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Kristian Pietras lab

@kpietraslab.bsky.social
721 followers 431 following 45 posts

We are studying tumor architecture to detail the constituent cell types controlling cancer initiation, spread and treatment response. Located @lund-university.bsky.social

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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Apply before June 10th 2026 at lu.varbi.com/en/what:job/...
lu.varbi.com
Assistant Professor position in Experimental Cancer Immunotherapy
We are looking for an up-and-coming researcher who wants to conduct pioneering research to take up a position as Assistant professor (Associate Senior Lecturer) in Experimental Cancer Immunotherapy at
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Lund University is recruiting a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Experimental Cancer Immunotherapy, and we want the best in the world to apply 🫵 The position comes with a clear path to tenure and an attractive start-up package. Apply or share with outstanding candidates by 10. June. 🔗 in replies
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Huge congratulations 🥳 to @jessicapantaleo.bsky.social for defending her doctoral thesis in such a graceful and expert manner! We are very proud of Dr Pantaleo, you deserve all the praise 👏 Big thanks to Faculty opponent @momobentires.bsky.social for insightful discussions and a generous attitude.
Doctoral student Jessica Pantaleo and Faculty opponent Mohamed Bentires-Alj in discussions during the thesis defence.
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
*The implications* These results position CAF niches—not just CAF types—as actionable units. Precision targeting of CAF-defined functional niches may rewire tumor–immune interactions and enhance therapeutic responses in breast cancer.
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
*The novelty* Spatial context matters: immunomodulatory CAFs co-localize with immune cells, whereas myofibroblastic CAFs form a barrier around the tumor core, limiting immune infiltration. CAF transcriptional programs are shaped by their local cellular neighborhoods.
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
*The findings* By integrating scRNA-seq, multiplex immunostaining, and spatial analysis in murine and human breast tumors, we identified six CAF substates that occupy distinct, stage-dependent spatial niches within tumors.
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
*The scene* Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are major architects of the breast cancer microenvironment, yet how CAF heterogeneity emerges over time and space during tumor progression has remained unclear.
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
Starting 2026 in style 🕺💃! New paper out from talented PhD-student @jessicapantaleo.bsky.social who conceptualized the breast tumor microenvironment to visualize architectural structure in cancer-associated fibroblast niches. Thanks to all funders and collaborators😇 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
Spatial and temporal dynamics of cancer-associated fibroblast niches in breast cancer - Breast Cancer Research
Breast Cancer Research - Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the main constituents of the tumor microenvironment. Several studies have delineated CAF heterogeneity in different types of...
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
Check this out👇 Our neighbors @pietraslab.bsky.social has just published a new preprint detailing high-resolution profiling of the irradiated GBM microenvironment. ❄️Cool reading for the holidays❄️ Thanks for including us!
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
Thanks for inspiring collaborations with @pietraslab.bsky.social @jonssonmelanomalab.bsky.social
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
We are grateful for generous support from @vetenskapsradet.bsky.social #Barncancerfonden #Cancerfonden #L2CancerBridge
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
7/ Therapeutic & translational implications Strategies that preserve pericyte function might reinforce vascular and immune barriers against GBM progression. Conversely, therapies that inadvertently deplete pericytes might worsen disease by unleashing immuno-suppressive and invasive programs.
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
6/ Take-home message Pericytes are not merely passive structural cells — in GBM, they act as central conductors of microenvironmental signaling that restrain tumor growth and invasion. Their loss rewires the vasculature + immune microenvironment, fueling aggressive mesenchymal, MET-driven GBM.
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
5/ Clinical relevance In human GBM, low expression of a pericyte core gene signature was observed more often in recurrent tumors vs primary. Also, the prevalence of FOSL1⁺ GBM cells correlated with poor patient survival. Pericyte loss may thus contribute to aggressive relapse of GBM.
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
4/ HGF → MET activation → mesenchymal invasion TAMs express HGF, which boosts activation of the receptor MET on GBM cells — notably in those with a mesenchymal phenotype regulated by FOSL1. Thus: loss of pericytes → vascular & immune remodeling → HGF-MET signaling → mesenchymal, invasive GBM.
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
3/ What happens when pericytes are lost? Genetic depletion of pericytes in mouse GBM models dramatically accelerated tumor growth and shortened survival. Mechanistically, pericyte loss remodels the tumor vasculature, recruiting tumor-associated immunosuppressive macrophages (TAMs).
