Line Bjørge

Line Bjørge, MD, PhD, MBA, is the Head of Cancer Research at Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway, and a professor at the University of Bergen. She co-directs and is a principal investigator at CCBIO. Bjørge earned her medical degree (1992) and PhD (1996) from the University of Bergen and an MBA from ESSEC Paris and Mannheim Business School (2010). She trained in obstetrics and gynecology at Haukeland University Hospital and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in cancer immunology at the University of Helsinki and the University of Innsbruck. Her research focuses on gynecological oncology, particularly ovarian and vulva cancer, with profiling of preclinical models and clinical trials. She has received multiple national and international grants and is a seasoned supervisor and mentor with a comprehensive publication record.

Brief group presentation and history

Since 2009, Bjørge and Professor Emmet Mc Cormack have collaborated on research projects and co-supervised PhD candidates. In 2015, they received a significant grant from the Innovative Training Networks (ITN) under the H2020-MSCA-ITN-2015 program for their project, “Image-Guided Surgery (IGS) and Personalized Postoperative Immunotherapy to Improve Cancer Outcomes.” This grant also funded positions for early-stage researchers. To manage this project, Bjørge and Mc Cormack established the INOvA Research Group, which quickly attracted talented young researchers and thrived in advancing cancer research.

Research focus

Over the past decade, the INOvA Research Group has developed a multidisciplinary project portfolio focused on high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma. The “Rethinking Ovarian Cancer” (RETHINK) initiative aims to transform tumor profiling data into strategies for personalized patient care. The RETHINK portfolio is divided into four key programs: tumor microenvironment profiling, preclinical modeling, antibody-based diagnostics, and clinical translation. Recently, a similar approach has been developed for vulva cancer in collaboration with Professor Daniela Costea.

Subprojects

1. Immunophenotyping of HGSOC

Mutational processes, tumor localization, and clonal heterogeneity affect immune recognition and contribute to TME heterogeneity. In HGSOC patients, the role of immunotherapy is not clear. Spatial communication in the TME might influence its efficacy, but this research is still in the early stages. The project aims to develop robust methods to understand spatial and functional interactions, crucial for identifying biomarkers and improving immunotherapy. Methods include multi-omics immunoprofiling using cytokine mapping, single-cell mass cytometry of tumor and peripheral blood cells, and imaging mass cytometry of tumor tissues. Established profiling panels and new algorithms for extended phenotyping have confirmed tumor heterogeneity, revealed new cell subsets, and identified biomarkers for prognosis and treatment selection.

2. Experimental preclinical models

Preclinical models are essential for basic research and therapeutic discovery, but current models fail to mimic real tumor complexity, leading to many therapeutics failing in clinical trials. The aim of the project is to develop advanced 3D systems using decellularized tissue as an extracellular matrix substitute and a mouse xenograft platform for HGSOC. A sophisticated 3D platform with a decellularized peritoneum as an organ-specific matrix, supported by custom 3D-printed molds for dynamic imaging, has been established. Models of primary tumors, functional drug response assays, and cell-based immunotherapies have been implemented. Additionally, a mouse xenograft platform with orthotopic PDX models, immunocompetent, and surgical models have been developed for HGSOC.

3. Clinical translation

Translating new biological knowledge into innovative therapies requires integrating predictive biomarkers with functional analysis. By using data from comprehensive tumor profiling and functional analysis in preclinical models, the goal is to develop tools to identify effective therapies and guide clinical decisions. Cytokine profiling in the IMPACT study revealed two distinct immunological subgroups for treatment selection. Targets for image-guided surgery with near-infrared probes were identified. The 3D HGSOC models accurately mimicked tumor responses to platinum-based treatments. Mass cytometry analysis of human peripheral blood cells identified cell subsets for monitoring combined CD73 and PD-L1 blockade immunotherapy in HGSOC patients.

Future perspectives from 2024

In research, continued focus will be on the development and application of preclinical models and biomarker discovery, validation, and application with a focus on antibody-based therapeutics. In parallel, the group will focus on the development of future research leaders.

• Line Bjørge, MD, PhD, MBA, professor, group leader
• Emmet Mc Cormack, PhD, professor
• Cecilie Fredvik Torkildsen, MD, PhD, postdoc
• Christiane Helgestad Gjerde, MD, PhD
• Karen Rosnes Gissum, MSc, PhD, associate professor
• Katrin Kleinmanns, MSc, PhD, researcher
• Liv Cecilie Vestrheim Thomsen, MD, PhD
• Luka Tandaric, MD, PhD, postdoc
• May Eriksen Gjerstad, MSc, PhD student
• Minh Thu Le, research nurse
• Vibeke Fosse, DVM, PhD student