About the group

The main aim of the research group is to conduct clinical and translational studies for the treatment of hepatobiliary malignancies. The group has also register-based studies to evaluate and improve patient treatment.

Projects

  • The ASAC study, Scandinavian multicentre, placebo-controlled, randomized trial, initiated by our group, investigating the role of aspirin as adjuvant after surgery for colorectal liver metastases (www.asac.no). The trial is funded by Research Council of Norway, Norwegian Cancer Society, and KLINBEFORSK.
  • EXCALIBUR study; single centre, un-blinded, three-armed randomized trial for patients with high load of colorectal liver metastases, treated with 1)liver transplantation 2)liver resection 3)hepatic artery infusion of chemotherapy. The trial is funded by South-East Norwegian health care authority (HSØ) (www.excaliburstudy.com).
  • Precision Medicine in Early Diagnostics and Therapy of Biliary Tract Cancer; is a collaborative project between several groups, led by Sheraz Yaqub.
  • TESLA1 & TESLA2 trial: Liver Transplantation for Non-Resectable Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma (TESLA1) and perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (TESLA2) are prospective exploratory trials. These are collaborative studies between several groups at OUH-KIT treating patients with cholangiocarcinoma.
  • TOMCAT: Non-randomized Transarterial Treatment Modalities for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma with HAI-P or SIRT.
  • NEW-COMET trial; double-blinded RCT on liver resection vs thermal ablation for colorectal liver metastases (n=260 patients). The study is funded by South-East Norwegian health care authority (HSØ).
  • The EVIDENT trial (Ex vivo drug sensitivity testing of metastatic colorectal cancer) is a prospective, single-arm phase II study of metastatic CRC, in which patients will receive standard or experimental anticancer agents guided by a combination of molecular markers and PDO drug sensitivities led by Prof Ragnhild Lothe.
  • PREPOSTEROUS; a single blinded trial, initiated by University of Helsinki, investigating the role of low-molecular heparin administered pre-operatively vs. post-operatively.
  • SYLMET trial: National multicentre randomized trial comparing simultaneous and two-staged resection of colon cancer with synchronous liver metastases with regards to Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI).

Cooperation

Internal

  • Professor Bjørn Edwin Intervensjonssenteret
  • Professor Ragnhild Lothe og Jebsen senteret for tarmkreftforskning ved DNR
  • Professor Kjetil Taskèn, Norwegian Center for Molecular Medicine
  • Professor Kjersti Flatmark, Oslo University Hosptal, DNR

National

  • All HPB departments at the other University Hospitals in Norway in the ASAC-study (a randomized controlled Multicenter study for the effect of adjuvant ASA following resection of colorectal liver metastases)

International

  • Scandinavian network on HPB Surgery on several collaborative studies with the University Hospitals in Lund, Gothenburg, Linkøping, Stocholm, Uppsala (Sweden) and Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen (Denmark) through the IHPBA Scandinavian Chapter.

