Background

Brain metastasis is a complication occurring in one third of all cancer patients. Metastases to the brain occur 10 times more often than primary malignant brain tumors. The most common sources of metastatic brain lesions involve the lung (50-60%), breast (15-20%), skin (5-10%) and gastrointestinal tract (4-6%).

Patients with metastatic spread to the central nervous system (CNS) have a poor prognosis. Treatment strategies available today are ineffective, with low response rates, as current chemotherapeutic agents are ineffective. Clearly there is a need for suitable animal models in which spontaneous CNS metastases develop when cancer cells metastasize from the primary lesion in a manner that reflects the patient setting. 

Development of new metastatic animal models

We have recently developed novel model systems where tumor cells from human melanoma brain metastases are injected systemically in immunodeficient mice and metastasize to the mouse brain. This animal model recapitulates most steps of the metastatic cascade, and a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind tumor metastasis may thus be obtained.

Ongoing research activities

Our work focuses on 3 main avenues:

We have performed genetic studies on our model systems, and performed bioinformatics analysis to determine a brain metastasis-specific gene signature. This work has resulted in determination of several novel drugs originally used for other conditions than cancer, which shows inhibitory effects on brain metastases in vivo.  

We are also studying the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which prevents therapeutic drugs from entering the brain. We are currently collaborating with partners from Germany, UK, China and the US, to modulate the BBB for prevention and treatment of brain metastases.

Currently, we are studying the effect of exosomes on the tumor microenvironment, and have encouraging data showing that miRNAs delivered to the brain by exosomes are important in preparing the pre-metastatic niche. This is an ongoing collaboration with our partners at Shandong University, China, and University of Luxembourg.

POPULAR SCIENCE ARTICLES 

1.   Mottok kinesiske forskningsmidler. Medical Faculty web site, University of Bergen, October 2, 2020 (In Norwegian). https://www.uib.no/med/139047/mottok-kinesiske-forskningsmidler

2.   Fikk kinesisk æresprofessorat. På Høyden, October 31, 2018 (In Norwegian). http://pahoyden.no/2018/10/fikk-kinesisk-aeresprofessorat

3.   Slik jobber 100 forskere i Bergen hver dag for å løse kreftgåten. Bergens Tidende, July 22, 2017 (In Norwegian). https://www.bt.no/btmagasinet/i/voqmV/Bruker-designermus-for-a-lose-kreftgaten?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#link_time=1500704688

4.   30 millioner til kreftforskning. University of Bergen web site, Nov 1, 2016 (In Norwegian). http://www.uib.no/mofa/102056/30-millioner-til-kreftforskning

5.   207 millioner til kreftforskning. Kreftforeningen (blog), Oct 27, 2015 (In Norwegian). (http://www.kreftforeningens-blogg.no/2015/10/207-millioner-til-kreftforskning/ )

6.     Nøttestoff reduserte kreft i musehjerner. Forskning.no, July 25, 2015 (In Norwegian). https://forskning.no/2015/07/nottestoff-reduserte-kreft-i-musehjerner

7.   Forsker: Jeg trodde det var for godt til å være sant. Bergens Tidende, July 2, 2015 (In Norwegian). (http://www.bt.no/nyheter/lokalt/--Jeg-har-ikke-sett-lignende-i-mine-20-ar-som-forsker-3393563.html ).

8.   Nøtter kan redusere kreft med spredning til hjernen. Kreftforeningen.no, July 1, 2015 (In Norwegian). (https://kreftforeningen.no/forskning/forskningsprosjekter-vi-stotter/notter-kan-redusere-kreft-med-spredning-til-hjernen/?utm_source=apsis-anp-3&utm_medium=email&utm_content=unspecified&utm_campaign=01.%20juli ).

9.   Nøtter kan redusere kreft med spredning til hjernen. University of Bergen web site, July 1, 2015 (In Norwegian). (http://www.uib.no/aktuelt/89958/n%C3%B8tter-kan-redusere-kreft-med-spredning-til-hjernen ).

10.   Frits Thorsen in Bergens Tidende: Exciting findings in preventing metastatic spreading. http://www.uib.no/en/rg/mic/90150/frits-thorsen-bergens-tidende-exciting-findings-preventing-metastatic-spreading   

1989-2002 Teacher in Radiation Physics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.

1991-1994 Teacher, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bergen Univ. College, Norway.

1993-2006 Clinical Consultant, Elekta Instrument AB, Stockholm, Sweden

2004-2023 Histology and Anatomy Teacher, Dept. of Biomedicine, UiB.

2008-2022 Invited Lecturer at 18 International Cancer Conferences.

