Hanna Eriksson

About me

Associate Professor in Oncology, Karolinska Institutet, and Consultant in Oncology at the Department of Head-Neck-, Lung-, and Skin Cancer, Theme Cancer, Karolinska University Hospital. M.D. and Ph.D. from Karolinska Institutet.

Research description

Cutaneous melanoma is one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer. The survival is heterogenous both between and within disease stages. Early detection and surgical removal of the primary melanoma is still crucial for the prognosis. Landmark genomic and immunologic studies have translated into approved targeted treatments and immunotherapies for metastatic disease. Targeted therapies achieve high but often transient therapy responses. Immunotherapies can achieve durable responses in a subset of patients. Serious immune associated toxicities are a major clinical challenge.

Several key questions remain to increase the clinical outcome in melanoma: 1) poorly understood survival differences in sub-groups of melanoma patients; 2) lack of effective strategies to overcome resistance to immunotherapy and immune-related toxicities; 3) limited knowledge of treatment outcomes in a real-world environment.

Our overall objectivein my team is therefore to optimally inform clinical decision-making and improve the outcome from early disease to advanced melanoma. The research has a clear clinical  and translational approach by using large-scale register data, recent technical advances including artificial intelligence and multi-omics analyses in a real-world environment and within clinical trials. Specifically, we focus on the interplay between the immune system and the tumor immune microenvironment to identify factors blocking the synergy between therapies.

PROJECTS

• Artificial Intelligence in Melanoma Diagnostics -  the AIDMel trial.
• Large-scale register analyses to investigate risk and survival in melanoma focusing on common drugs with a potential immunomodulatory effect and loss of life expectancy in melanoma.
• Real-world outcome analyses of melanoma therapies.
• Treatment predictive and prognostic biomarkers in melanoma with a specific foucs on brain metastastic disease and mucosal melanoma.
• Novel strategies to resensitise resistant melanoma to standard immunotherapy by augmenting anti-melanoma immune responses.
• Validation of underlying molecular resistance mechanisms to immune therapies in vitro, and to test the efficacy of novel interventions in animal models.
• Gender Differences in sidE eFfects of ImmuNotherapy: a possible clue to optimize cancEr tReatment - the G-DEFINER trial.
• Development of a Quality of Life Module for Patients with Advanced Melanoma (EORTC QoL Melanoma Module)

 

TEAM MEMBERS

Hanna Eriksson Team leader.

Isabelle Krakowski MD, PhD student.

Sofi Vikström MD, PhD student.

Nidhi Sharma PhD, postdoc.

Alia Shamikh MD, PhD, postdoc.

 

FUNDING

The Swedish Cancer Society.

The Swedish Research Council.

Horizon 2020; GenderNet-Plus.

Radiumhemmet Research Funds.

Stockholm Regional Council.

Translational Seed Funding Grant.

Karolinska Institutet.

The Swedish Medical Society.

Cancer- och Allergi Fonden.

 

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Novel loss-of-function variant in DENND5A impedes melanosomal cargo transport and predisposes to familial cutaneous melanoma

Yang M, Johnsson P, Bräutigam L, Yang Xr, Thrane K, Gao J, Tobin Np, Zhou Y, Yu R, Nagy N, Engström Pg, Tuominen R, Eriksson H, Lundeberg J, Tucker Ma, Goldstein Am, Egyhazi-brage S, Zhao J, Cao Y, Höiom V.

Genetics in Medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics 2022 Jan;24(1):157-169. doi: 10.1016/j.gim.2021.09.003.

 

Clinical Categorization Algorithm (CLICAL) and Machine Learning Approach (SRF-CLICAL) to Predict Clinical Benefit to Immunotherapy in Metastatic Melanoma Patients: Real-World Evidence from the Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione Pascale, Napoli, Italy

Madonna G, Masucci Gv, Capone M, Mallardo D, Grimaldi Am, Simeone E, Vanella V, Festino L, Palla M, Scarpato L, Tuffanelli M, D'angelo G, Villabona L, Krakowski I, Eriksson H, Simao F, Lewensohn R, Ascierto Pa.