Selected Publications

  • Outcomes of simultaneous resection for colorectal liver metastases: A nationwide cohort study (2005-2022). Angelsen JH, Yaqub S, Hegvik TA, Nymo LS, Veen T, Dagenborg VJ, Bringeland EA.Surg Open Sci. 2025 Aug 5;27:113-119. doi: 10.1016/j.sopen.2025.07.008. eCollection 2025 Sep.PMID: 41127608
  • Liver transplantation for colorectal metastases following hepatic resection. Yaqub S, Brudvik KW, Smedman TM, Syversveen T, Line PD, Dueland S.Br J Surg. 2025 Sep 2;112(9):znaf193. doi: 10.1093/bjs/znaf193.PMID: 40971970.
  • A Randomized Controlled Trial of Resection Versus Thermal Ablation of Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases (New Comet): Study Protocol. Hansen IS, Lappen KR, Brudvik KW, Røsok BI, Björk I, Østergaard D, Andersen MH, Pelanis E, Espinoza AW, Halvorsen PS, Yaqub S, Lassen K, von Gohren Edwin B, Syversveen T, Fretland ÅA.Ann Surg Oncol. 2025 Aug 26;32(12):9146-53. doi: 10.1245/s10434-025-17984-5. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40858956.
  • Claudin-1 is a mediator and therapeutic target in primary sclerosing cholangitis. Del Zompo F, Crouchet E, Ostyn T, Nehme Z, Messé M, Juehling F, Désert R, Vieira AT, Moehlin J, Nakib D, Andrews T, Perciani C, Chung S, Bader G, McGilvray I, Caime C, Scaravaglio M, Carbone M, Invernizzi P, Yaqub S, Folseraas T, Karlsen TH, Shankar G, Primeaux M, Dhawan P, Banales JM, Roehlen N, Iacone R, Teixeira G, Heikenwälder M, Mailly L, MacParland S, Roskams T, Govaere O, Schuster C, Baumert TF.J Hepatol. 2025 Aug 20:S0168-8278(25)02440-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2025.08.005. 
  • A Novel Transplant Approach for Locally Advanced Unresectable Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma: The SURE-LT Concept. Line PD, Yaqub S, Lassen K, Wiencke K, Khan A, Fosby B, Syversveen T, Dueland S, Smedman TM.Ann Surg. 2025 Aug 7. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000006892. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40772630. 
  • Unveiling the incidences and trends of alveolar echinococcosis in Europe: a systematic review from the KNOW-PATH project. Casulli A, Abela B, Petrone D, Šoba B, Dezsényi B, Karamon J, Millon L, Saarma U, Antolová D, Chappuis F, Gloor S, Stoeckle M, Müllhaupt B, Beck R, Lagler H, Lötsch F, Auer H, Hayette MP, Kolářová L, Laivacuma S, Šarkūnas M, Sokolovas V, Marcinkutė A, Troell K, Deibel A, Jokelainen P, Sulima M, Krankowska D, Roman S, Joliat GR, Halkic N, Bresson-Hadni S, Bednarek JH, Załęski A, Paul M, Yaqub S, Jensenius M, van der Giessen J, Nabarro L, Chiodini P, Demonmerot F, Knapp J, Grüner B, Kern P, Peters L, Santolamazza F, Santoro A.Lancet Infect Dis. 2025 Jun 24:S1473-3099(25)00283-X. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(25)00283-X. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40578380 Review.
  • The expanding role of surgery in metastatic disease: A modern perspective. Sund M, Yaqub S.Scand J Surg. 2025 Jun;114(2):113-114. doi: 10.1177/14574969251347342. Epub 2025 Jun 24.PMID: 40552478. 
  • Multimodal treatment for colorectal liver metastases: A toolbox for clinicians. Yaqub S, Longva A, Angelsen JH, Brudvik KW, Carling U, Edwin B, Fretland ÅA, Grünhagen DJ, Line PD, Røsok BI, Smedman TM, Sparrelid E, Syversveen T, Villanger O, Lassen K.Scand J Surg. 2025 Jun;114(2):126-134. doi: 10.1177/14574969251333524. Epub 2025 Apr 18.PMID: 40247715. 
  • Body mass index and risk of Hodgkin's lymphoma: Insights from a Norwegian cohort study. Aune D, Nordsletten M, Myklebust TÅ, Robsahm TE, Skålhegg BS, Mala T, Yaqub S, Saeed U.Eur J Cancer. 2025 May 15;221:115400. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2025.115400. Epub 2025 Apr 2.PMID: 40228428.
  • Surgical resection of adrenal metastases: Single-center experience and narrative literature review with emphasis on colorectal metastases. Røsok BI, Ahmad SH, Fretland ÅA, Østergaard D, Edwin B, Brudvik KW, Yaqub S.Scand J Surg. 2025 Jun;114(2):142-146. doi: 10.1177/14574969251331341. Epub 2025 Apr 5.PMID: 40186550 Free article. Review.
  • Liver transplantation for locally advanced non-resectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma treated with neoadjuvant therapy: early results from the TESLA trial. Yaqub S, Busund S, Smedman TM, Syversveen T, Khan A, Solheim JM, Folseraas T, Wiencke K, Lassen K, Dueland S, Line PD.Br J Surg. 2025 Mar 4;112(3):znaf054. doi: 10.1093/bjs/znaf054.PMID: 40099404 Free PMC article. 
  • Associations between body mass index and gastroesophageal cancer incidence and mortality: novel insights from a nationwide registry-based cohort study. Saeed U, Myklebust TÅ, Robsahm TE, Aune D, Møller B, Skålhegg BS, Yaqub S, Mala T.Dis Esophagus. 2025 Mar 3;38(2):doaf018. doi: 10.1093/dote/doaf018.PMID: 40091197 Free PMC article.
  • Body mass index and risk of connective and soft tissue cancer: results from a large cohort of 1.7 million individuals in Norway. Aune D, Nordsletten M, Myklebust TÅ, Robsahm TE, Skålhegg BS, Mala T, Yaqub S, Saeed U.BMC Cancer. 2025 Feb 11;25(1):243. doi: 10.1186/s12885-025-13637-8.PMID: 39934750 Free PMC article.
  • Indole 3-acetate and response to therapy in borderline resectable or locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Braadland PR, Farnes I, Kure EH, Yaqub S, McCann A, Ueland PM, Labori KJ, Hov JR.Front Oncol. 2024 Dec 20;14:1488749. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1488749. eCollection 2024.PMID: 39759130 Free PMC article.
  • Body mass index and penile cancer incidence: results from a Norwegian cohort study of 829,081 men. Aune D, Nordsletten M, Myklebust TÅ, Robsahm TE, Skålhegg BS, Mala T, Yaqub S, Saeed U.BMC Urol. 2024 Nov 27;24(1):260. doi: 10.1186/s12894-024-01636-z.PMID: 39605013 Free PMC article.
  • The association between body mass index and vulvar and vaginal cancer incidence: findings from a large Norwegian cohort study. Aune D, Nordsletten M, Myklebust TÅ, Robsahm TE, Skålhegg BS, Mala T, Yaqub S, Saeed U.Cancer Causes Control. 2025 Feb;36(2):191-198. doi: 10.1007/s10552-024-01930-z. Epub 2024 Oct 27.PMID: 39463212.