Iben Lyskjær

Immunotherapy, in which the body's own immune system is 'strengthened', is the cornerstone in treatment of metastatic renal cancer. Immunotherapy is initiated when the metastases are visible by radiological imaging, but only half of the patients benefit from the administered treatment, and there are currently no methods that can identify with certainty which patients will benefit from treatment. 

The purpose of Iben Lyskjær’s research project is thus to identify new biomarkers that can determine whether a given renal cancer patient will benefit from immunotherapy for metastatic disease. The hypothesis is that a comprehensive molecular characterization of the blood, tumor and the surrounding tumor environment together may provide a mechanism by which to guide clinical decision-making.

Iben Lyskjær and her research group will examine the renal cancer nodules thoroughly as well as look for signals from the surrounding environment, known to have a role in disease progression and regulation of immunotherapy responses. Furthermore, she will use new sensitive techniques to investigate the use of a simple blood test measuring cancer-derived pieces of DNA in the bloodstream to assess the risk of future clinical relapse, as well as to detect relapses early before visible on a scan while the cancer is still small and treatable.

The results will benefit both patients and the healthcare system; expensive medical treatments should be given in a timely manner but only to patients who need treatment and who are likely to benefit from it.