 

Academic article

• Birgitte Feginn Berle; Sunniva Juliussen; Aurea Castilho et al. (2025). Multimodal Imaging of Brain Metastasis-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Using Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Labeling. (external link)
• Yulin Zhang; Xiao Fu; Junsheng Jia et al. (2020). Glioblastoma Therapy Using Codelivery of Cisplatin and Glutathione Peroxidase Targeting siRNA from Iron Oxide Nanoparticles. (external link)
• Cecilie Brekke Rygh; Jian Wang; Marte Thuen et al. (2014). Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MRI Detects Early Response to Adoptive NK Cellular Immunotherapy Targeting the NG2 Proteoglycan in a Rat Model of Glioblastoma. (external link)
• Tobias Espedal Wikerholmen; Erlend Moen Taule; Emma Kayleigh Rigg et al. (2025). Repurposing neuroleptics: clozapine as a novel, adjuvant therapy for melanoma brain metastases. (external link)
• Frits Alan Thorsen; Daniel Jirak; Jian Wang et al. (2008). Two distinct tumor phenotypes isolated from glioblastomas show different MRS characteristics. (external link)
• Einar O Vik-Mo; Marianne Øksnes; Paal-Henning Pedersen et al. (2007). Gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery for acromegaly. (external link)
• PS Zeiner; Jens Zinke; DJ Kowalewski et al. (2018). CD74 regulates complexity of tumor cell HLA class II peptidome in brain metastasis and is a positive prognostic marker for patient survival. (external link)
• Wenjing Zhou; Elena Martinez-Garcia; Katharina Sarnow et al. (2025). Development of a highly differentiated rat brain organoid model for exploring glioblastoma invasion dynamics and therapy. (external link)
• Emma Kayleigh Rigg; Jiwei Wang; Zhiwei Xue et al. (2023). Inhibition of extracellular vesicle-derived miR-146a-5p decreases progression of melanoma brain metastasis via Notch pathway dysregulation in astrocytes. (external link)
• Synnøve Nymark Aasen; Heidi Espedal; Olivier Keunen et al. (2021). Current landscape and future perspectives in preclinical MR and PET imaging of brain metastasis. (external link)
• Frits Thorsen (2025). Fluspirilene exerts an anti-glioblastoma effect through suppression of the FOXM1-KIF20A/BIRC5 axis.. (external link)
• Terje Sundstrøm; Lars Prestegarden; Francisco Azuaje et al. (2019). Inhibition of mitochondrial respiration prevents BRAF-mutant melanoma brain metastasis. (external link)
• Aurélie Poli; Jian Wang; Olivia Domingues et al. (2013). Targeting glioblastoma with NK cells and mAb against NG2/CSPG4 prolongs animal survival. (external link)
• Peter Csaba Huszthy; Dorota Goplen; Frits Alan Thorsen et al. (2008). Oncolytic herpes simplex virus type-1 therapy in a highly infiltrative animal model of human glioblastoma. (external link)
• Fitz-Roy E. Curry; Cecilie Brekke; Tine Veronica Karlsen et al. (2010). Atrial natriuretic peptide modulation of albumin clearance and contrast agent permeability in mouse skeletal muscle and skin: role in regulation of plasma volume. (external link)
• Frits Alan Thorsen; Brett Fite; Lisa M. Mahakian et al. (2013). Multimodal imaging enables early detection and characterization of changes in tumor permeability of brain metastases. (external link)
• Jian Wang; Inderjit Kaur Daphu; Paal-Henning Pedersen et al. (2011). A novel brain metastases model developed in immunodeficient rats closely mimics the growth of metastatic brain tumours in patients. (external link)
• Inderjit Kaur Daphu; Sindre August Horn; Daniel Stieber et al. (2014). In vitro treatment of melanoma brain metastasis by simultaneously targeting the MAPK and PI3K signaling pathways. (external link)
• Xisong Ke; Wencheng Li; Randi Hovland et al. (2011). Reprogramming of cell junction modules during stepwise epithelial to mesenchymal transition and accumulation of malignant features in vitro in a prostate cell model. (external link)
• Xin Zhang; Kaikai Ding; Jianxiong Ji et al. (2020). Trifluoperazine prolongs the survival of experimental brain metastases by STAT3-dependent lysosome membrane permeabilization.. (external link)
• Thomas Viel; Krishna Mukharji Talasila; Parisa Monfared et al. (2012). Analysis of the growth dynamics of angiogenesis-dependent and -independent experimental glioblastomas by multimodal small-animal PET and MRI. (external link)
• Haldis Haukås Lillefosse; Hanne Sørup Tastesen; Zhen-yu Du et al. (2013). Hydrolyzed casein reduces diet-induced obesity in male C57BL/6J mice. (external link)
• Jian Wang; Per Øystein Sakariassen; Oleg Tsinkalovsky et al. (2008). CD133 negative glioma cells form tumors in nude rats and give rise to CD133 positive cells. (external link)
• Per Øyvind Enger; Geir Olve Skeie; Frits Alan Thorsen et al. (2010). Gamma knife surgery of meningiomas involving the cavernous sinus: long-term follow-up of 100 patients. (external link)
• Olivier Keunen; Mikael Johansson; Anaîs Oudin et al. (2011). Anti-VEGF treatment reduces blood supply and increases tumor cell invasion in glioblastoma. (external link)
• Simon Bernatz; Elena I. Ilina; Kavi Devraj et al. (2019). Impact of Docetaxel on blood-brain barrier function and formation of breast cancer brain metastases. (external link)
• Frits Alan Thorsen (2011). MRI of experimental gliomas. (external link)
• Yang Kong; Zichao Feng; Yulin Zhang et al. (2020). Identification of immune-related genes contributing to the development of glioblastoma using weighted gene co-expression network analysis.. (external link)
• Jianxiong Ji; Kaikai Ding; Tao Luo et al. (2020). TRIM22 activates NF-κB signaling in glioblastoma by accelerating the degradation of IκBα.. (external link)
• Jianxiong Ji; Kaikai Ding; Tao Luo et al. (2019). PMEPA1 isoform a drives progression of glioblastoma by promoting protein degradation of the Hippo pathway kinase LATS1. (external link)
