Dr Ingunn Holen BSc MSc PhD
Department of Oncology
The Medical School
Beech Hill Road
Sheffield
S10 2RX
UK
Office: GU24
Tel: +44 (0) 114 271 3854
Fax: +44 (0) 114 271 2475
Email: i.holen@sheffield.ac.uk
Biography
I joined the Academic Unit of Clinical Oncology as a Lecturer in 2001, and I am currently Reader in Bone Oncology and Head of the Laboratory Research Team consisting of nine staff and students. I studied Biology and Biochemistry at the University of Oslo, Norway, graduating with a BSc in 1987 and an MSc in 1989. I carried out research at the Norwegian Radium Hospital in Oslo and was awarded my PhD in 1995 before moving to Sheffield to take up a post as a post-doctoral research associate.
Research Interests
The research in my team is focussed on tumour-induced bone disease in breast and prostate cancer, with particular emphasis on effects of therapeutics including bisphosphonates. My main interest is elucidating the molecular mechanisms involved in tumour cell-bone cell interactions, and how these can be targeted by anti-cancer therapies. This work also includes investigating the role of the microenvironment in driving bone metastases, and how therapeutic agents affect the tumour vasculature. I have several collaborative projects both with other researchers in the medical school, nationally and internationally. I work closely with the clinical staff in our academic unit on translational research projects, transferring the results from our laboratory projects into clinical feasibility studies. In 2010 I was awarded a CRUK programme grant together with my colleagues Professor Peter Croucher and Dr Colby Eaton entitled `Defining the Bone Metastasis Niche´. Work on this programme will involve studies of the cellular mechanisms required for solid tumours to successfully colonise the skeleton.
Professional Activities
I am currently a member of the Tissue Access Committee of the Breast Cancer Campaign Tissue Bank, and have been a member of the Scientific Advisory Board and the Scientific Committee for Breast Cancer Campaign, UK. I am a member of the Editorial Board of Anticancer Drugs, and associate editor of BMC Cancer, and am Regional Editor (Europe) for the Open Bone Journal. I have recently been appointed as an independent scientific advisor, Marie Curie Initial Training Network (BONE-NET).
Key Publications
1. Wind NS and Holen I (2011) Multidrug Resistance in Breast Cancer: From In Vitro Models to Clinical Studies. Int J Breast Cancer Volume 2011, Article ID 967419
2. Kobayashi-Sakamoto M, Isogai E, Holen I (2010) Osteoprotegerin induces cytoskeletal reorganization and activates a signaling pathway involving Src kinase in human endothelial cells. Eur, J. Hematol. 2010 85(1):26-35.
3. Michailidou M, Brown NJ, Brown HK, Lefley DV, Evans CA, Cross SS, Coleman RE, Holen I (2010) Modulation of endothelial cells by zoledronic acid and paclitaxel in vitro and in vivo: a potential anti-angiogenic strategy. J VAsc Res, 47:481-493.
4. Neville-Webbe HL, Coleman RE, Holen I (2010) Combined effects of the bisphosphonate zoledronic acid and the aromatase inhibitor letrozole on breast cancer cells in vitro: evidence for synergistic interaction. Br J Cancer, 102(6):1010-17.
5. Brown HK, Ottewell PD, Coleman RE, Holen I (2011) The kinetochore protein Cenp-F is a potential novel target for zoledronic acid in breast cancer cells. J Cell Mol Med. 15(3)501-513.
6. Coscia M, Quaglino E, Iezzi M, Curcio C, Pantaleoni F, Riganti C, Holen I, Mönkkönen H, Boccadoro M, Forni G, Musiani P, Bosia A, Cavallo F, Massaia M (2009) Zoledronic acid repolarizes tumor-associated macrophages and inhibits mammary carcinogenesis by targeting the mevalonate pathway. J Cell Mol Med. 4(12):2803-15.
7. Ottewell PD, Woodward JK, Lefley DV, Evans CA, Coleman RE, Holen I (2009) Anti-cancer mechanisms of doxorubicin and zoledronic acid in breast cancer tumour growth in bone. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 8(10)2821-32.
8. Ottewell PD, Lefley DV, Cross SS, Evans CA, Coleman RE, Holen I(2010) Sustained inhibition of tumour growth and prolonged survival following sequential administration of doxorubicin and zoledronic acid in a breast cancer model. Int J Cancer, 126(2) 522-532.
9. Cawthorn TR, Amir E, Broom R, Freedman O, Gianfelice D, Barth D, Wang D, Holen I , Done SJ, Clemons M (2009) Mechanisms and pathways of bone metastasis: challenges and pitfalls of performing molecular research on patient samples. Clin Exp Metastasis. 26(8):935-43.
10. Ottewell PD, Mönkkönen H, Jones M, Lefley DV, Coleman RE, Holen I. (2008) Antitumor effects of doxorubicin followed by zoledronic acid in a mouse model of breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 100(16):1167-78.
11. Ottewell PD, Deux B, Mönkkönen H, Cross S, Coleman RE, Clezardin P, Holen I. (2008) Differential effect of doxorubicin and zoledronic acid on intraosseous versus extraosseous breast tumor growth in vivo. Clin Cancer Res. 15;14(14):4658-66.
