Photo of Bergthor Björnsson

Bergthor Björnsson

Tumor diseases of the liver and pancreas create great suffering for both patients and relatives. The overall goal of my research is to improve the care of this patient group.

Liver and pancreatic tumors

The research I conduct is largely based on collaborations in various networks. After my defense in 2014, I ran a randomized trial at US where the value of minimally invasive pancreatic surgery was evaluated. At the same time, our unit led a multicenter and multinational study comparing different liver surgeries. It became clear that to tackle the larger clinical issues, large networks are needed. Therefore, I participate in the research for clinical projects described below.

Translational research often requires closer collaboration than clinical research and there can be difficulties with large distances. Therefore, the translational part of my research is mainly conducted in collaboration with other researchers at LiU.

Publications

2024

Bas A. Uijterwijk, Daniel H. Lemmers, Giuseppe Kito Fusai, Bas Groot Koerkamp, Sharnice Koek, Alessandro Zerbi, Ernesto Sparrelid, Ugo Boggi, Misha Luyer, Benedetto Ielpo, Roberto Salvia, Brian K. P. Goh, Geert Kazemier, Bergthor Björnsson, Mario Serradilla-Martin, Michele Mazzola, Vasileios K. Mavroeidis, Santiago Sanchez-Cabus, Patrick Pessaux, Steven White, Adnan Alseidi, Raffaele Dalla Valle, Dimitris Korkolis, Louisa R. Bolm, Zahir Soonawalla, Keith J. Roberts, Miljana Vladimirov, Alessandro Mazzotta, Jorg Kleeff, Miguel Angel Suarez Munoz, Marc G. Besselink, Mohammed Abu Hilal (2024) Different Periampullary Types and Subtypes Leading to Different Perioperative Outcomes of Pancreatoduodenectomy: Reality and Not a Myth; An International Multicenter Cohort Study Cancers, Vol. 16, Article 899 Continue to DOI
Karolina Kristenson, Edvard Gerring, Bergthor Björnsson, Per Sandström, Kristofer Hedman (2024) Peak oxygen uptake in combination with ventilatory efficiency improve risk stratification in major abdominal surgery Physiological Reports, Vol. 12, Article e15904 Continue to DOI

2023

Nine de Graaf, Anouk M. L. H. Emmen, Marco Ramera, Bergthor Björnsson, Ugo Boggi, Caro L. Bruna, Olivier R. Busch, Freek Daams, Giovanni Ferrari, Sebastiaan Festen, Jony van Hilst, Mathieu D’Hondt, Benedetto Ielpo, Tobias Keck, Igor E. Khatkov, Bas Groot Koerkamp, Daan J. Lips, Misha D. P. Luyer, J. Sven D. Mieog, Luca Morelli, I. Quintus Molenaar, Hjalmar C. van Santvoort, Mirjam A. G. Sprangers, Clarissa Ferrari, Johannes Berkhof, Patrick Maisonneuve, Mohammad Abu Hilal, Marc G. Besselink (2023) Minimally invasive versus open pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic and peri-ampullary neoplasm (DIPLOMA-2): study protocol for an international multicenter patient-blinded randomized controlled trial Trials, Vol. 24, Article 665 Continue to DOI
Hakon Blomstrand, Hans Olsson, Henrik Green, Bergthor Björnsson, Nils Elander (2023) Impact of resection margins and para-aortic lymph node metastases on recurrence patterns and prognosis in resectable pancreatic cancer - a long-term population-based cohort study HPB, Vol. 25, p. 1531-1544 Continue to DOI
Nicky van der Heijde, Frederique L. Vissers, Alberto Manzoni, Giuseppe Zimmitti, Joaquim Balsells, Frederik Berrevoet, Bergthor Björnsson, Peter van den Boezem, Ugo Boggi, Svein O. Bratlie, Fernando Burdio, Andrea Coratti, Mathieu DHondt, Carlos D. Del Pozo, Safi Dokmak, Regis Fara, Mehmet F. Can, Sebastiaan Festen, Antonello Forgione, Claus Fristrup, Sebastien Gaujoux, Bas Groot Koerkamp, Thilo Hackert, Igor E. Khatkov, Tobias Keck, Hanna Seppanen, Daan Lips, Misha Luyer, Gabriella Pittau, Manuel Maglione, I. Quintus Molenaar, Patrick Pessaux, Geert Roeyen, Olivier St-Marc, Santiago S. Cabus, Hjalmar van Santvoort, George van der Schelling, Mario Serradilla-Martin, Francois-regis Souche, Miguel A. Suarez Munoz, Marco V Marino, Marc G. Besselink, Mohammed Abu Hilal (2023) Use and outcome of minimally invasive pancreatic surgery in the European E-MIPS registry HPB, Vol. 25, p. 400-408 Continue to DOI

Research

Liver and pancreatic tumors

The research I conduct can be divided into clinical projects and trials where the aim is to improve care for today's patients within a short time and translational projects where the aim is to increase knowledge and understanding of underlying mechanisms.

Clinical projects

In the DRAGON network, we investigate methods to stimulate liver growth with as little intervention as possible. The core of the method being explored is that in addition to embolization of the portal vein, the hepatic vein(s) are also embolized to increase growth of the liver that can be left behind during surgery.

The DIPLOMA studies are about comparing the minimally invasive surgical method for pancreatic tumors with the classic open operations to ensure the introduction and expansion of minimally invasive pancreatic surgery. Within the same area is E-MIPS, the European registry for minimally invasive pancreatic surgery.

The ISGACA collaboration focuses on the management of tumors in the bile duct, its mouth and in the duodenum. A number of retrospective multicenter studies have already been done and the prospective ADAPTA study will investigate the choice of chemotherapy for tumors in the bile duct mouth.

The NorPact collaboration is investigating the value of pretreatment with chemotherapy before surgery for pancreatic cancer. Results of a prospective randomized trial are expected shortly.

In the ScanPan project, which is a Nordic collaboration starting from Linköping, clinical research in liver and pancreas areas meets where the value of treatment in pancreatic cancer that has spread (to the liver) is investigated.

 

Translational projects

Zebrafish embryos are used to investigate tumor characteristics in colon cancer, liver metastases (daughter tumors) and pancreatic cancer. The overall goal of these studies is to be able to provide more targeted chemotherapy based on the individual patient's tumor. The collaboration with basic research is with Lasse Jansen.
The liver's propensity to receive daughter tumors from colon and rectal cancer and pancreatic cancer is investigated in a project run in collaboration with Linda Bojmar.

I am a member of Bojmar Lab

Organisation