• Synnøve Nymark Aasen; Himalaya Parajuli; Tuyen Hoang et al. (2019). Effective treatment of metastatic melanoma by combining mapk and pi3k signaling pathway inhibitors. (external link)
• Habib Baghirov; Sofie Snipstad; Einar Sulheim et al. (2018). Ultrasound-mediated delivery and distribution of polymeric nanoparticles in the normal brain parenchyma of a metastatic brain tumour model. (external link)
• Terje Sundstrøm; Heidi Espedal; Patrick N. Harter et al. (2015). Melanoma brain metastasis is independent of lactate dehydrogenase A expression. (external link)
• Einar Osland Vik-Mo; Marianne Øksnes; Paal-Henning Pedersen et al. (2009). Gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery of Nelson syndrome. (external link)
• Xin Zhang; Ran Xu; Chao Zhang et al. (2017). Trifluoperazine, a novel autophagy inhibitor, increases radiosensitivity in glioblastoma by impairing homologous recombination. (external link)
• Eli N. Eikefjord; Frits Alan Thorsen; Jarle Rørvik (2007). Comparison of effective radiation doses in patients undergoing unenhanced MDCT and excretory urography for acute flank pain. (external link)
• Esha Madan; António M. Palma; Vignesh Vudatha et al. (2024). Ovarian tumor cells gain competitive advantage by actively reducing the cellular fitness of microenvironment cells. (external link)
• Jiwei Wang; Qichao Qi; Wenjing Zhou et al. (2018). Inhibition of glioma growth by flavokawain B is mediated through endoplasmic reticulum stress induced autophagy. (external link)
• Mingzhi Han; Shuai Wang; Ning Yang et al. (2019). Therapeutic implications of altered cholesterol homeostasis mediated by loss of CYP46A1 in human glioblastoma.. (external link)
• Cecilie Brekke; Jian Wang; Marte Thuen et al. (2014). Dynamic contrast enhanced MRI detects early response to adoptive NK cellular immunotherapy targeting the NG2 proteoglycan in a rat model of glioblastoma. (external link)
• Synnøve Nymark Aasen; Heidi Espedal; Christopher Florian Holte et al. (2019). Improved drug delivery to brain metastases by peptide-mediated permeabilization of the blood-brain barrier. (external link)
• Terje Sundstrøm; Inderjit Kaur Daphu; Ingvild Haukaas Wendelbo et al. (2013). Automated tracking of nanoparticle-labeled melanoma cells improves the predictive power of a brain metastasis model. (external link)
• Synnøve Nymark Aasen; Aneta Pospíšilová; Tilo Wolf Eichler et al. (2015). A novel nanoprobe for multimodal imaging is effectively incorporated into human melanoma metastatic cell lines. (external link)
• Trond Are Mannsåker; Tuyen Hoang; Synnøve Nymark Aasen et al. (2021). Cabozantinib is effective in melanoma brain metastasis cell lines and affects key signaling pathways. (external link)
• Cecilie Brekke; SC Williams; J Price et al. (2007). Cellular multiparametric MRI of neural stem cell therapy in a rat glioma model. (external link)
• Frits Alan Thorsen; Per Øyvind Enger; Jian Wang et al. (2007). Human glioblastoma biopsy spheroids xenografted into the nude rat brain show growth inhibition after stereotactic radiosurgery. (external link)
• Frits Alan Thorsen; Sandra Afione; Peter Csaba Huszthy et al. (2006). Adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotypes 2, 4 and 5 display similar transduction profiles and penetrate solid tumor tissue in models of human glioma. (external link)
• Jianxiong Ji; Ran Xu; Kaikai Ding et al. (2019). Long Noncoding RNA SChLAP1 Forms a Growth-Promoting Complex with HNRNPL in Human Glioblastoma through Stabilization of ACTN4 and Activation of NF-kappa B Signaling. (external link)
• Agathe Reigstad; Christina Frantzen Herdlevær; Emma Kayleigh Rigg et al. (2022). CCT196969 effectively inhibits growth and survival of melanoma brain metastasis cells. (external link)
• Aysegül Ilhan-Mutlu; Matthias Osswald; Yunxiang Liao et al. (2016). Bevacizumab prevents brain metastases formation in lung adenocarcinoma. (external link)
• Praveen Bhoopathi; Padmanabhan Mannangatti; Anjan K. Pradhan et al. (2024). Noninvasive therapy of brain cancer using a unique systemic delivery methodology with a cancer terminator virus. (external link)
• Zichao Feng; Wenjing Zhou; Jiwei Wang et al. (2019). Reduced expression of proteolipid protein 2 increases ER stress-induced apoptosis and autophagy in glioblastoma.. (external link)
• Yulin Zhang; Yang Kong; Yuan Ma et al. (2021). Loss of COPZ1 induces NCOA4 mediated autophagy and ferroptosis in glioblastoma cell lines. (external link)
• Olivier Keunen; Torfinn Taxt; Ragna Elisabeth Grüner et al. (2014). Multimodal imaging of gliomas in the context of evolving cellular and molecular therapies. (external link)
• Øivind Fredvik Torkildsen; Linn Anne Brunborg; Frits Alan Thorsen et al. (2009). Effects of dietary intervention on MRI activity, de- and remyelination in the cuprizone model for demyelination. (external link)
• Peter Csaba Huszthy; Christian Brekken; Tina Bugge Pedersen et al. (2006). Antitumor efficacy improved by local delivery of species-specific endostatin. (external link)
• Bente Skeie; Per Øyvind Enger; Jan C Brøgger et al. (2012). Gamma knife surgery versus reoperation for recurrent glioblastoma multiforme. (external link)
• Jenny Roesler; Daniel Spitzer; Xiaoxiong Jia et al. (2024). Disturbance in cerebral blood microcirculation and hypoxic-ischemic microenvironment are associated with the development of brain metastasis. (external link)
• Mingzhi Han; Shuai Wang; Sabrina Fritah et al. (2019). Interfering with long non-coding RNA MIR22HG processing inhibits glioblastoma progression through suppression of Wnt/β-catenin signalling. (external link)
• Krishna Mukharji Talasila; Gro Vatne Røsland; Hanne Røland Hagland et al. (2017). The angiogenic switch leads to a metabolic shift in human glioblastoma. (external link)
• Daniel Spitzer; Maryam I. Khel; Tim Pütz et al. (2023). A flow cytometry-based protocol for syngenic isolation of neurovascular unit cells from mouse and human tissues. (external link)

