Anna-Karin Sjögren receives Assar Gabrielsson Award for dissertation on how genetic changes in cells affect progression of cancer

Anna-Karin Sjögren receives Assar Gabrielsson Award for dissertation on
how genetic changes in cells affect progression of cancer

 Today, May 11, Doctor of Medicine Anna-Karin Sjögren was named the
recipient of the Assar Gabrielsson Award for her dissertation at the
University of Gothenburg, dealing with how genetic changes in cells
impact the progression of cancer. The award is worth SEK 50,000 with the
possibility of receiving a SEK 100,000 research grant during autumn
2011.

Anna-Karin Sjögren works in the unit for Clinical Systems Biology at the
Institute of Clinical Sciences at the Sahlgrenska Academy in Gothenburg.
She received the prize for her dissertation: “The Importance of
Isoprenylation and Nf1 Deficiency in K‐RAS‐induced Cancer”.

In her dissertation, Anna-Karin Sjögren studied how mutations
(activation) of RAS proteins contribute to the formation of many forms
of tumors, such as cancer of the large intestine, lungs, blood and
pancreas. In her dissertation, Anna-Karin Sjögren showed two targets for
drugs for the treatment of cancer where RAS proteins are activated. By
inhibiting two enzymes, the development of lung cancer was reduced,
while normal lung cells remained unaffected. Clinical studies have been
initiated based, in part, on these findings.

In addition, Anna-Karin Sjögren demonstrated that mutations in two genes
(RAS and NF1) can each result in the slow development of leukemia, but
that if both genes have mutations, a more aggressive form of leukemia
develops. Taken together, this dissertation contributes to a greater
understanding of the development of many forms of cancer and possible
targets for cancer treatment.

Assar Gabrielsson was one of founders of Volvo. In line with his wishes,
a fund for clinical research into cancer illnesses was established.

May 11, 2011

For additional information, please contact Professor Eva
Forssell-Aronsson,  

Executive Member of the Assar Gabrielsson Fund, tel +46 (0)31-342 23 49
or +46 (0)703-72 26 26.

You can read more about the Assar Gabrielsson Fund at
http://www.agfond.se/ (http://www.agfond.se/)

Download image
 (http://icp.llr.se/CumulusE_Z/VolvoGroup_ImageGallery/Login2.jsp?assets
=G2011_1074.tif)

Visit http://www.thenewsmarket.com/volvogroup to access
broadcast-standard video from Volvo Group. You can preview and request
video, and choose to receive as a MPEG2 file or by Beta SP tape.
Registration and video is free to the media.

The Volvo Group is one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks,
buses and construction equipment, drive systems for marine and
industrial applications and aerospace components. The Group also
provides complete solutions for financing and service. The Volvo Group,
which employs about 100,000 people, has production facilities in 19
countries and sells their products in more than 180 markets. In 2010
annual sales of the Volvo Group amounted to about SEK 265 billion. The
Volvo Group is a publicly-held company headquartered in Göteborg,
Sweden. Volvo shares are listed on OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm. For
more information, please visit www.volvogroup.com or www.volvogroup.mobi
if you are using your mobile phone