Amsterdam UMC - Cancer Center Amsterdam

Stichting Hanarth Fonds received 65 applications during the 2024 call. Following a careful assessment process, the Hanarth Fonds had granted two research projects and one fellowship to Amsterdam UMC researchers. They will be researching image-based machine learning models in esophageal carcinoma, prognosis and treatment response prediction in multiple myeloma, and deep learning to personalize treatment of cervical and head and neck cancer. The Hanarth Fonds aims to promote and enhance the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve the diagnosis, treatment and outcome of patients with (rare) cancer. Congratulations to Suzanne Gisbertz, Ronald Boellaard and Myrte Wennen on receiving their grants.

Amsterdam UMC receives over 4.6 million from KWF Kankerbestrijding for 4 studies into lung cancer, skin cancer, pharyngeal cancer and a new form of immunotherapy. With a total of 39 million for research, KWF is investing heavily in new cancer drugs. The organization sees an important role for the academic sector in the development of drugs and new treatments. The studies, 2 of which were made possible by proceeds from the Alpe d'HuZes, will start in 2025. Congratulations to Alsya Affandi, Yvette van Kooyk, Roeland Lameris and Ruud Brakenhoff on receiving their grant. https://lnkd.in/eQ2WRV8D

In addition to Whole Genome Sequencing of DNA, Hartwig Medical Foundation performs Whole Transcriptome Sequencing of RNA. Researcher Marjolein Lansbergen utilized this data in her study on pancreatic cancer and observed a clear correlation between gene expression and tumor sensitivity to a specific therapy: "We observed clear differences in survival and tumor reduction between the two groups" https://lnkd.in/e2xs3RvG

Na 18 jaar en 8 maanden was het deze week eindelijk zover: de langverwachte verhuizing! Gisteren was mijn laatste dag in het “tijdelijke” gebouw van de Cancer Center Amsterdam. Met CCA start-up grant, bouwde ik het OncoProteomics Lab. De opdracht die ik kreeg was om hoogstaand kankeronderzoek te gaan doen met cutting-edge proteomics, samen met de kankeronderzoekers om ons heen die vanuit verschillende afdelingen in het CCA gebouw verenigd werden. We hebben ons best gedaan. Inmiddels zijn we 202 wetenschappelijke publicaties verder, zijn er 15 jonge onderzoekers gepromoveerd, 6 promovendi onderweg, en hebben we meer dan 55 stage studenten een plek geboden. In 2022 kreeg ik de Translational Proteome Sciences Award van de Human Proteome Organisation, een mooie erkenning van ons werk.  Vandaag was mijn eerste dag in het gloednieuwe RDC gebouw en heb ik mijn werkplek ingericht. De mass specs zijn over en het lab zal de komende 2 weken verder ingericht worden. De komende jaren zullen ongetwijfeld weer vol mooi onderzoek zijn, nu niet alleen als OncoProteomics Lab, maar ook in de functie van Amsterdam UMC Proteomics Core Resource en met meer samenwerking met “neuro”, ik heb er zin in! 

Galapagos NV announced additional data from the ongoing Phase 1/2 ATALANTA-1 study of its CD19 CAR T-cell therapy, GLPG5101. The results demonstrate strong efficacy and an encouraging safety profile in patients with relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma (R/R NHL). Most patients in the study received GLPG5101 as a fresh, fit, stem-like, early memory CD19 CAR T-cell therapy, with a median vein-to-vein time of seven days.

New research led by Laura Schwarzmueller, Ronja Adam, Leandro Moreno, PhD, Louis Vermeulen and Nicolas Leveille of Amsterdam UMC identified critical Wnt-regulated lncRNAs that could be targeted to specifically affect cancer cells, providing a potential approach to inhibit Wnt signaling while sparing normal stem cell function. https://lnkd.in/eStpBHEd

On November 30th, Stomach Cancer Awareness Day, we want to highlight the important work Amsterdam UMC - Cancer Center Amsterdam researchers are doing. Amsterdam UMC researchers have launched the OMEGA trial, an international, multicenter, randomized study investigating whether preserving the omentum—a fatty tissue layer covering abdominal organs—is non-inferior to complete omentum removal for patients undergoing gastric cancer surgery. Traditionally, omentum removal, which is standard practice during gastrectomy, is based on the belief that the omentum may harbor malignant cells. However, as the omentum also plays essential roles in immune defense and in preventing abdominal infections and adhesions, the question has been increasingly raised over the past decade: does its removal truly benefit patients? Amsterdam UMC involved researchers: Suzanne Gisbertz, Mark van Berge Henegouwen, Wietse Eshuis, Sybren Meijer & Kammy Keywani https://lnkd.in/eFvcHp-q

Researchers from Amsterdam UMC, Erasmus MC and Antoni van Leeuwenhoek have shown in the so-called SONIA study that later and shorter use of specific anti-cancer drugs (such as CDK4/6 inhibitors) in patients with metastatic breast cancer are just as effective, have fewer side effects and lead to significant cost savings. The impact? Annual savings of over 45 million euros in the Netherlands and more than 5 billion dollars in the US. These results, published in Nature, underline the importance of efficacy studies to improve care and keep it affordable for patients, clinicians and policy makers worldwide. Read more. 👇 https://lnkd.in/ec-8gj4Y

📚 Today marks the final day of our CRISPR Course 2024 —a collaborative effort by Amsterdam UMC - Cancer Center Amsterdam and the The Netherlands Cancer Institute for the Oncology Graduate School Amsterdam (OOA). 🧬 This week has been an incredible journey through CRISPR's potential, from fundamental principles to groundbreaking clinical applications. 🌟 We’re concluding the course with an inspiring seminar by Dr. Paula Río from CIEMAT, Madrid, who will showcase how CRISPR base and prime editing are transforming treatment possibilities for patients with Fanconi anemia. 🙌 A big thank you to all participants, speakers, and supportive staff for fostering an environment of learning, innovation, and collaboration. Here’s to pushing boundaries and editing the future! 🚀 #CRISPR #GeneEditing #AmsterdamUMC #NKI #Collaboration #OOA

During the 40th Dutch Head and Neck Society (NWHHT) anniversary congress, held on October 17th and 18th in Leiden, René Leemans MD PhD FRCSEd was awarded the honorary society medal in recognition of his dedication and hard work during his tenure as chair and board member of the society. His contributions have made a lasting impact on improving the quality of care for patients with head and neck cancer.