SciLifeLab researcher receives prize for discovering a new treatment for cancer based on cancer mutation

Thomas Helleday, SciLifeLab researcher and Karolinska Institutet (KI) professor has received the Anders Jahre prize for his research on DNA repair mechanisms and cancer gene mutations which has led up to a cancer treatment that is currently first-line treatment in BRCA mutated.

One of Helledays key contributions is the development of a concept known as “synthetic lethality” for treatment of cancer. This concept demonstrates that while a cell can live with a mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene causing a defect in homologous recombination, additional loss or inhibition of another pathway, PARP, kills the cells. As only cancer cells have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations only the cancer cells die while normal cells are spared. Based on Helleday’s discovery PARP inhibitor tablets, with mild adverse effects, are used as standard treatment in patients across the world to efficiently kill off BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutated breast, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancers. 

“I am deeply honored to be recognized by the Anders Jahre Prize. The credit for the achievement goes to the entire team that dared to break new ground and not follow well-trodden paths. Our new research directions have been met by skepticism from researchers that felt challenged or did not look deeply into the scientific details. Now, many of these early ideas have developed into well-established treatments or research areas. My hope is that the prize may serve as an inspiration for young researchers to try unconventional approaches to challenge the big questions”, Thomas Helleday says in an interview with the University of Oslo.

Helleday will receive the award at the Anders Jahre Awards held on November 7 in the Oslo University aula

“The Anders Jahre Awards for Medical Research honor basic research that pushes the boundaries of knowledge. I would like to congratulate all four winners and say a big thank you for their dedication and determination. They all contribute to basic understanding which will in turn make a difference for many people”, Oslo University Rector Svein Stølen said in an interview.

Find out more about the prize and the other winners here