About
Karin Leandersson is a Professor and Research Team Manager in Cancer Immunology at Lund University's Faculty of Medicine in Malmö. She serves as Principal Investigator at the Lund University Cancer Centre (LUCC) and is an Affiliated Researcher with Infect@LU. Her work focuses on understanding immune mechanisms in cancer progression and developing novel therapeutic approaches.
Research Interests
Professor Leandersson's research centers on the mechanisms behind innate immune system suppression in late-stage cancer patients, particularly in breast cancer. Her work investigates how tumor cells skew the immune system toward a "tolerogenic" state leading to immune paralysis, with a focus on innate immune cell populations including macrophages, monocytes, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). She examines their effects on adaptive immunity, immune tolerance, and metastatic processes.
Her research employs both human clinical material and mouse models of breast cancer metastasis, maintaining a strong translational character through clinical collaborations. Key areas include tumor immunology, immune suppression mechanisms, breast cancer microenvironment, and myeloid cell biology.
Research Trends
Analysis of Professor Leandersson's publications reveals a consistent focus on the role of innate immune cells in breast cancer progression. Her work demonstrates how tumor-associated macrophages, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells contribute to immune suppression and tumor progression. A notable trend is her investigation of specific molecular mechanisms like Wnt5a-TLR interactions and CXCL16-mediated monocyte recruitment in tumor microenvironments.
Her research shows increasing sophistication in understanding the complex interplay between different immune cell populations in the tumor microenvironment, with implications for developing novel immunotherapeutic approaches targeting these mechanisms.
Advising and Grants
Professor Leandersson actively supervises multiple doctoral students and researchers including Thofte, O., Briem, O., Wahlin, S., and Lundgren, S. Her current projects include "Immune reactions in patients with metastatic breast cancer" (2024-2028) funded by Cancerfonden and UMAS Cancerstiftelse.
She has secured significant research funding and leads multiple dissertation projects examining myeloid immune cell mechanisms in tumor progression, bladder cancer, and periampullary adenocarcinoma. Her work demonstrates strong clinical-translational connections with emphasis on practical applications for improving cancer treatment.
Laboratories and Teams
Professor Leandersson is affiliated with the Immunohistochemistry and Tissue Micro Array Center Malmö at Lund University. She actively organizes research activities through LUCC, including retreats, minisymposia, and seminars focused on immunology, tumor microenvironment, and metastasis. Her collaborative network spans multiple institutions and research groups working on cancer immunology and translational cancer research.
