis of the research. In 2022, Lilja was awarded a post-doctoral grant of EUR 80 000 from the Instrumentarium Science Foundation for her research, an extension to her previous grants related to her doctoral dissertation.

Research and improved treatments

Lilja has a PhD in molecular medicine and an interest in cancer biology. In addition to working at the University of Turku, Lilja has also spent a year working in Switzerland. There she learned the latest imaging techniques for cancerous tissues. This development of her skills has been of great benefit to her continued research in Turku.

"KRAS signalling still needs a lot of research. We already have promising results, but this is only the beginning. It will inevitably take years before this research will yield new treatments. But our research group is already cooperating to some extent with pharmaceutical companies," Lilja points out. In addition to Johanna Ivaska, her research collaborators include PhD researcher Jasmin Kaivola, post-doctoral researcher Hanna Parkkola and Professor Owen Sansom’s research group (CRUK Beatson Institute and Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow).

"The main aim of our research is to ultimately find better treatments for cancer patients. This will happen gradually, as we first gain more knowledge and understanding of the mechanisms that regulate cancer cells. The proteins we study affect cancer cell functioning in many ways, but we don't yet know all the essential facts," says Lilja.

Grant enables full-time research

The Instrumentarium Science Foundation post-doctoral grant is of great importance to Lilja and her research. It enables her to focus on her research full time. Receiving a grant also tells Lilja that she is on the right track and that what she is doing is important.

"When a prestigious Finnish foundation sees my work as important, it certainly encourages me to continue my research," Lilja admits.

Especially in the early stages of a research career, funding from the Foundation is crucial. Without the "start-up packages" for doctoral research from the Instrumentarium Science Foundation and her later post-doctoral funding, Lilja's research might not have taken off at all.

"The funding also enables many researchers to collaborate internationally. There are many applicants for the grant, so receiving it tells me, and us, that our research is considered important and significant."

Text: Kai Tarkka
Image: Johanna Lilja