A consortium of organisations, led by Maastricht UMC+, will receive a grant of €1.8 million from NWO for research into personalized treatment of colorectal cancer, with a view to a higher chance of survival and quality of life.
Most common cancer diagnosis
Colon cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosis, with a survival rate of about 65%. However, the treatment is often unsuccessful and can have serious side effects.
Drug irinotecan
Various organisations, including patient organisations, colleges and university hospitals, have joined forces to target metastatic colorectal cancer. This is based on the existing treatment, chemotherapy based on the drug irinotecan.
Major cons
The current treatment method has advantages, but also disadvantages: it is impossible to predict in advance who will benefit from chemotherapy and who will not. In addition, a number of patients suffer from serious side effects such as fever and severe diarrhoea, which require regular hospitalization. Both of these disadvantages have a major negative impact on the quality of life of the treated patients.
Less treatment, more results
Research leader professor of oncological surgery Marjolein Smidt (Maastricht UMC+) strives for more targeted treatment: ‘My mission is: less treatment with more results. Therefore, it is necessary to research ways to predict whether someone will benefit from this form of chemotherapy at all. In addition, it is crucial that we determine indicators with which we can optimize the treatment, for example in terms of dosage. Finally, we want to be able to make a risk estimate for the risk of serious diarrhea and even anticipate it in advance.’
Three elements for optimal treatment
In this study, under the name OPTIMA, the researchers are therefore going to work with three elements. First, analysis of poo bacteria to determine whether people are at risk for diarrhea as a side effect. Secondly, genetic research into cells in the tumor, which doctors can use to determine whether the tumor is sensitive to the drug irinotecan. Thirdly, genetic testing based on blood samples can be used to determine which dose of chemotherapy is optimal for the treatment.