Master’s thesis

• Runar Oddvarson Hårklau; Frits Thorsen (2017). An In vitro Drug Study of Cabozantinib on Glioblastoma Cell Lines. (external link)
• Sunniva Juliussen; Frits Thorsen; Emma Kayleigh Rigg (2024). Characterization and Tracking of Melanoma and Lung Brain Metastasis-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in vitro. (external link)
• Birgitte Feginn Berle; Emma Kayleigh Rigg; Frits Thorsen (2023). 3D Modelling of Brain Metastasis Microenvironment for Evaluation of Tumour-Stromal Interactions. (external link)
• Sindre August Horn; Frits Thorsen (2014). In Vitro Treatment of Melanoma Brain Metastasis by Simultaneously Targeting the MAPK and PI3K Signaling Pathways. (external link)
• Emma Rigg; Frits Thorsen (2020). In vitro study of a selective PI3K inhibitor on brain metastases. (external link)
• Christopher Florian Holte; Frits Thorsen (2016). In vitro and in vivo studies of a novel blood brain barrier permeabilizing peptide K16ApoE. And novel in vivo treatment of melanoma brain metastases. (external link)
• Nazanin Mola; Frits Alan Thorsen (2015). In vitro effects of BEZ-235 on human melanoma metastatic cell lines. (external link)
• Shannon Moreino; Frits Thorsen; Jian Wang (2021). Development of 3D in vitro Interaction Models for the Evaluation and Treatment of Brain Metastases. (external link)
• Ingvild Haukaas Wendelbo; Frits Alan Thorsen (2010). IN VITRO EFFECTS OF NANOPARTICLE CONTRAST AGENTS ON CELLULAR FUNCTIONS AND RELAXOMETRY. (external link)
• Caroline Sørensen Singam; Frits Thorsen (2017). In vitro study of the effect of cabozantinib (XL184) on canine oral melanoma cell lines. (external link)
• Synnøve Nymark Aasen; Frits Alan Thorsen; Kai Ove Skaftnesmo (2014). Visualization of metastatic melanoma cells by fluorescence microscopy and MRI using a novel glycogen nanoprobe. (external link)
• Ole Vidhammer Bjørnstad; Frits Thorsen (2019). Characterization of Melanoma Brain Metastasis Cell Lines. (external link)

