Sanna Pikkusaari
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Research Subjects
Sanna Pikkusaari has a total of 105 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Liisa Kauppi
Research Program in Systems Oncology, Research Programs Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
117 shared publications - Sampsa Hautaniemi
Research Program in Systems Oncology, Research Programs Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
114 shared publications - Sakari Hietanen
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
106 shared publications - Jaana Oikkonen
Research Program in Systems Oncology, Research Programs Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
105 shared publications - Johanna Hynninen
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
105 shared publications - Kaisa Huhtinen
Cancer Research Unit, Institute of Biomedicine and FICAN West Cancer Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
105 shared publications
Latest Publications
- Open Access
- 2 April 2026
- Published by American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Data from Ex Vivo Immuno-Oncology Platform Reveals Spatial T-cell Infiltration Patterns Linked to ATR Inhibition Responses in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
Identifying new therapeutic approaches in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) requires the development of more accurate preclinical models that replicate the patient-specific tumor and its microenvironment. To address this, we established immunocompetent patient-derived cultures (iPDC) for HGSC, cultured on a physiologically relevant human omentum gel matrix. We developed a high-throughput platform that combines drug testing, histologic analysis, genomic profiling, single-cell studies, and spatial biomarker discovery. Our results from 47 tumors showed that iPDCs recapitulated the tumor genomic and histologic characteristics while also retaining the intratumoral immune cells. The iPDC treatment responses correlated significantly with the patients’ clinical treatment responses. Using iPDCs and single-cell RNA sequencing, we identified potentially effective therapeutic options for patients with recurrent HGSC linked to distinct tumor cell states and mechanisms of resistance. High-throughput drug response profiling with single-cell imaging identified ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related inhibitor (ATRi) combined with an immunotherapy targeting autotaxin as a promising new combination treatment for HGSC. Using hyperplexed imaging and spatial analysis, we discovered that ATRi responses were associated with significant increases in both intra- and peritumoral T-cell infiltration, particularly in PD-1+ CD8+ T cells. Additionally, the ATRi-induced reactivation of CD8+ T cells was linked to spatial interactions with replication stress–positive tumor cells. Thus, our iPDC platform presents a representative high-throughput ex vivo model to advance precision oncology in HGSC, uncovering the ATRi-immunotherapy combination as a potentially effective therapeutic option for clinical translation.
- 2 April 2026
- Published by American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Open AccessData from Ex Vivo Immuno-Oncology Platform Reveals Spatial T-cell Infiltration Patterns Linked to ATR Inhibition Responses in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
Identifying new therapeutic approaches in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) requires the development of more accurate preclinical models that replicate the patient-specific tumor and its microenvironment. To address this, we established immunocompetent patient-derived cultures (iPDC) for HGSC, cultured on a physiologically relevant human omentum gel matrix. We developed a high-throughput platform that combines drug testing, histologic analysis, genomic profiling, single-cell studies, and spatial biomarker discovery. Our results from 47 tumors showed that iPDCs recapitulated the tumor genomic and histologic characteristics while also retaining the intratumoral immune cells. The iPDC treatment responses correlated significantly with the patients’ clinical treatment responses. Using iPDCs and single-cell RNA sequencing, we identified potentially effective therapeutic options for patients with recurrent HGSC linked to distinct tumor cell states and mechanisms of resistance. High-throughput drug response profiling with single-cell imaging identified ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related inhibitor (ATRi) combined with an immunotherapy targeting autotaxin as a promising new combination treatment for HGSC. Using hyperplexed imaging and spatial analysis, we discovered that ATRi responses were associated with significant increases in both intra- and peritumoral T-cell infiltration, particularly in PD-1+ CD8+ T cells. Additionally, the ATRi-induced reactivation of CD8+ T cells was linked to spatial interactions with replication stress–positive tumor cells. Thus, our iPDC platform presents a representative high-throughput ex vivo model to advance precision oncology in HGSC, uncovering the ATRi-immunotherapy combination as a potentially effective therapeutic option for clinical translation.
- Open Access
- 19 February 2026
- Published by American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Supplementary Figure S6 from Dynamic and Ongoing De Novo L1 Retrotransposition Contributes to Genome Plasticity and Intrapatient Heterogeneity in Ovarian Cancer
Identification and functional validation of inactivating mutation on a source RC-L1
- 19 February 2026
- Published by American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Open AccessSupplementary Figure S6 from Dynamic and Ongoing De Novo L1 Retrotransposition Contributes to Genome Plasticity and Intrapatient Heterogeneity in Ovarian Cancer
Identification and functional validation of inactivating mutation on a source RC-L1
- Open Access
- 19 February 2026
- Published by American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Supplementary Table S2 from Dynamic and Ongoing De Novo L1 Retrotransposition Contributes to Genome Plasticity and Intrapatient Heterogeneity in Ovarian Cancer
Catalog and Characteristics of L1 insertions identified by LDI-PCR/Nanopore-seq
- 19 February 2026
- Published by American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Open AccessSupplementary Table S2 from Dynamic and Ongoing De Novo L1 Retrotransposition Contributes to Genome Plasticity and Intrapatient Heterogeneity in Ovarian Cancer
Catalog and Characteristics of L1 insertions identified by LDI-PCR/Nanopore-seq
- Open Access
- 19 February 2026
- Published by American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Supplementary Figure S7 from Dynamic and Ongoing De Novo L1 Retrotransposition Contributes to Genome Plasticity and Intrapatient Heterogeneity in Ovarian Cancer
Association of L1 status of HGSC patients with their genomic features
- 19 February 2026
- Published by American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Open AccessSupplementary Figure S7 from Dynamic and Ongoing De Novo L1 Retrotransposition Contributes to Genome Plasticity and Intrapatient Heterogeneity in Ovarian Cancer
Association of L1 status of HGSC patients with their genomic features