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
2/ Pericytes = central communication nodes By scRNAseq + cell-cell communication inference, we found that pericytes exhibit the highest paracrine signaling activity in human high-grade glioma. Thus, pericytes are not just passive structural cells; they are active “conductors” of signaling in GBM.
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
1/ What’s new? Glioblastoma (GBM) is notoriously aggressive, driven by complex crosstalk between malignant cells and their microenvironment. Our work shows that pericytes, long-viewed mainly as vascular support cells, act as a major paracrine signaling hub that restrains tumor growth.
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
New paper alert 🚨 We are delighted to present our latest paper in @natcomms.nature.com through fabulous work from co-first authors Sebastian Braun and Paulina Bolivar! Big thanks to all expert collaborators for taking this long journey with us! Tweetorial in comments 🧵 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Pericytes orchestrate a tumor-restraining microenvironment in glioblastoma - Nature Communications
Improved understanding of the tumor ecosystem in glioblastoma is critical for developing new treatment strategies for the disease. Here, the authors identify pericytes as an active paracrine signaling...
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
Reflecting on the 2025 EACR Cancer Neuroscience Conference in Bilbao- what a friendly, inspiring meeting with many opportunities to increase connectivity, in that case to fight tumors. Big ‘Thank you’ to the organizers!
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
Don’t miss a joint LUCC-LBIC-ZEISS-ACD seminar on visualization of gene expression and biomarker localization in 2D, 3D and 4D. 16th June, BMC, Lund.
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Reposted by Kristian Pietras lab
Alexander Pietras Lab @pietraslab.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
🚨 We’re hiring a bioinformatics-focused PhD student for our ERC-funded project on recurrent GBM! Focus: tumor-supportive microenvironment 🔬 Experience with scRNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics & Python/R a plus. Must be self-motivated & driven. DM for details! Repost=❤️ lu.varbi.com/en/what:job/...
lu.varbi.com
Doctoral Student in Tumor Biology
Description of the workplace The research group conducts experimental research on brain tumors and is led by Associate Professor Alexander Pietras. The group consists of a bioinformatician, two postdo
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
Swedish Childhood Cancer Fund (BCF) is raising awareness and support: today it is #Fotbollströjefredagen (Football shirt Friday)
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Join us for innovative explorations of the tumor microenvironment🔬 Learn cutting-edge technologies and grow in a dynamic environment💡 The postdoc will work alongside a doctoral student from @adaptmet.bsky.social, gaining access to collaborative partners across 🇪🇺. Apply now👇 tinyurl.com/4mby45hf
tinyurl.com
Postdoc in Experimental Oncology - Lund (Stad), Skåne (SE) job with Lund University | 12838990
Lunds universitet, 009999 LUNDS UNIVERSITET, 310000 MED Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top universi...
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Reposted by Kristian Pietras lab
Journal of Clinical Investigation @jci.org · 13/03/2025
Targeting the most immune-suppressive macrophage with ALK1 inhibitors in malignant breast cancer! @kpietraslab.bsky.social & team @lund-university.bsky.social target the most immune-suppressive macrophage with ALK1 inhibitors in malignant breast cancer models! buff.ly/FXssb1x
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
Congratulations Kristian! @lundsuniversitet.bsky.social @lunduniversity-med.bsky.social
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
We are proud to share that our PI has been named Cancer Researcher of the Year by @Cancerfonden! This well-deserved recognition highlights not only his outstanding contributions to cancer research but also his creativity in tackling scientific challenges and his inspiring leadership within our team.
cancerfonden.se
Kristian Pietras – Årets cancerforskare 2025
Kristian Pietras forskar om hur celler i blodkärl och bindväv påverkar cancerns möjlighet att växa eller dö. Nu tilldelas han utmärkelsen Årets cancerforskare.
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Reposted by Kristian Pietras lab
Adaptmet @adaptmet.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
🎉 Today, we gathered online for the #AdaptMet Kick-Off Meeting! A fantastic start to this journey, bringing together top researchers & partners to train the next generation of metastasis experts. Exciting discussions & collaborations ahead—stay tuned! 🔬✨ #CancerResearch
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
At the Brain Tumor Microenvironment Symposium @institutducerveau.bsky.social, Sebastian Braun presented our comprehensive study of pericytes in GBM 🤩. Pericytes act as guardians of the peri-vascular niche to prevent malignant cell invasion, read more at www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
@jessicapantaleo.bsky.social making us proud at the @lund-university.bsky.social Cancer Centre Tumor Microenvironment retreat by presenting our latest findings on CAF subtype spatial organization across longitudinally sampled experimental breast cancers.