Conference abstract

• Cecilie Brekke; Marte Thuen; Aurélie Poli et al. (2012). Early MRI findings of targeting the NG2 proteoglycan in GBM. (external link)
• SP Niclou; Mikael Johansson; O Keunen et al. (2009). PHENOTYPIC AND PHYSIOLOGIC EFFECTS OF BEVACIZUMAB IN A HIGHLY INFILTRATIVE AND ANGIOGENIC HUMAN GLIOBLASTOMA MODEL. (external link)
• C Szczepanski; Rolf Bjerkvig; Olav Tenstad et al. (2011). Treatment of Solid Cancers Using a New Cationic Cytolytic Peptide. (external link)
• Inderjit Kaur Daphu; Heike Immervoll; Rolf Bjerkvig et al. (2011). A novel and clinically relevant mouse model reflecting the disease progression in melanoma brain metastasis in patients. (external link)
• Frits Alan Thorsen; B Fite; Lisa M. Mahakian et al. (2013). EARLY TUMOR DETECTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CHANGES IN TUMOR PERMEABILITY OF BRAINMETASTASES USING MULTIMODAL IMAGING. (external link)
• Terje Sundstrøm; Jobin K. Varughese; Patrick Harter et al. (2013). BRAIN-SPECIFIC GENE SIGNATURE OF MELANOMA METASTASIS. (external link)
• Inderjit Kaur Daphu; Heike Immervoll; Rolf Bjerkvig et al. (2010). A NOVEL PATIENT MELANOMA BRAIN METASTASIS MODEL DEVELOPED IN NOD-SCID MICE REFLECTS THE CLINICAL METASTATIC DISEASE PROGRESSION IN PATIENTS. (external link)
• Martha Chekenya; Jian Wang; A Poli et al. (2010). THERAPEUTIC TARGETING OF THE NG2 PROTEOGLYCAN WITH MAB 9.2.27 AND ADOPTIVELY TRANSFERRED NK CELLS LYSES HUMAN GLIOBLASTOMA MULTIFORME IN VIVO. (external link)
• Inderjit Kaur Daphu; Heike Immervoll; Ingvild Haukaas Wendelbo et al. (2011). Molecular imaging and genetic studies reveal selective homing of human brain metastatic cells to various organs in NOD/SCID mice. (external link)
• Hege Jacobsen; Aly Dicko; Jian Wang et al. (2011). Separate analysis of the cancer and stroma cell populations from orthotopically implanted tumor biopsies in eGFP scid mice. (external link)
• Frits Alan Thorsen; Inderjit Kaur Daphu; Paal-Henning Pedersen et al. (2008). DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW BRAIN METASTASES MODEL IN IMMUNODEFICIENT ANIMALS. (external link)

Doctoral thesis (PhD)

• Synnøve Nymark Aasen; Frits Thorsen (2019). Treatment strategies for experimental melanoma brain metastases. (external link)

Conference poster

• Marte Thuen; Jien Wang; Per Øyvind Enger et al. (2011). Therapeutic Targeting of NG2 Proteoglycan with MAb & Pre-Armed NK Cells in Human GMB Evaluated with Dynamic Enhanced & Diffusion Weighted MRI in Rats. (external link)
• Habib Baghirov; Andreas Åslund; Sofie Snipstad et al. (2016). Focused ultrasound-mediated transport of poly(alkyl) cyanoacrylate nanoparticles across the blood-brain barrier in a melanoma brain metastasis model. (external link)
• Jana Kim; Eugene Kim; Deborah Katherine Hill et al. (2017). Multiparametric MRI for optimal prostate cancer detection in TRAMP mice. (external link)
• Synnøve Nymark Aasen; Himalaya Parajuli; Kislay Roy et al. (2019). Effective Treatment Of Metastatic Melanomas Using Combined MAPK And PI3K Pathways Inhibitors. (external link)

Conference lecture

• Habib Baghirov; Andreas Åslund; Sofie Snipstad et al. (2016). Focused ultrasound-mediated transport of poly(alkyl) cyanoacrylate nanoparticles across the blood-brain barrier in a melanoma brain metastasis model. (external link)
• Xisong Ke; Wencheng Li; Yi Qu et al. (2009). EMT Promotes Malignant Transformation of Prostate Epithelial Cells in Culture. (external link)
• Bente Sandvei Skeie; Per Øyvind Enger; Geir Olve Skeie et al. (2001). Gamma Knife Radiosurgery of meningiomas involving the cavernous sinus. (external link)
• Habib Baghirov; Sofie Snipstad; Einar Sulheim et al. (2016). Focused ultrasound-mediated transport of poly(alkyl) cyanoacrylate nanoparticles across the blood-brain barrier in a melanoma brain metastasis model. (external link)

Editorial/Leader article

• Nicola R. Sibson; Frits Thorsen; Manuel Sarmiento Soto (2022). Editorial: The Role of the Immune Response in Brain Metastasis. (external link)
• Rolf Bjerkvig; Frits Thorsen (2019). Glioblastoma: A prognostic value of AMT-PET?. (external link)

Academic literature review

• Peter Csaba Huszthy; Inderjit Kaur Daphu; Simone P Niclou et al. (2012). In vivo models of primary brain tumors: pitfalls and perspectives. (external link)
• SP Qin; BZ Fite; KG Gagnon et al. (2014). A physiological perspective on the use of imaging to assess the in vivo delivery of therapeutics. (external link)
• Manuel Valiente; Amanda E D Van Swearingen; Carey K Anders et al. (2020). Brain Metastasis Cell Lines Panel: a public resource of organotropic cell lines.. (external link)
• Inderjit Kaur Daphu; Terje Sundstrøm; Sindre August Horn et al. (2013). In vivo animal models for studying brain metastasis: value and limitations. (external link)

Lecture

• Habib Baghirov; Sofie Snipstad; Einar Sulheim et al. (2016). Ultrasound-mediated delivery and distribution of polymeric nanoparticles in the normal brain parenchyma and melanoma metastases. (external link)

Professional article

• Erlend Moen Taule; Stephanie Schipmann-Miletic; Frits Thorsen et al. (2022). Hjernemetastasar – diagnostikk og behandling. (external link)

See a complete overview of publications in Cristin.

