The Netherlands Cancer Institute

𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐊𝐈 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐮𝐦!🧬 Discover cutting-edge insights into DNA replication and its critical role in cell fate, chromatin regulation, and cancer transformation. On November 20&21, 2024, the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) is hosting a meetup in Amsterdam focused on novel fundamental insights on genome stability and its implications for human health. This event, featuring the renowned EU Doctoral Network Replifate (replifate.eu), will bring together international experts ranging from experts on early embryonic development to biochemistry, structural biology, mouse models and replication genomics, as well as drug discovery. The goal? To spark novel collaborations and drive advancements. 𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝑨𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅? ✔️Engage with top-tier international and national speakers. ✔️Participate in poster sessions, short talks, and dynamic discussions. ✔️Network with leading researchers across diverse fields. Mark your calendars and join us in shaping the future of replication research! ➡️ https://bit.ly/4fXD0wb #NKI #NKIReplifate #DNARelication #GenomeStability #CancerResearch #Replifate2024

🎓 "𝐈 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬” “A treatment type for patients with advanced metastatic non-small cell lung cancer is immunotherapy with PD1 inhibitors. About 30 percent of patients respond well to this treatment, which unfortunately means that the majority of them undergo a treatment that doesn’t work effectively. Other than the costs, this treatment can be quite intense and may lead to side effects. That’s why I wanted to find tumor markers, specific biological traits in the patient, that could help us predict someone’s likelihood of a positive response of the treatment. In the Pathology Department, we can now use a computer algorithm to identify a specific group of immune cells surrounding the tumor in very thin slices of tissue. If we find large numbers of these immune cells, known as tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), we expect that the treatment will be effective. If we find few or none, a physician can now opt for a different kind of treatment much earlier, and now also sooner, another treatment option. I’m happy that I can contribute to a better diagnosis leading to personalized treatment. I lost my own mother to breast cancer when I was younger, so I know how important this is." Karlijn Hummelink is currently training as a pathologist at Amsterdam UMC. She will defend her thesis on November 12 ➡️ https://bit.ly/48Ifqkp #PhD #PhDlife #DNA #thesisdefense #personalizedcare #lungcancer

𝗞𝗪𝗙 𝗗𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 KWF Dutch Cancer Society ( KWF Kankerbestrijding ) and the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) have extended their partnership for another 5 years. The goal of the agreement is to further enhance the impact of cancer research for patients in the Netherlands and abroad. The partnership focuses on three core factors: improved translation of fundamental cancer research to effective cancer treatment, improved quality of life, and improved access to the best treatments. The relationship between KWF Dutch Cancer Society and the NKI is strong and dates back to 1951. This special partnership has led to increased understanding and better treatment of cancer. The previous 5-year collaborations have led to important scientific breakthroughs (see boxes below). The new partnership agreement is a continuation of these successes to be able to help more patients on a national and international scale. Read more ➡️ https://bit.ly/3YwbqPm #cancerresearch #cancersurvivorship #fundamentalresearch #treatmentaccess #immunotherapy

🎓 "𝗜 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸” "There is no effective screening method for ovarian cancer yet, which is why we often advise women with hereditary breast cancer to have their ovaries and fallopian tubes removed as a preventive measure. Menopause starts instantly after the procedure, which is about ten years sooner than natural menopause on average. In my PhD research, we compared two groups of women aged 55 and older. One group had their ovaries surgically removed at a younger age, before 46, while the other group had the procedure later in life, at 55 or later. I looked at cognitive symptoms, like issues regarding concentration or memory, as well as urinary incontinence and sexual functioning. Surprisingly, despite our expectations and those of the participants, we found few differences between the two groups. This is encouraging news, though further research is needed. I always have a very positive outlook. When my colleagues get stuck in their research, they call me, and I tell them that everything will work out. After all, it worked out for me too.” Lara Terra will defend her thesis on November 6 ➡️ https://bit.ly/3C7vboR #PhD #PhDlife #DNA #thesisdefense #ovariancancer #menopause

𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆 A new blood test may eventually be able to replace certain CT scans. The blood of patients with metastatic cancer contains circulating tumor DNA, which provides crucial information about the disease. The test can assess the effectiveness of treatments, regardless of cancer type. It appears that this test can measure treatment success even more accurately than the CT scans currently used to monitor treatment outcomes, as the results of a new study conducted by the Netherlands Cancer Institute and others show. Cancer cells in the body are often unstable and die quickly, releasing fragments of tumor DNA into the bloodstream. This circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) contains valuable information about the cancer. By analyzing tumor DNA, doctors can gain insight into the way tumor cells are developing, and the severity of the disease. With the new blood test, doctors can measure the tumor DNA in the blood and use this information to determine whether treatment is working. “Patients are currently required to come to the hospital for a CT scan to see whether treatment is effective,” says Remond Fijneman from the Netherlands Cancer Institute. “With this blood test, patients can have their treatment monitored from home or at their general practitioner.” Read more ➡️ https://bit.ly/3UsdK8U #NKI #cancerresearch #ctDNA #circulatingtumordna #DNA

