Doctoral Fellowship in Medical Science 2019, University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Third-cycle studies are equivalent to four year full-time and lead to a Degree of Doctor. Those appointed to doctoral studentships shall primarily devote themselves to their studies. Those appointed to doctoral studentships may, however, work to a limited extent with educational tasks, research and administration. Before a PhD degree has been awarded, duties of this kind may not comprise more than 20 per cent of a full-time post.

The PhD education in Medical Science comprise carrying out a scientific project and completing at least 30 credits of courses at third-cycle level. The doctoral student must also write a scientific compilation thesis or monograph corresponding to at least 120 credits. 

Project

Background: Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death among women. It has previously been known that the immune system plays an important role in tumor progression in both breast cancer and other cancers. In recent years, it has become evident that the immune system is capable of exerting an antitumoral effect, which is mainly driven by the activation of anti-tumoral lymphocytes, which then induces a targeted immune response directed at the cancer cells. Not much research has been conducted on how the effect of postoperative radiotherapy is affected by the degree of activation of the immune system.

Aim: So far, research regarding tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in breast cancer has mainly focused on hormone receptor negative breast cancers. The purpose of the project is to investigate how the effect of radiotherapy is affected by immune activation, as measured by tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, in a patient population consisting mainly of hormone receptor positive subtypes. Analyzes will also be done regarding how the degree of PD-L1 expression affects prognosis and radiation treatment effect and how it co-varies with subtypes and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. Later, we are planning to analyze gene expression and correlate this to tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and the effect of radiation therapy.

Implementation: Evaluation of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and PD-L1 is performed via immunohistochemical and expression analyzes of tumor material from clinical trials.

Eligibility

To be eligible for third-cycle studies, the applicant must meet both the general and specific entry requirements.

A person meets the general entry requirements for third-cycle studies if he or she: 
1. has been awarded a second-cycle qualification 
2. has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or 
3. has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad

A person meets the specific entry requirements for third-cycle studies in Medical Science if he or she: has successfully completed the English B/6 course or is considered to have acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies

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