Publication list 2013-2023

* = shared last authorship

1. Rigg E, Wang J, Xue Z, Lunavat T, Liu G, Hoang T, Parajuli H, Han M, Bjerkvig R, Nazarov P, Nicot N, Kreis S, Margue CW, Nomigni MT, Utikal J, Miletic H, Sundstrøm T, Li X, Thorsen F. Inhibition of extracellular vesicle derived miR-146a-5p decreases progression of melanoma brain metastasis via Notch pathway dysregulation in astrocytes. J Extracell Ves 2023, Oct; 12(10):e12363. doi: 10.1002/jev2.12363.
2. Spitzer D, Guérit S, Khel M, Pütz T, Zinke J, Jia X, Sommer K, Filipski K, Thorsen F, Freiman T, Harter P, Reiss Y, Liebner S, Di Tacchio M, Devraj K. A flow cytometry based protocol for syngenic isolation of neurovascular unit cells from mouse and human tissues. Nat Protoc 2023 May, 18(5):1510-1542. doi:10.1038/s41596-023-00805-y.
3. Taule EM, Schipmann-Miletic S, Thorsen F, Johannessen TA, Miletic H, Storstein A, Oltedal L, Sundstrøm T. Hjernemetastasar – diagnostikk og behandling. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 2022, Oct 10;142(14). doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.21.0809. Review, in Norwegian.
4. Reigstad A, Herdlevær CF, Rigg E, Hoang T, Bjørnstad OV, Aasen SN, Preiss J, Haan C, Sundstrøm T, Thorsen F. CCT196969 effectively inhibits growth and survival of melanoma brain metastasis cells. PLoS One 2022 Sep 9, 17(9):e0273711. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273711. [IF 3.24]
5. Sibson NR, Thorsen F, Sarmiente Soto M. The role of the immune response in brain metastasis. Front Oncol 10 May 2022. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.922700. Editorial.
6. Aasen SN, Espedal H, Keunen O, Adamsen TCH, Bjerkvig R*, Thorsen F*. Current landscape and future perspectives in preclinical MR and PET imaging of brain metastasis. Neuro-Oncol Adv, 3(1):1-14, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1093/noajnl/vdab151. Review.
7. Mannsåker TA, Hoang T, Aasen SN, Bjørnstad OV, Parajuli H, Sundstrøm T, Thorsen F. Cabozantinib is effective in melanoma brain metastasis cell lines and affects key signaling pathways. Int J Mol Sci 2021 Nov 14, 22(22):12296. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222212296. [IF 5.923].
8. Zhang Y, Kong Y, Ma Y, Ni S, Wikerholmen T, Xi K, Zhao F, Zhao Z, Wang J, Huang B, Chen A, Yao Z, Han M, Feng Z, Hu Y, Thorsen F*, Wang J*, Li X*. Loss of COPZ1 induces NCOA4 mediated autophagy and ferroptosis in glioblastoma cell lines. Oncogene 2021 Jan 8, 40(8):1425-1439. doi: 10.1038/s41388-020-01622-3.
9. Zhang Y, Fu X, Jia J, Wikerholmen T, Xi K, Kong Y, Wang J, Chen H, Ma Y, Li Z, Wang C, Qi Q, Thorsen F, Wang J, Cui J, Li X, Ni S. Glioblastoma therapy using codelivery of cisplatin and gluthathione peroxidase targeting siRNA from iron oxide particles. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2020 Sep 4. 
10. Ji J, Ding K, Luo T, Zhang X, Chen A, Zhang D, Li G, Thorsen F, Huang B, Li X, Wang J. TRIM22 activates NF-κB signaling in glioblastoma by accelerating the degradation of IκBα. Cell Death & Diff 2020 Aug 19, 18:6938-15. 
11. Kong Y, Feng Z, Zhang Y, Liu X, Yuan M, Zhao Z, Huang B, Chen A, Zhang D, Thorsen F, Wang J, Yang N, Li X. Identification of immune-related genes contributing to the development of glioblastoma using weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Front Immunol 2020 July 16, 11:1281. 
12. Valiente M, Van Swearingen AED, Anders C, Bairoch A, Boire A, Bos P, Cittelly D, Erez N, Ferraro G, Fukumura D, Gril BM, Herlyn M, Holmen SL, Jain RK, Joyce JA, Lorger M, Massagué J, Neman J, Sibson N, Steeg P, Thorsen F, Young L, Vareslija D, Vultur A, Weis-García F, Winkler F. Brain Metastasis Cell Lines Panel: a public resource of organotropic cell lines. Cancer Res 2020 July 8. 
13. Feng Z, Zhou W, Wang J, Qi Q, Han M, Kong Y, Zhang Y, Chen A, Huang B, Chen A, Zhang D, Li W, Zhang Q, Bjerkvig R, Wang J*, Thorsen F*, Li X*. Reduced expression of proteolipid 2 increases ER-stress-induced apoptosis and autophagy in glioblastoma. J Cell Mol Med 2020 Mar 17, 24(5):2847-2856.
