Signe Friesland

Dr. Signe Friesland is an Associate Professor (Docent) at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Oncology-Pathology, where she has been actively contributing to cancer research since earning her PhD in 2002. She currently holds an 'Affiliated to Research' position (2025-2028) and is a key member of Simon Ekman's Precision Cancer Medicine in Lung Cancer research group.

Her research interests span radiation oncology with particular focus on head and neck cancer and lung cancer. Dr. Friesland has made significant contributions to understanding optimal radiation therapy protocols, dose escalation strategies, and management of treatment-related toxicities. Her work often involves large-scale clinical trials evaluating novel radiotherapy approaches and their impact on patient outcomes.

Analysis of her recent publications (2021-2025) reveals a strong emphasis on head and neck cancer research, particularly HPV-associated squamous cell carcinoma, dose escalation techniques, and adaptive radiotherapy approaches. Her work frequently appears in high-impact oncology journals including Radiotherapy and Oncology, Cancers, and Acta Oncologica, demonstrating consistent scholarly productivity.

Key research areas include:

• Head and neck cancer radiotherapy optimization
• Dose escalation strategies for oropharyngeal cancer
• Adaptive radiotherapy techniques (ARTFORCE trial)
• Chemoradiation comparisons (cisplatin vs. cetuximab - ARTSCAN III)
• Management of radiation-induced toxicities
• HPV-related head and neck cancers

Dr. Friesland collaborates extensively with Nordic and international research groups, contributing to large multicenter clinical trials that have shaped contemporary radiation oncology practice. Her work bridges clinical research with practical applications in cancer treatment, with particular attention to quality of life outcomes alongside tumor control metrics.