Projects
The formation of metastases is the main cause of cancer-related mortality Ghent University
The formation of metastases is the main cause of cancer-related mortality (90%). Strikingly, no effective anti-metastatic therapy is available in the clinic yet. N-Cadherin (NCad) is a protein that is abnormally active in metastatic tumors and helps them spread. The current project aims at developing molecules which can block NCad in patients.
Improving PIPAC therapy responses in cancer patients with peritoneal metastases using robust computer vision Ghent University
Peritoneal metastasis (PM) occurs in advanced stages of ovarian and gastro-intestinal cancers. Patients with PM have a poor prognosis and their quality of life is severely compromised. Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) is a promising treatment option but responses are hard to predict. Indeed, standard clinical, microscopic, and medical imaging modalities are currently limited in their potential to quantify PM and ...
Targeting the Tumor Microenvironment in Colorectal Peritoneal Metastases Ghent University
Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists can fuel the immune system in the fight against cancer. For peritoneal cancer of colorectal origin (CRC), however, immune therapy is still in its infancy. We will characterize the peritoneal immune microenvironment in patients with CRC, develop a TLR-agonist therapy for local peritoneal administration and investigate the effect of TLR activation on cancer- associated fibroblasts and epithelial-to-mesenchymal ...
Magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia for the treatment of spinal metastases Ghent University
This project proposes the development and the understanding of a therapy
that enables on the one hand stabilization of the spine and on the other hand
the hyperthermia of the spinal metastatic tumors. Traditional bone cement
does not contain any magnetic materials inside and thus does not interact
with the magnetic field. This cement loaded with magnetic nanoparticles,
can be clinically ...
PEACE V: a randomized phase III trial for the Salvage Treatment of OligoRecurrent nodal prostate cancer Metastases (STORM) Ghent University
Prostate cancer patients being confronted with a limited nodal recurrence are generally treated with palliative lifelong systemic androgen deprivation therapy with an important negative impact on the quality of life. The current study wants to establish a new standard of care for these patients exploring the potential of local treatments, improving progression-free survival and quality of life.
Predicting metastasis formation based on cancer cells with a distinct energy metabolism KU Leuven
Development of a live biotherapeutic medicine against colorectal cancer metastasis. Ghent University
In this study, a live biotherapeutic product containing selected Enterococcus faecium strains will be evaluated for its therapeutic and prophylactic adjuvant use in patients with (an increased risk of) colorectal cancer, to reduce metastasis progression.
Study of the molecular mechanisms of metastasis in prostate cancer. Ghent University
To date, the genetic basis for metastatic colonization in prostate cancer is poorly understood owing to the challenge in obtaining paired primary tumors and metastases. This project will trace tumour evolution both within the prostate and during metastasis using sequencing and histopathological information.