14. Zhang X, Ding K, Ji J, Parajuli H, Aasen SN, Espedal H, Huang B, Chen A, Wang J*, Li X*, Thorsen F*. Trifluoperazine prolongs the survival of experimental brain metastases by STAT3-dependent lysosome membrane permeabilization. Am J Cancer Res 2020 Feb 1, 10(2):545-563. 
15. Han M, Wang S, Fritah S, Zhou W, Yang N, Huang B, Chen A, Li G, Miletic H, Thorsen F, Bjerkvig R, Li X, Wang J. Interfering with long non-coding RNA MIR22HG processing inhibits glioma progression through suppression of Wnt/b-catenin signalling. Brain 2020 Feb 1, 143(2):512-530.  
16. Ji J, Ding K, LuoT, Xu R, Zhang X, Huang B, Chen A, Zhang D, Miletic H, Bjerkvig R*, Thorsen F*, Wang J*, Li X*. PMEPA1 isoform a drives progression of glioblastoma by promoting protein degradation of the Hippo pathway kinase LATS1. Oncogene 2020 Jan 11, 39(5):1125-1139. 
17. Han M, Wang S, Zhao W, Kong Y, Huang B, Chen A, Saed HS, Li G, Miletic H, Thorsen F, Bjerkvig R, Li X, Wang J. Therapeutic implications of altered cholesterol homeostasis mediated by loss of CYP46A1 in human glioblastoma. EMBO Mol Med, 2020 Jan 9;12(1):e10924. 
18. Bernatz S, Ilina E, Devraj K, Harter PN, Mueller K, Kleber S, Braun Y, Penski C, Renner C, Halder R, Jennewein L, Solbach C, Thorsen F, Pestalozzi BC, Mischo A, Mittelbronn M. Impact of docetaxel on blood-brain barrier function and formation of breast cancer brain metastases. J Exp & Clin Cancer Res 2019 Oct 29;38(1):434. 
19. Ji J, Xu R, Ding K, Bao G, Zhang X, Huang B, Wang X, Martinez A, Wang X, Li G, Miletic H, Thorsen F, Bjerkvig R, Xiang L, Han B, Chen A, Li X, Wang J. Long noncoding RNA SChLAP1 forms a growth promoting complex with HNRNPL in human glioblastoma through stabilization and activation of NF-kB signalling. Clin Cancer Res 2019 Sep. 6.
20. Aasen SN, Espedal H, Holte CF, Keunen O, Karlsen TV, Tenstad O, Maherally Z, Miletic H, Hoang T, Eikeland AV, Baghirov H, Olberg DE, Pilkington GJ, Sarkar G, Jenkins R, Sundstrøm T, Bjerkvig R, Thorsen F. Improved drug delivery to experimental melanoma brain metastasis by peptide-mediated permeabilization of the blood-brain barrier. Mol Cancer Ther 2019 Aug 29. 
21. Aasen SN, Parajuli H, Roy K, Hoang T, Stokke K, Wang J, Feng Z, Bjerkvig R, Thorsen F. Effective treatment of metastatic melanoma by combining MAPK and PI3K signaling pathway inhibitors. Int J Mol Sci 20(17):4235, Aug 29, 2019. 
22. Sundstrøm T, Prestegarden L, Azuaje F, Røsland GV, Varughese JK, Aasen SN, Bernatz S, Braun Y, Harter PN, Skaftnesmo KO, Inghem ES, Mahakian LM, Tam S, Tepper CG, Petersen K, Ferrara KW, Tronstad KJ, Lund-Johansen M, Bjerkvig R*, Thorsen F*. Inhibition of mitochondrial respiration prevents BRAF-mutant melanoma brain metastasis. Acta Neuropathol Comm 7:55, Apr 10, 2019. doi: 10.1186/s40478-019-0712-8.
23. Bjerkvig R, Thorsen F. Glioblastoma: a prognostic value of AMT-PET? Neuro-Oncol 21(2):146-147, Feb 14, 2019. 
24. Wang J, Qi Q, Zhou W, Feng Z, Huang B, Chen A, Zhang D, Li W, Zhang Q, Bjerkvig R, Prestegarden L, Thorsen F, Li X, Wang J. Inhibition of glioma growth by flavokawain B is mediated through endoplasmatic reticulum stress induced autophagy. Autophagy 2018 Jul 19.
25. Zeiner PS, Zinke J, Kowalewski DJ, Bernatz S, Tichy J, Ronellenfitsch MW, Thorsen F, Berger A, Forster MT, Muller A, Steinbach JP, Beschorner R, Wischhusen J, Kvasnicka HM, Plate KH, Stefanovic S, Weide B, Mittelbronn M, Harter PN. CD74 regulates complexity of tumor cell HLA class II peptidome in brain metastasis and is a positive prognostic marker for patient survival. Acta Neuropathol Comm 6:18, 2018. 
26. Baghirov H, Snipstad S, Sulheim E, Berg S, Hansen R, Thorsen F, Mørch Y, de Lange Davies C, Åslund ÅKO. Ultrasound-mediated delivery and distribution of polymeric nanoparticles in the normal brain parenchyma of a metastatic brain tumour model. PLoS ONE, 13(1):e0191102, 2018. 