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Cancer-associated fibroblasts rewire the estrogen receptor response in luminal breast cancer, enabling estrogen independence - Oncogene
Oncogene - Cancer-associated fibroblasts rewire the estrogen receptor response in luminal breast cancer, enabling estrogen independence
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Thanks @oncogenejournal for highlighting our work on cancer-associated fibroblasts that enable endocrine resistance in luminal breast cancer www.nature.com/collections/...
nature.com
Readers Choice: The best of Oncogene 2024
In this collection we highlight a selection of articles from 2024, which top the list of the journal’s most cited, downloaded and most shared (including press ...
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Finally, we send our gratitude to all funders @lund-university.bsky.social , @vetenskapsradet.bsky.social @kawresearch.bsky.social, Cancerfonden, Region Skåne, The Göran Gustafsson Foundation, The Mats Paulsson Foundations, Cancera, The Crafoord Foundation, and the Fru Berta Kamprad Foundation. 6/6
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Last chance to apply, call closes on Jan 17th!
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Incredible skills, knowledge, endurance, passion, and joy went into the making of this study by main authors @matteobocci.bsky.social, Mehrnaz Safaee-Talkhoncheh, and Jonas Sjölund. We also thank all co-authors, and especially acknowledge the work of undergraduate and graduate students. 5/6
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Based on our work, the combination of ALK1 inhibition with immune checkpoint blockade is suggested as a rational treatment regimen; clinical studies by pharmaceutical industry provide initial support for this proposition (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...). 4/6
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Combination of GT90001 and nivolumab in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a multicenter, single-arm, phase 1b/2 study
GT90001 (also known as PF-03446962) is an anti-ALK-1 monoclonal antibody and has shown activity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This phase 1b/2 study was designed to determine the recommended phase...
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
ALK1 inhibition acted in a multimodal manner to suppress breast cancer metastatic dissemination to the lung by: 1) Interfering with the differentiation and release of monocytes in the bone marrow and 2) Reducing the mobilization of immunosuppressive macrophages across the endothelial barrier. 3/6
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
When we set out on this journey, we did not expect to delve into tumor immunology, but the unanticipated expression of ALK1 on a subset of highly immunosuppressive macrophages led us to detail a role for ALK1 at the crossroads between tumor angiogenesis and immunity. 2/6
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
We have been waiting impatiently but can finally share our latest efforts in understanding the biology of the TGF-beta type I receptor ALK1 (gene name ACVRL1), see graphical abstract in post and the full article here: www.jci.org/articles/vie... 1/6
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
The two Pietras labs @pietraslab.bsky.social @kpietraslab.bsky.social collide in a fierce game of Ping Pong. The losers fill all pipette tip boxes the next year 😜
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Reposted by Kristian Pietras lab
Adaptmet @adaptmet.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
Kristian Pietras @kpietraslab.bsky.social at Lund University @lunduniversity.bsky.social will oversee DC4 who will work on the suppression of metastatic dissemination through precision targeting of cancer-associated fibroblast niches
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
adaptmet.eu
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
Come join us and @svanharanta.bsky.social @cedric-blanpain.bsky.social Roger Gomis @irbbarcelona.bsky.social @obenaufa.bsky.social Karin de Visser @nkinl.bsky.social @grauperalab.bsky.social @prat-aleix-md.bsky.social @vickysanzmoreno.bsky.social @johannajoyce.bsky.social @momobentires.bsky.social
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
adaptmet.eu
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
Thanks for supporting the field 🙏🏻Please add @kpietraslab.bsky.social, we are using scRNAseq x spatial transcriptomics x multiplex IHC to detail the tumor microenvironment.
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
We love to explore unexpected findings 🤔 Check out our two latest studies detailing the unexplored expression of ALK1 in immunosuppressive macrophages and the critical role of pericytes as a paracrine signaling hub in GBM. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
We are live 🕺! Recruitment for the exciting MSCA doctoral network Adaptmet is now open. Join us and great collaborators across Europe to explore fundamental mechanisms of metastatic dissemination: adaptmet.eu/recruitment/
adaptmet.eu
Recruitment
Recruitment is now open! Apply for one of the 16 positions availablein the Adaptmet network and build your futureas a researcher in metastasis! Adaptmet is offering generous three-year fellowship...
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Kristian Pietras lab @kpietraslab.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
Hi Bluesky 👋 Looking forward to exciting interactions with the cancer research community. We are students of tumor architecture, aiming to establish the organizational principles of the tumor microenvironment.
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