Research Areas

Our research integrates spatial biology, multi-omics, and functional models to advance precision oncology in ovarian cancer and other gynecologic malignancies. We focus on understanding tumor ecosystems, treatment resistance, and developing novel therapeutic strategies through translational science.

Precision Oncology

CHR17q21.31A-TC-GT-AG-CPATHOGENICc.5266dupCPRECISION ONCOLOGY▸ HRD SCORE: 42▸ BRCA1: MUTATED▸ LOH: 18 SEGS▸ TAI: 11 EVENTS▸ LST: 14 BREAKSTARGET: PARPiLSTLOHTAI

At Färkkilä Lab, we advance precision oncology by uncovering how genetic and molecular features shape tumor behavior and treatment response. Our research focuses on identifying predictive biomarkers and therapeutic targets in ovarian cancer. We combine spatial multi-omics, imaging, and computational analysis to map tumor ecosystems at single-cell resolution...

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Spatial Biology

205080Y [μm]X [μm]Tumor cellsCD8+ T-cellsCAFstCycIF · 80+ markersSPATIAL INDEX: 0.88

Spatial biology holds great promise in stratifying patients and advancing personalized medicine. We aim to understand how cellular and molecular landscapes within tumors contribute to cancer progression, immune response, and treatment resistance. At Färkkilä Lab, our research focuses on understanding ovarian cancer and other malignancies through advanced techniques...

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Patient-derived Functional ex-vivo Models

EX-VIVO PLATEADC+ADC+ADC+ADC+3D CO-CULTURE SPHEROID● TUMOR ○ T-CELL — CAFMATRIX: OMENTUM ECMPATIENT-DERIVED MODEL

Chemotherapy resistance is a major clinical challenge in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC). The tumor microenvironment (TME), a complex three-dimensional ecosystem of cancer, immune, stromal, and acellular components, plays a key role in shaping therapeutic resistance...

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Mechanisms of ADC Response & Resistance

LIPID BILAYERTROP2FRαDAR: 8VAL-CITENDOADC MECHANISM▸ TROP2 · FRα · CDH6▸ B7H3 · B7H4▸ PAYLOAD: SN-38▸ LINKER: CL-VAL-CITRESISTANCE MECH:▸ Ag downreg.▸ MDR efflux▸ TME shielding

Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs), including targets such as trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (TROP2), folate receptor alpha (FRα), Cadherin-6 (CDH6), B7 homolog 3 (B7H3), and B7 homolog 4 (B7H4), have emerged as promising therapeutic strategies for high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC)...

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Biomarkers & HRD Testing

CHR 17BRCA1 q21BRCA2 13qHGSCDSB REPAIR (HRD)DSBRAD51 FOCI: LOADEDGENOMIC SCAR PROFILELST28LOH36TAI22CUTOFFHRD TESTING▸ BRCA1/2 SCREEN▸ GENOMIC SCAR▸ RAD51 FOCI (fxn)▸ EPIGENETIC SIL.HRD SCORE: 52CUTOFF 4252THERAPY: PARPiolaparib / niraparibHGSOC · OVCA

At Färkkilä Lab, we focus on developing and validating predictive biomarkers for personalized cancer therapy, with a particular emphasis on homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) testing to guide poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) treatment. HRD testing is a cornerstone of precision...

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CIN2

SUPERFICIALINTERMEDIATECIN2 – DYSPLASTIC ↑N:CPARABASAL / BASALHPVCIN2 CYTOLOGY▸ GRADE: MODERATE▸ HPV: HIGH-RISK+▸ N:C RATIO: ~1:2▸ CHROMATIN: CLMPOUTCOME (5y):▸ REGRESS: ~55%▸ PROGRESS: ~20%▸ PERSIST: ~25%10 μm

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally, responsible for nearly 350,000 deaths annually. It typically develops from persistent high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections, which lead to the formation of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), a precancerous lesion...

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FINPROVE Study

AKTPIK3CAFGFR1FGFR3ERBB2EGFRTP53BRCA2PATIENTREFERENCEFINPROVE TRIAL▸ PHASE II · MULTI-CTR▸ PATIENT: FI-992▸ TARGET MATCH: 94.2%▸ STATUS: ENROLLED▸ TUMOR: LGSC · HGSOCK-M SURVIVAL0.00.51.0Time (months)S(t)PI3KAKTmTOR

FINPROVE is the first multi-center, non-randomized phase II clinical trial advancing precision cancer medicine in Finland. The trial evaluates the efficacy of EMA/FDA-approved targeted therapies based on tumor molecular profiles in patients who have exhausted standard-of-care treatment options...

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