Cancers 2021; Aug 19;13(16):4164. doi: 10.3390/cancers1316416

 

Impact of modern systemic therapies and clinical markers on treatment outcome for metastatic melanoma in a real-world setting

Krakowski I, Bottai M, Habel H, Masucci G, Girnita A, Smedby Ke, Eriksson H.

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2021 Jan;35(1):105-115. doi: 10.1111/jdv.16678.

 

Pathological response and tumour bed histopathological features correlate with survival following neoadjuvant immunotherapy in stage III melanoma

Rawson Rv, Adhikari C, Bierman C, Lo Sn, Shklovskaya E, Rozeman Ea, Menzies Am, Van Akkooi Acj, Shannon Kf, Gonzalez M, Guminski Ad, Tetzlaff Mt, Stretch Jr, Eriksson H, Van Thienen Jv, Wouters Mw, Haanen Jbag, Klop Wmc, Zuur Cl, Van Houdt Wj, Nieweg Oe, Ch'ng S, Rizos H, Saw Rpm, Spillane Aj, Wilmott Js, Blank Cu, Long Gv, Van De Wiel Ba, Scolyer Ra.

Annals of Oncology: official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology 2021 Jun;32(6):766-777.doi: 10.1016./j.annonc.2021.03.006.

 

Plasma proteome alterations by MAPK inhibitors in BRAFV600-mutated metastatic cutaneous melanoma

Babačić H, Eriksson H**, Pernemalm M**. (shared last author)

Neoplasia (New York, N.Y.) 2021 Aug;23(8):783-791. doi: 10.1016/j.neo.2021.06.002. 

 

Survival and biomarker analyses from the OpACIN-neo and OpACIN neoadjuvant immunotherapy trials in stage III melanoma

Rozeman Ea, Hoefsmit Ep, Reijers Ilm, Saw Rpm, Versluis Jm, Krijgsman O, Dimitriadis P, Sikorska K, Van De Wiel Ba, Eriksson H, Gonzalez M, Torres Acosta A, Grijpink-ongering Lg, Shannon K, Haanen Jbag, Stretch J, Ch'ng S, Nieweg Oe, Mallo Ha, Adriaansz S, Kerkhoven Rm, Cornelissen S, Broeks A, Klop Wmc, Zuur Cl, Van Houdt Wj, Peeper Ds, Spillane Aj, Van Akkooi Acj, Scolyer Ra, Schumacher Tnm, Menzies Am, Long Gv, Blank Cu.

Nature Medicine  2021 Feb;27(2):256-263. doi: 10.1038/s41591-020-01211-7.

 

The Proportion Cured of Patients with Resected Stage II-III Cutaneous Melanoma in Sweden

Eriksson H, Utjes D, Bagge Ro, Gillgren P, Isaksson K, Lapins J, Schultz Il, Lyth J, Andersson Tml.

Cancers 2021 May 18;13(10):2456. doi: 10.3390/cancers13102456.

 

Trend Shifts in Age-Specific Incidence for In Situ and Invasive Cutaneous Melanoma in Sweden

Eriksson H, Nielsen K, Vassilaki I, Lapins J, Mikiver R, Lyth J, Isaksson K.

Cancers 2021 Jun 7;13(11):2838. doi: 10.3390/cancers13112838.

 

Bullous Pemphigoid-like Eruption Triggered by Targeted Therapy for Metastatic Melanoma

Eriksson H, Hansson J, Krynitz B, Masucci G, Girnita A, Lapins J, Huen Ao, Tawbi Ha, Davies Ma, Tetzlaff Mt, Curry Jl. (case report)

Acta Dermato-Venereologica 2020 Nov 26;100(18):adv00334. doi: 10.2340/00015555-3648.

