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About PBCB and the research groups

Here you can read about PBCB and the research groups associated with the project.

In Norway, over 4,000 women and around 30 men are affected by breast cancer each year, and over 60,000 women are currently living after undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

Despite the generally good prognosis for this patient group, some patients will experience side effects from treatment that varyingly reduce their quality of life. Additionally, there is a risk of recurrence of the disease. Therefore, there is a need to regularly follow up with these patients to assess their quality of life and to collect liquid biopsies, such as blood or urine samples.

The knowledge gained from this follow-up will, in the long term, contribute to optimising breast cancer treatment, reducing side effects, and detecting potential recurrences at an early stage—so that necessary treatment can be initiated as quickly as possible.

Since 2012, the PBCB has collected blood and urine samples (liquid biopsies), in addition to clinical information and patient-reported data (questionnaires/PROM) from 1,455 patients who have undergone surgery for breast cancer at either Haukeland (HUS) or Stavanger University Hospital (SUS). This collection enables several important types of studies on breast cancer in our region and forms the basis for research collaboration both nationally and internationally.

The PBCB research group at Haukeland University Hospital consists of researchers and clinicians from the hormone laboratory and the endocrine surgery department.

The hormone laboratory's research group is led by Professor Gunnar Mellgren. The group researches breast cancer with a focus on endocrine treatment and advanced drug analysis (mass spectrometry).

In addition, the group works on a number of projects focusing on obesity, nutrition, and type 2 diabetes. The group is affiliated with the Mohn Nutrition Research Laboratory and Clinical Institute 2 at the University of Bergen (UiB.no).

The endocrine surgery department is led by Dr Anette Heie, and the department has been central to the collection of patient samples and questionnaires for PBCB. Research projects have been conducted at this department that have mapped side effects and psychosocial challenges related to breast cancer treatment.

The PBCB research group at Stavanger University Hospital is an interdisciplinary research group consisting of research coordinators, researchers, and clinicians from the department of surgery, the department of pathology, the department of blood and cancer diseases, and the research department. The research group also includes user representatives. The group was founded by Professor and Surgeon Håvard Søiland, but is currently led by Chief Engineer and Researcher Kjersti Tjensvoll.  

Department of Pathology

At the Department of Pathology, several studies have been conducted based on previously archived tumour tissue from breast cancer patients collected between 1989 and 2004. These studies are a combination of classical pathology, molecular biology, quantitative immunohistochemistry, and digital pathology. The overarching aim of the studies is to improve current breast cancer diagnostics.

Section for Molecular Quantitative Pathology - Helse Stavanger HF 

Breast and Endocrine Surgical Section

The Department of Surgery, Breast and Endocrine Surgical Section is a clinical section that annually operates on around 350 patients with breast cancer. In recent years, the section has participated in several clinical studies focusing on surgical methods and side effects and complications related to treatment. The section is responsible for the inclusion and follow-up of patients participating in PBCB at SUS and currently has a PhD student researching endocrine treatment in oestrogen-sensitive breast cancer in these patients.  

Breast and Endocrine Surgical Outpatient Clinic - Helse Stavanger HF 

Department of Blood and Cancer Diseases

At the Department of Blood and Cancer Diseases, breast cancer research has long emphasised the development of methods to detect possible disease recurrence earlier than current technology allows. Detection of so-called micrometastases in bone marrow in patients with breast cancer (early stage) has long been the focus of research here.

In recent years, however, research has shifted more towards investigating the significance of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) and cell-free tumour DNA (ctDNA) from plasma as markers to predict disease recurrence, and as a tool to measure treatment effect. 

Cancer and Medical Physics - Helse Stavanger HF

Funding Sources

  • Folke Hermansen Fund 
  • Helse Vest 
  • Inge Steensland's Foundation 
  • National Network for Breast Cancer Research 
  • Internal Research Fund at HUS and SUS 
Last updated 3/31/2026