Researchers from Radboudumc and Amsterdam UMC receive 2.5 million euros in subsidy for promising care from the National Health Care Institute and ZonMW. They will use this to investigate whether they can detect recurrent lung cancer earlier by using PET/CT scans in the follow-up checks of treated patients. “This may lead to faster follow-up treatment and a longer survival,” said Iris Walraven, principal investigator at Radboudumc.
After diagnosis, many lung cancer patients receive treatment aimed at a cure. Unfortunately, in a significant proportion of them the cancer returns after treatment. A team of researchers led by Iris Walraven (clinical epidemiologist) from Radboudumc and Annemarie Becker (pulmonologist) from Amsterdam UMC will now investigate whether the detection of metastases can be improved. Walraven: “We are going to see whether a PET/CT scan gives better results than a CT scan alone. This allows you to see metastases outside the lungs. This way we can start treatments aimed at healing earlier. We will investigate whether the use of PET/CT scans at follow-up improves the outlook and survival of lung cancer patients.”
Quality of life
In the Netherlands, follow-up checks on lung cancer patients consist of CT scans of the lungs. A CT scan can only show metastases in the chest, while the risk of metastases elsewhere in the body is greater. As a result, these metastases are often discovered at a late stage, which means that there are fewer treatment options. Becker explains: “In recent years, the treatment options for patients with a limited number of metastases have improved considerably, for example thanks to very targeted irradiation of metastases, immunotherapy or surgery. This increases the chance of long-term survival with a good quality of life. a doctor has to find the metastases, so we are very happy with this subsidy to investigate whether this can be done more effectively with the help of a PET-CT scan.”
For the study, the researchers from Radboudumc and Amsterdam UMC will receive 2.5 million euros from the National Health Care Institute and ZonMW through the Subsidy Scheme for Promising Care. In addition to the research costs, the money also covers the healthcare costs of the treatment during the research. After all, the procedure is not yet reimbursed from the basic insurance. After the study has been completed, the Zorginstituut will immediately decide whether the treatment works, based on the scientific evidence. If this is the case, the treatment will be reimbursed via the basic insurance. 24 other hospitals in the Netherlands are also participating in the study by Radboudumc and Amsterdam UMC.
By: National Care Guide