 

Factors Affecting Sentinel Node Metastasis in Thin (T1) Cutaneous Melanomas: Development and External Validation of a Predictive Nomogram

Maurichi A, Miceli R, Eriksson H, Newton-bishop J, Nsengimana J, Chan M, Hayes Aj, Heelan K, Adams D, Patuzzo R, Barretta F, Gallino G, Harwood C, Bergamaschi D, Bennett D, Lasithiotakis K, Ghiorzo P, Dalmasso B, Manganoni A, Consoli F, Mattavelli I, Barbieri C, Leva A, Cortinovis U, Espeli V, Mangas C, Quaglino P, Ribero S, Broganelli P, Pellacani G, Longo C, Del Forno C, Borgognoni L, Sestini S, Pimpinelli N, Fortunato S, Chiarugi A, Nardini P, Morittu E, Florita A, Cossa M, Valeri B, Milione M, Pruneri G, Zoras O, Anichini A, Mortarini R, Santinami M.

Journal of Clinical Oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2020 May 10;38(14):1591-1601. doi: 10.1200/JCO.19.01902.

 

Immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer treatment and potential effect modification by age

Eriksson H, Smedby Ke.

Acta Oncologica 2020 Mar;59(3):247-248. doi: 10.1080/0284186X.2020.1724329.

 

Immunometabolic Network Interactions of the Kynurenine Pathway in Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma

Rad Pour S, Morikawa H, Kiani Na, Gomez-cabrero D, Hayes A, Zheng X, Pernemalm M, Lehtiö J, Mole Dj, Hansson J, Eriksson H, Tegnér J.

Frontiers in Oncology 2020 Feb 3;10:51. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00051. 

 

In-depth plasma proteomics reveals increase in circulating PD-1 during anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in patients with metastatic cutaneous melanoma

Babacic H, Lehtio J, De Coana Yp, Pernemalm M, Eriksson H.

Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer 2020 May;8(1):e000204. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2019-000204.

 

2-cm versus 4-cm surgical excision margins for primary cutaneous melanoma thicker than 2 mm: long-term follow-up of a multicentre, randomised trial

Utjés D, Malmstedt J, Teras J, Drzewiecki K, Gullestad Hp, Ingvar C, Eriksson H**, Gillgren P**. (shared last author)

Lancet 2019 Aug 10;394(10197):471-477. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)31132-8

 

Identification of the optimal combination dosing schedule of neoadjuvant ipilimumab plus nivolumab in macroscopic stage III melanoma (OpACIN-neo): a multicentre, phase 2, randomised, controlled trial

Rozeman Ea, Menzies Am, Van Akkooi Acj, Adhikari C, Bierman C, Van De Wiel Ba, Scolyer Ra, Krijgsman O, Sikorska K, Eriksson H, Broeks A, Van Thienen Jv, Guminski Ad, Acosta At, Ter Meulen S, Koenen Am, Bosch Ljw, Shannon K, Pronk Lm, Gonzalez M, Ch'ng S, Grijpink-ongering Lg, Stretch J, Heijmink S, Van Tinteren H, Haanen Jbag, Nieweg Oe, Klop Wmc, Zuur Cl, Saw Rpm, Van Houdt Wj, Peeper Ds, Spillane Aj, Hansson J, Schumacher Tn, Long Gv, Blank Cu.

Lancet Oncology 2019 Jul;20(7):948-960. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(19)30151-2.

 

Extracellular microvesicle microRNAs as predictive biomarkers for targeted therapy in metastastic cutaneous malignant melanoma

Svedman Fc, Lohcharoenkal W, Bottai M, Brage Se, Sonkoly E, Hansson J, Pivarcsi A, Eriksson H.

PloS One 2018 Nov 6;13(11):e0206942. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206942.

