Prof. Claus Lindbjerg Andersen

Prof. Claus Lindbjerg Andersen is a distinguished professor of molecular oncology and a senior consultant in medical oncology at Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev & Gentofte, part of the Capital Region of Denmark's hospital network and one of Scandinavia's foremost oncological centres. With over 25 years of combined clinical and research experience, Prof. Andersen has become one of Europe's leading experts in colorectal cancer and the application of liquid biopsy technology — particularly circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) — to cancer monitoring and treatment decision-making.

Prof. Andersen trained in Denmark and established his laboratory at the Department of Molecular Medicine at Aarhus University before moving to his current position in Copenhagen. His dual role as a clinician and laboratory researcher has enabled him to translate cutting-edge molecular biology directly into patient care, developing ctDNA-based assays that are now being evaluated in clinical practice across Europe and North America.

Beyond his research programme, Prof. Andersen runs an active clinical service caring for patients with colorectal cancer — including those with hereditary syndromes such as Lynch syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) — and leads a multidisciplinary tumour board that integrates molecular profiling into treatment planning. He is widely recognised as a clinician who brings exceptional scientific rigour to the care of individual patients.

His work has attracted sustained funding from the Danish Cancer Society, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, and competitive European research grants, reflecting the high esteem in which his research programme is held by international scientific bodies.

Prof. Andersen completed his medical degree (MD) at the University of Aarhus Faculty of Health Sciences, one of Denmark's leading medical schools. He undertook postgraduate training in internal medicine and clinical oncology at Danish teaching hospitals, gaining experience in the systemic management of gastrointestinal and colorectal cancers.

He earned his PhD through research into the molecular epidemiology of colorectal cancer, focusing on somatic mutations and microsatellite instability as markers of tumour biology and hereditary risk. Following his doctorate, he pursued advanced training in molecular oncology techniques and next-generation sequencing platforms, establishing skills in ctDNA assay development that became the cornerstone of his research career.

Prof. Andersen has completed international research fellowships with leading cancer genomics groups and is recognised as a board-certified specialist in medical oncology within the Danish specialist training system. He holds a full professorship at the University of Copenhagen, where he supervises doctoral and postdoctoral researchers in his laboratory.

Prof. Andersen's primary clinical focus is the management of colorectal cancer across all stages — from curative-intent treatment of localised disease to the complex management of metastatic colorectal cancer with multiple lines of systemic therapy. He is particularly expert in the use of ctDNA liquid biopsy to guide treatment decisions, including monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD) after surgery and predicting response to chemotherapy.

His clinical expertise encompasses the full range of systemic therapies used in colorectal cancer, including FOLFOX, FOLFIRI, bevacizumab, cetuximab (for RAS/RAF wild-type tumours), and newer targeted agents. He has special expertise in the identification and management of patients with hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes, including Lynch syndrome and FAP, coordinating germline testing, genetic counselling, and surveillance programmes.

Prof. Andersen participates actively in clinical trial coordination, including the IMPROVE trial and other interventional studies evaluating ctDNA-guided treatment de-escalation and intensification strategies. His practice integrates comprehensive molecular tumour profiling as standard of care for eligible patients.

Prof. Andersen has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers in journals including Nature Medicine, the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Gut, the British Journal of Cancer, and Annals of Oncology. His publication record is notable for its direct translational impact — much of his laboratory work has moved rapidly into clinical trial settings.

His most celebrated research contributions concern the use of ctDNA for monitoring treatment response and detecting minimal residual disease in colorectal cancer. Landmark studies from his group have demonstrated that ctDNA dynamics after surgery and during chemotherapy are powerful predictors of relapse, potentially allowing physicians to tailor adjuvant therapy to the individual patient's disease biology rather than relying solely on clinicopathological staging.

Additional significant contributions include large-scale studies characterising the mutational landscape of colorectal cancer in Danish population cohorts, investigations into the clinical utility of ctDNA in Lynch syndrome carriers, and the IMPROVE trial, which is evaluating ctDNA-guided treatment adaptation prospectively. His research has been highly cited internationally and has influenced evolving clinical guidelines on liquid biopsy use in gastrointestinal oncology.

Prof. Andersen consults in both Danish and English, and Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev & Gentofte welcomes referrals from across Europe and beyond for complex colorectal cancer cases, second opinions, and patients with hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes. The hospital has an established international patient coordination service to assist with referrals, appointments, and logistical support for travelling patients.

EU/EEA patients may be eligible for cross-border healthcare funding under European health regulations. Non-EU patients are seen on a private referral basis, and detailed cost estimates are available through the hospital's international office. Second-opinion consultations can often be conducted by telemedicine, enabling patients and their treating oncologists abroad to access Prof. Andersen's expertise for treatment planning and molecular profiling interpretation.

Patients with suspected hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes referred from other European countries can access comprehensive genetic counselling and testing services alongside clinical oncology consultation.

Prof. Andersen has been the recipient of several prestigious research awards recognising his contributions to oncology and molecular medicine. He has received a major research grant laureate award from the Danish Cancer Society, one of Denmark's most competitive research funding bodies, in recognition of his ctDNA research programme.

The Danish Society for Clinical Oncology (DSCO) has honoured him with its Excellence Award for sustained contributions to clinical oncology research and practice. He has also received multiple grants from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, which funds high-impact biomedical research in Denmark. Prof. Andersen is frequently invited to present his research at ASCO, ESMO, and UEGW (United European Gastroenterology Week) annual meetings, and serves on editorial boards of leading oncology journals.