Projects
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 ...
The in vivo role of quorum sensing peptides in metastatic colorectal cancer. Ghent University
Quorum sensing peptides are small protein-like compounds, which are used by certain bacteria to communicate with each other. However, this phenomenon is not limited to the bacteria themselves: recent research demonstrates that these compounds interact with human cells as well. As such, these particular compounds potentially can explain the role of bacteria in/on our body in health and disease. Several quorum sensing peptides have recently ...
The pro-tumorigenic crosstalk between enteric glia and macrophages in colorectal cancer KU Leuven
Once considered merely supportive cells for neurons in the Enteric Nervous System, enteric glial cells (EGCs) have emerged as crucial players in both health and disease. Particularly, they have recently been identified as a novel component of the colon tumor microenvironment. To date, while a few studies suggest their pro-tumorigenic effect during tumor progression, their full neoplastic potential remains unclear. Specifically, the impact of ...
Targeting pathways involved in ZEB1-driven EMT in an aggressive subtype of colorectal cancer Ghent University
Colorectal cancer is a frequently lethal disease with very heterogeneous outcomes and drug
responses. ZEB1 is a transcription factor controlling the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition
(EMT) process, a developmental program reactivated during cancer progression. Cancer cells
undergoing EMT acquire the capacity to disseminate, resist cell death and anticancer
drugs/therapy and act as a reservoir to replenish the cells. ...
Colorectal cancer screening in Flanders. University of Antwerp
GENomic profilinG of ColitIS-associated Colorectal CANcer KU Leuven
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients are at increased risk of colorectal cancer, namely colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC), compared to the general population. Carcinogenesis in IBD follows the inflammation-dysplasia-cancer (IDC) sequence related to chronic inflammation. The objectives of GENGISCAN are to characterize the innate and adaptive immune microenvironment within the IDC lesions in IBD patients with quiescent/active and ...
The effect of pelvic floor muscle training on bowel symptoms after low anterior resection for colorectal cancer KU Leuven
The main purpose of this project is to investigate the effect of pelvic floor muscular training on colon cancer after LAR for colorectal cancer. To check the effectiveness, all sequential patients will be randomized to a treatment group {12 weeks of pelvic floor muscle training) and a control group (information on bowel complaints).
Other goals include mapping evolution of all bowel complaints over time (up to 12 months after ...
Can response to epidermal growth factor receptor antibodies in metastatic colorectal cancer be predicted? Advanced bio-informatics tools integrating gene mutation and microarray data may hold the key. KU Leuven
MYCOLON - A mechanistic approach to map the interplay of mycotoxins and gut epithelium towards colorectal cancer risk Ghent University
Mycotoxins are fungal secondary metabolites that contaminate a wide spectrum of foods worldwide. Mycotoxins exert a diversity of human health threats, including carcinogenesis with the most common & pathologically-significant mycotoxins being aflatoxins, fumonisins, trichothecenes (e.g. deoxynivalenol (DON)) & patulin (PAT). MYCOLON is based on preliminary data identifying DON & PAT as mycotoxins with the highest potential to ...