PhD defence: Asbjørn Kjær Attermann
The systemic immune system influences cancer survival
Info about event
Time
Location
MOMA auditorium, Aarhus University
On Wednesday 1 July 2026 at 13:00, Asbjørn Kjær Attermann defends his PhD dissertation entitled “Systemic immunity in cancer - Exploring age-related biomarkers of the systemic immune system for prognostication in cancer”.
The immune system, especially T cells, plays an essential role in cancer. T cells recognize cancer cells as foreign through their T cell receptor, allowing them to target and destroy these cells. This axis plays a crucial role in the body's own defense against cancer and helps keep emerging tumors at bay. However, some cancers eventually escape immune control and begin to grow uncontrollably. In recent years, boosting the T cell response through immunotherapy has proven to be an effective cancer treatment. Yet, only a subset of patients responds to treatment, underscoring the need for more accurate biomarkers to predict treatment response. Traditional biomarker studies have focused on tumor-centric markers, often overlooking the patient. To address this knowledge gap, a new project from Aarhus University, Health, investigates the utility of biomarkers of the systemic immune system in cancer. Results show that peripheral T cell receptor diversity and the degree of thymic involution is associated with outcomes across cancer types.
The summary is written by the PhD student.
The defence is public and takes place in MOMA auditorium, Aarhus University. Please see the press release for more information.
Contact
PhD student Asbjørn Kjær Attermann
Mail: askj@clin.au.dk
Phone: +45 784 55388