 

Spatially Resolved Transcriptomics Enables Dissection of Genetic Heterogeneity in Stage III Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma

Thrane K*, Eriksson H*, Maaskola J, Hansson J, Lundeberg J. (Shared first author)

Cancer Research 2018 Oct 15;78(20):5970-5979. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-18-0747.

 

Reduced disease-specific survival following a diagnosis of multiple primary cutaneous malignant melanomas - a nationwide, population-based study

Utjés D, Lyth J, Lapins J, Eriksson H.

International Journal of Cancer 2017 Dec 1;141(11):2243-2252. doi: 10.1002/ijc.30925

 

Prognostic factors and disease-specific survival among immigrants diagnosed with cutaneous malignant melanoma in Sweden

Simberg-Danell C, Lyth J, Månsson-Brahme E, Frohm-Nilsson M, Carstensen J, Hansson J, Eriksson H.

International Journal of Cancer 2016 Aug 1;139(3):543-53. doi: 10.1002/ijc.30103. 

 

The proportion cured of patients diagnosed with Stage III-IV cutaneous malignant melanoma in Sweden 1990-2007: A population-based study

Eriksson H, Lyth J, Andersson Tm.

International Journal of Cancer 2016 Jun 15;138(12):2829-36.doi: 10.1002/ijc.30023.

 

BRAFV600E protein expression in primary cutaneous malignant melanomas and paired metastases

Eriksson H, Zebary A, Vassilaki I, Omholt K, Ghaderi M, Hansson J.

JAMA Dermatology  2015 Apr;151(4):410-6. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2014.3689.

 

Prognostic factors in localized invasive primary cutaneous malignant melanoma: results of a large population-based study

Eriksson H, Frohm-Nilsson M, Järås J, Kanter-Lewensohn L, Kjellman P, Månsson-Brahme E, Vassilaki I, Hansson J.

The British Journal of Dermatology  2015 Jan;172(1):175-86. doi: 10.1111/bjd.13171.

 

Later stage at diagnosis and worse survival in cutaneous malignant melanoma among men living alone: a nationwide population-based study from Sweden

Eriksson H, Lyth J, Månsson-Brahme E, Frohm-Nilsson M, Ingvar C, Lindholm C, Naredi P, Stierner U, Carstensen J, Hansson J.

Journal of Clinical Oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2014 May 1;32(13):1356-64. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2013.52.7564. 

 

Interobserver variability of histopathological prognostic parameters in cutaneous malignant melanoma: impact on patient management

Eriksson H, Frohm-Nilsson M, Hedblad Ma, Hellborg H, Kanter-Lewensohn L, Krawiec K, Lundh Rozell B, Månsson-Brahme E, Hansson J.

Acta Dermato-Venereologica 2013 Jul 6;93(4):411-6. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1517.

 

Low level of education is associated with later stage at diagnosis and reduced survival in cutaneous malignant melanoma: a nationwide population-based study in Sweden

Eriksson H, Lyth J, Månsson-brahme E, Frohm-nilsson M, Ingvar C, Lindholm C, Naredi P, Stierner U, Wagenius G, Carstensen J, Hansson J.

European Journal of Cancer 2013 Aug;49(12):2705-16.doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2013.03.013. 

Teaching portfolio

PhD course organizer; Clinical Oncology for Pre-Clinical Doctoral Students (5505), Karolinska Institutet.

PhD course co-organizer; Basic Course in Tumor Biology and Oncology (3112), Karolinska Institutet.

 

Academic honours, awards and prizes

Postdoc position, Region Stockholm, 2016-2019.

Postdoc scholarship, the Swedish Society for Medical Research, 2017-2019.

Clincal Research Visit Grant to MD Anderson Cancer Center, StratCan, Karolinska Institutet, 2017-2018.

Clinical Research Position, Radiumhemmet Research Funds, 2020-2025.

Junior Clinical Investigator Award, the Swedish Cancer Society, 2021-2026.

Employment as Researcher in a Clinical Environment, the Swedish Research Council, 2022-2024.