🎓 “𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝘁 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻” Cell division takes a lot of time and energy. Cells pause all other activities during this process, which means that it is harder to repair damage to the DNA during division. This damage works just like coffee stains on the page of a book—it becomes difficult to read. The cell tries to fill in the unintelligible parts so that it can continue dividing. It’s fascinating to observe these processes and see what happens when you knock out the various players involved. These changes are too small to see with the naked eye, but it’s like reading a book letter by letter. We analyze the hundreds of gigabytes worth of data on a computer. My favorite part is reasoning backwards to figure out what’s happening. I taught myself the computer work, and while it wasn’t always easy, I’m proud that I stuck with it. Now I’m a bioinformatician at Merus, a company in Utrecht that produces antibodies against cancer.” Daniel de Groot defended his thesis on October 16. #PhD #PhDlife #DNA #thesis #NKI

The Supervisory Board appoints prof. dr. Thijn Brummelkamp (1975) as a Member of the Executive Board / Scientific Director of the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) as of December 1, 2024. He will succeed prof. dr. Ton Schumacher who served as an ad interim scientific director following the departure of prof. dr. Rene H. Medema in April 2024. Brummelkamp has gained national and international scientific recognition as a researcher in experimental biomedical genetics. He has developed widely used techniques to study gene function and has applied these to characterize numerous cellular processes. Brummelkamp conducted his PhD research under the supervision of prof. dr. Rene Bernards at the NKI and started his own research group at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research in Cambridge (USA). His research group relocated to the NKI in 2011. In addition to his role at the NKI, he is a professor at Universiteit Utrecht, a member of the Oncode Institute, and a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW - Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen). Alongside his academic work, he co-founded Scenic Biotech, a company focused on genetic modifiers, and is currently establishing a company focused on a new class of tumor antigens. “At the Netherlands Cancer Institute, we believe that the problem of cancer can be solved through high-quality research and sharing expertise throughout the entire chain. We know that appointing Thijn Brummelkamp means that our key values will be safeguarded over the coming years. He has been deeply involved with our organization for years. We are overjoyed to be able to add a scientist of his caliber to our Executive Board”, says Piet van der Slikke, head of the Supervisory Board of the Netherlands Cancer Institute. Maurice van den Bosch of the Executive Board, adds: “The Executive Board is very proud to welcome Thijn to our team. This appointment highlights the importance of fundamental research for improved cancer treatments in the future. Thijn will use his collaborative qualities to strengthen the connection between lab and clinic – within our institute as well as beyond. Because only when we work together can we contribute to our mission: a cure for every cancer and excellent care for every patient.” Brummelkamp will start in his new role on December 1, 2024, and will continue to lead his own research group at the NKI. #fundamental #NKI #scientificdirector #newjob #collaboration

🎓 “𝐀𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠” “I still remember the first day of my PhD project, in 2009. My supervisor showed me an image and said it was my job to improve it. But what was I looking at? And what had to be improved? It took me a while to start asking these questions. The image turned out to be a Cone Beam CT scan from a lung cancer patient. It wasn’t very clear: there was noise caused by the patient’s breathing during the scan. Using mathematical models, I managed to extend the scan time virtually without extending the scan time for the patient. I also used anatomical information to fill in the noise. When I went back to China in 2014, I’d initially expected to write a few papers and finish my thesis quickly, but things didn’t work out that way. I started my own company in 2016: LinkingMed. We help radiation oncologists across China create better treatment plans using Artificial Intelligence, a technology that was hardly available in 2009. China has the most cancer patients in the world. Now every patient gets a quality radiation plan, no matter where they live or receive their treatment.” Ryan Hua Zhang will defend his thesis on October 29 ➡️ https://bit.ly/4hgKNqd #PhD #PhDlife #thesisdefense #AI

𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐀 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 This year's winner of the Netherlands Cancer Institute's Patient Impact Award is the research team of the SONIA study. Principal investigator and medical oncologist Gabe Sonke received the award today, after which he provided a lecture. The award is granted annually to the clinical innovation with the greatest impact. “The SONIA study is an excellent example of innovation and clinical impact,” says Jacqueline Stouthard, jury and Executive Board member for Health Care and Care Development. “The findings of this study are of great value to breast cancer patients as well as society as a whole, in terms of health and costs.” 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 The SONIA study investigated whether starting CDK4/6 inhibitors immediately in combination with hormone therapy is as effective as a delayed start for women with metastatic hormone-sensitive breast cancer, who use these drugs to enhance the effects of hormone therapy. The results show that a later and shorter treatment yields the same outcomes as starting treatment immediately. The smart use of this medication not only reduces side effects, but also results in savings of €35,000 per patient compared to the internationally established standard treatment. Read more ➡️ https://bit.ly/48huTrA

🎓 “𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗺𝗮” “Mesothelioma, a cancer type related to asbestos, still occurs too often. Every year, around 31,000 people are diagnosed with this cancer type. The Netherlands implemented strict regulations on the use of asbestos, but countries including China and India still widely produce and use asbestos in construction and insulation materials. We unfortunately have very few therapies available to treat mesothelioma, and the ones that exist are only partially effective. Using genetic and drug screening techniques, I investigated potential combination treatments—medications that may not work sufficiently on their own, but that might make a difference when combined. I tested these combinations in cell and mouse models. The good news is that I did find a few new combinations that seem to work in the lab. The next step is to test these in clinical trials, but that will take some time. One time a mother with mesothelioma visited us in the lab with her daughter. The daughter had raised money to support our research, and she got to see what her efforts were helping to achieve.” Nick Landman will defend his thesis on October 23 ➡️ https://bit.ly/4dZw9AN #PhD #PhDlife #DNA #thesisdefense #mesothelioma