Kristoffer Rohrberg

MD

Ph.d. student

Key Research Interests
Angiogenesis, EGFR, Upper gastrointestinal cancer, angiogenesis and egfr-targeted anticancer treatment

Current project
Advanced upper gastrointestinal cancer including cancer of oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, and billiary tract has poor prognosis. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are known as indicators of poor prognosis, and as key signalling pathways in multiple cancers, including upper gastrointestinal cancers. Combined inhibition of these receptors with erlotinib and bevacizumab is being tested in a fase II clinical trial.

In order to find biomarkers to select patients for the proper treatment, to early acknowledge resistance to the treatment and to get knowledge about mechanisms of resistance, we collect blood samples and tumour tissue for ELISA and immunohistochemistry. Blood samples will be tested for bFGF (induces angiogenesis through FGFR), sVEGFR2 (a soluble part of VEGFR2), PlGF (induces malignant angiogenesis), PAI-1 (marker of iscemia), and sEGFR (soluble part of EGFR). Tumour tissue will be tested for VEGFR2 and EGFR. In the clinical trial, patients will be evaluated with CT every 8 week and response rate (according to the RECIST criteria) and time too progression will be correlated with results from biomarker analysis.

The number of targeted agents in oncology is fortunately growing rapidly. The job is now to select the right therapy for the right patients. In this prospective study, we intend to find biomarkers for the selection of patients who will benefit from the combined treatment with bevacizumab and erlotinib. Besides from that, the biomarkers may tell us when the therapy stopped working and a new targeted therapy should be initiated - and this before progression is visible with conventional imaging. Further more, the biomarkers may teach us about resistance mechanisms against the targeted treatment with bevacizumab and erlotinib, and therefore give rise to new clinical trials with other targeted agents.

Career
2006 - : PhD-student

2005 - 2006: MD at dept. Of Clinical Oncology, Copenhagen university hospital, Rigshospitalet

2004 - 2005: Medical intern in vestsjællands county