2023-06-02 14:22:29
The awarded studies are the result of the first KWF funding round of 2023. In the coming period, KWF will invest a total amount of 13.9 million euros in 19 different studies. All awarded LUMC studies will start this year. The research projects are highlighted below.
Better diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of patients with acute leukemia
LUMC researchers Prof. Hendrik Veelken and Dr Marieke Griffioen (Hematology), Dr Ir. Erik van den Akker (Biomedical Data Sciences) and Dr Jeroen Laros (Human Genetics) will receive an amount of almost 850,000 euros from the KWF to improve the diagnosis of acute leukemia together with researchers at Radboudumc and ErasmusMC. They want to do this by measuring genetic abnormalities and gene expression profiles in the leukemia cells with RNA-Seq. This is important in order to properly distinguish different types of acute leukemia, so that the prognosis and treatment can be better tailored to the patient.
With financial support from the LUMC free policy space, a diagnostic test has been developed to measure genetic abnormalities in acute myeloid leukemia with RNA-Seq. This method will be implemented in the routine diagnostics of the Hematology department in 2020.
The goal of the KWF study is to improve the method by measuring more genetic abnormalities and gene expression profiles and to expand the test to all forms of acute leukemia. The method will also become available to other diagnostic laboratories, making it an important contribution to better treatment of patients with acute leukemia in the Netherlands and abroad.
Less chemotherapy for elderly people with metastatic colorectal cancer
Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who do not get better often receive chemotherapy to slow down the disease and reduce symptoms. This is also called palliative treatment. More than half of these patients are older than 70 years. During treatment, they are more and more affected by the treatment, so they have to stop earlier. This makes the treatment less effective.
Dr. Nienke de Glas and Prof. Dr. Johanneke Portielje have received 813,470.64 euros to investigate whether it is responsible to give the elderly a reduced dose (25 percent of the normal amount). If that works just as well and produces less serious side effects, the quality of life will increase. The decrease in side effects also reduces the number of hospital admissions.
Preparing patients for stem cell and immune cell therapy
In order for stem cell and immune cell therapy against cancer to work as well as possible, the patient’s body is stripped of all its own immune cells before the start of the treatment. This gives new immune cells the best chance to do their job properly. Chemotherapy and/or antibody-mediated depletion is often used to kill the old immune cells. Both methods work, but are not optimal for the patient. For example, the therapeutic antibodies often remain in the body for too long.
For the project Hit and Run Prof. Dr. Leendert Trouw of the Department of Immunology has been awarded 559,545 euros to develop a new method to make ‘antibody-mediated depletion’ more effective and faster. The three-year project aims to make the pre-treatment of patients more efficient and less stressful. As a result, the chance of a successful outcome after stem cell transplantation and cell therapy can be increased. The research project is carried out in collaboration with prof. dr. Arjan Lankester in prof. dr. Paul Parren.
An innovative method for biomarker analysis in patients with pancreatic cancer
Patients with aggressive pancreatic cancer require surgical treatment. To completely remove the tumor, the surgeon must be able to distinguish between tumor and healthy tissue. Fluorescence-guided surgery can help. The fluorescent substance (SGM-101) is administered via an IV into the bloodstream and binds to tumor cells. If the surgeon looks with a special camera during the operation, he or she will see the fluorescent substance light up. This makes it easier to detect and completely remove the tumor.
Alexander Vahrmeijer’s research group has received 489,767.70 euros to conduct further research into the effect of the substance SGM-101 in patients who have had radiation and/or chemotherapy before surgery. Within the group, Sven Mieog, Bert Bonsing, Martijn van Dam and Vahrmeijer from the Department of Surgery work together with Agustin Enciso Martinez and Peter ten Dijke from the Department of Cell and Chemical Biology.
Due to the effect of the treatment, it is often difficult for these patients to distinguish between tumor and healthy tissue. In collaboration with Ten Dijke and Enciso Martinez, the possibilities of the substance ‘SGM-101’ are being examined in new methods for conducting research into the use of disease markers (biomarkers) for (pancreatic) cancer. This involves detecting very small tumor fragments, Tumor-derived Extracellular Vesicleswhich could potentially be used in the future for early detection and monitoring of cancer and cancer treatment.
The message about the entire KWF subsidy round can be read on the website of KWF Cancer Control.
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