27. Zhang X, Xu R, Zhang C, Xu Y, Han M, Huang B, Chen A, Qiu C, Thorsen F, Prestegarden L, Bjerkvig R, Wang J, Li XG. Trifluoperazine, a novel autophagy inhibitor, increases radiosensitivity in glioblastoma by impairing homologous recombination. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 36(1):118, 2017. doi:10.1186/s13046-017-0588-z. 
28. Talasila KM, Røsland G, Hagland H, Eskilsson E, Tran GT, Fritah S, Azuaje F, Atai N, Harter P, Mittelbronn M, Anderson M, van Noorden R, Niclou SP, Thorsen F, Tronstad KJ, Tzoulis C, Bjerkvig R, Miletic H. The angiogenic switch leads to a metabolic switch in human glioblastoma. Neuro-Oncol Sep 19(3):383-393, 2017. 
29. Ilhan-Mutlu A, Osswald M, Liao Y, Gömmel M, Reck M, Miles D, Mariani P, Gianni L, Lutiger B, Nendel V, Srock S, Perez-Moreno P, Thorsen F, von Baumgarten L, Preusser M, Wick W, Winkler F. Bevacizumab prevents brain metastases formation in lung adenocarcinoma. Mol Cancer Ther Jan 25, 15(4):702-710, 2016. 
30. Aasen SN, Pospisilova A, Eichler T, Panek J, Hruby M, Stepanek P, Spriet E, Jirak D, Skaftnesmo KO, Thorsen F. A novel nanoprobe for visualisation of melanoma metastatic cells by fluorescence and MRI. Int J Mol Sci 16:21658-21680, 2015.
31. Sundstrøm T, Espedal H, Harter P, Fasmer KE, Skaftnesmo KO, Horn S, Hodneland E, Mittelbronn M, Weide B, Beschorner R, Bendner B, Rygh CB, Lund-Johansen M, Bjerkvig R, Thorsen F. Melanoma brain metastasis is independent on LDHA expression. Neuro-Oncol 17:1374-1385, 2015. 
32. Keunen O, Taxt T, Tonn JC, Grüner R, Lund-Johansen M, Pavlin T, Bjerkvig R, Niclou S, Thorsen F. Multimodal imaging of gliomas in the context of cellular and molecular therapies. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 76:98-115, 2014. 
33. Rygh, CB, Wang J, Thuen M, Gras-Navarro A, Huuse EM, Thorsen F, Poli A, Zimmer J, Haraldseth O, Lie SA, Enger PØ, Chekenya M. Dynamic contrast enhanced MRI detects early response to adoptive NK cellular immunotherapy targeting the NG2 proteoglycan in a rat model of glioblastoma. PLoS ONE 2014 9(9):e108414.
34. Daphu I, Horn S, Stieber D, Varughese J, Skaftnesmo KO, Bjerkvig R, Thorsen F. In vitro treatment of melanoma brain metastasis by simultaneously targeting the MAPK and PI3K signaling pathways. Int J Mol Sci 15:8773-8794, 2014.
35. Qin SP, Fite BZ, Gagnon KG, Seo JW, Curry F, Thorsen F, Ferrara KW. A physiological perspective on the use of imaging to assess the in vivo delivery of therapeutics. Ann Biomed Eng 42(2):280-298, 2014.
36. Thorsen F, Fite B, Mahakian L, Seo JW, Qin SP, Harrison V, Johnson S, Ingham E, Meade T, Caskey C, Sundstrøm T, Meade T, Harter PN, Skaftnesmo KO, Ferrara KW. Multimodal imaging enables early detection and characterization of changes in tumor permeability of brain metastases. J Control Rel 172:812-822, 2013. 
37. Poli A, Wang J, Domingues O, Planagumá J, Yan T, Rygh CB, Skaftnesmo KO, Thorsen F, McCormack E, Hentges F, Pedersen PH, Zimmer J, Enger PO, Chekenya M. Targeting glioblastoma with NK-cells and mAb against NG2/CSPG4 prolongs animal survival. Oncotarget 4(9):1527-1546, 2013. 
38. Lillefosse HH, Tastesen HS, Du ZY, Ditlev DB, Thorsen F, Madsen L, Kristiansen K, Liaset B. Hydrolyzed casein reduces diet-induced obesity in male C57BL/6J mice. J Nutr 143(9):1367-1375, 2013.
39. Sundstrøm T,  Daphu I, Wendelbo I, Hodneland E, Lundervoll A, Immervoll H, Skaftnesmo KO, Babic M, Jendelova P, Sykova E, Lund-Johansen M, Bjerkvig R, Thorsen F. Quantitative tracking of nanoparticle labeled melanoma cells improves the predictive power of an experimental brain metastasis model. Cancer Res 73(8):2445-2456, 2013. 
40. Daphu I, Sundstrøm T, Huszthy PC, Niclou SP, Sakariassen P, Immervoll H, Miletic H, Bjerkvig R, Thorsen F. In vivo animal models for studying brain metastasis: value and limitations. Clin Exp Metastasis 30:695-710, 2013.