Groningen – The UMCG was the first hospital in the Netherlands to treat a cancer patient with a tumor in the head and neck region with stem cells from his own salivary gland. This should ensure that his salivary glands are working again after treatment.
Thursday, December 15 was the day. After many years of research, Kasper van den Noort (43) was the first in the Netherlands and probably the first worldwide to receive his own cells from cultured mini-salivary glands (organoids) back via an injection. Van den Noort spoke of a special moment. The injection was a bit sensitive. I am of course very curious to see what will happen next, whether this will have the intended effect. It would be really great if that salivary gland started working again.’
The stem cell transplant should ensure that Van den Noort will no longer suffer from a dry mouth as a result of his treatment for the tongue tumor he had.
Tongtumor
A tongue tumor was found earlier this year at Van den Noort. He was operated on at the UMCG. A piece of his salivary glands was also removed. ‘We grew the stem cells from this in the laboratory,’ says UMCG professor of Radiotherapy Rob Coppes. ‘These form salivary gland organoids that we can multiply. After the irradiation, which the patient has now received in our Proton Therapy Center, we return cells from these organoids.’
Decreased quality of life
Every year in the Netherlands there are about 2,500 new patients with a tumor in the head and neck region. Many of these patients have a good chance of recovery with radiation. A serious complication is that in 40% of patients the salivary glands no longer work properly after treatment. As a result, they constantly suffer from a dry mouth. Chewing and swallowing is difficult, their sense of taste is reduced, talking is very difficult and the teeth are damaged. As a result, these patients often have a greatly reduced quality of life.
Final steps in the investigation
To solve this problem, Rob Coppes’ research group has been researching salivary gland stem cell transplantation for years. About four years ago, he and his colleagues began the final steps to make the method safe and suitable for clinical use. After Kasper van den Noort, a few more patients will be treated in this way at the beginning of 2023. This is done within a clinical trial, in which a limited and selected group of patients can participate.
Determine if it catches on
‘We then hope to be able to determine later next year whether the treatment is working for the patients,’ concludes Coppes. ‘This study should serve as a “proof of principle” that such a treatment is feasible and safe. If we find a positive effect, we will treat patients with other tumor locations in a follow-up study who are also at risk of getting a dry mouth after radiotherapy. If successful, the so-called organoid technology could also be applied to other tissues.’
The research of Rob Coppes and his research group has been made possible in recent years by KWF and ZonMW through several grants.