Download Identifying new approaches for cancer treatment

Identifying new
approaches for
cancer treatment
Extensive genetic and molecular
of human tumor and healthy tissue
research into the origins of cancer has
samples derived during surgery
made it clear that cancer results from
to remove the tumor. Using a
multiple genetic defects and that these
revolutionary technology developed
defects show great variation between
by the group of Hans Clevers at the
patients. Even between patients that
Hubrecht Institute, these tissue samples
suffer from the same type of cancer.
can be ‘grown’ into mini-tumors and
It appears that a patient’s response
mini-organs – called organoids. These
to cancer drugs is more determined
organoids provide a perfect opportunity
by the specific genetic defects in the
to study the behaviour of human
patient’s tumor than by the organ
tumors outside the body, including
in which this tumor is located. This
their response to cancer drugs.
notion is the driver behind the aim of
CancerGenomiCs.nl has adopted this
CancerGenomiCs.nl to determine and
technology as its core model system
understand the genetic alterations in
and many aspects will be studied. In
the tumors of individual patients in
addition to the analysis of the genome
order to select the right drug for that
and for determining drug sensitivity,
particular patient, or to determine the
we will use the organoids for synthetic
right drug target for which drugs need
lethality screens to identify causes of
The CancerGenomiCs.nl consortium
to be developed.
resistance, for the analysis of signaling
brings together internationally well-
pathways and (epi)genetic changes
established cancer research groups
that may be altered in tumors, and
and very promising junior groups.
for consequences of aneuploidy and
The funds for the CGC.nl research
DNA repair defects. Taken together,
program provide a unique opportunity
this will enable us to identify leads for
Cancer is an extremely complex
to implement a large-scale and long-
new approaches to cancer treatment.
disease. To tackle this complexity and
term focused strategy to combat cancer
Ultimately this should lead to novel
unravel the disease process to develop
by staying at the forefront of new
strategies for interference, which will
better treatment strategies, we apply
developments in cancer research and
be tested in patients by our clinical
the latest technological possibilities
their implications for the treatment of
partners. We are confident that the
and bring together different disciplines
cancer patients.
organoid technology will have a
within cancer research.
We will invest in and share expensive
dramatic effect on the speed by which
What makes CancerGenomiCs.nl
equipment necessary for analyzing
new drugs can be developed and
stand out from other cancer research
individual organoids. This will have
personalized cancer treatment can be
Unique approach
initiatives is the use of in vitro cultures
of human tumors, derived from the
‘living biobank’. This is a collection
implemented to benefit more patients.
Combining expertise,
training the
next generation
an impact beyond the individual
participating groups and will benefit
the broader community of cancer
researchers. Also we heavily invest in
the training of the next generation
of cancer researchers. In each
participating group, a PhD student or
postdoc will be employed using the
CGC.nl funds, which will advance the
careers of young promising scientists.
The participants of the consortium
combine interdisciplinary expertise
and knowledge covering a wide range
of topics in cancer genomics research,
which is essential for the training of
young, upcoming researchers. Master
students, PhD students and postdocs in
the consortium receive their training in
one of the five research schools of the
participating universities and research
institutes.
Benefit for society
About CancerGenomiCs.nl
We are convinced that the outcomes of our research program will lead to a better
CancerGenomiCs.nl was founded in
CancerGenomiCs.nl board consisting
treatment of cancer patients. Particularly by providing the tools to determine
2013 and largely builds on the research
of René Bernards, Hans Bos, Hans
beforehand which drug will be most effective in an individual patient and by saving
program of the Cancer Genomics
Clevers, Roland Kanaar, René Medema
patients exposure to unnecessary treatment and associated severe side-effects.
Centre of the Netherlands Genomics
and Alexander van Oudenaarden. All of
Initiative. CancerGenomiCs.nl has been
the participating scientists and groups
granted a budget of €30.7 million for
have extensive international networks
10 years by the Netherlands Ministry
and seeking further international
of Education, Culture and Science. The
collaborations is high on the CGC.nl
26 participants that collaborate in the
agenda. With the expertise combined
CGC.nl consortium are internationally
within our consortium and the excellent
renowned scientists from eight research
track records of the participants,
institutes in the Netherlands. They
we anticipate CancerGenomiCs.nl
are leading members of international
to become an attractive partner for
research programs and bring together
international collaborations within and
unparalleled expertise, advanced
outside Europe.
René Bernards
technology and infrastructure.
The consortium is led by the
Hans Bos
Hans Clevers
René Medema
Roland Kanaar
Alexander van Oudenaarden
Participating institutes and scientists
Netherlands Cancer Institute
René Bernards
Erasmus Medical
Center Rotterdam
René Medema
Roland Kanaar
Jan Schellens
Wim Vermeulen
Titia Sixma
Stefan Sleijfer
Maarten van Lohuizen
John Martens
Jos Jonkers
Lodewyk Wessels
Thijn Brummelkamp
Academic Medical Center
Amsterdam
Jan Paul Medema
Hubrecht Institute
Hans Clevers
Leiden University Medical Center
Alexander van Oudenaarden
Peter ten Dijke
Edwin Cuppen
Puck Knipscheer
Jacco van Rheenen
Radboud University Medical
Center Nijmegen
Peter Friedl
University Medical Center Utrecht
Hans Bos
Utrecht University
Emile Voest
Albert Heck
Boudewijn Burgering
Geert Kops
Michiel Vermeulen
Colophon
@2013 All rights reserved CancerGenomiCs.nl
Text & editing
Annelies Speksnijder, Hans Bos, Esther Thole
Images
Many thanks to Edwin Cuppen, Holger Rehmann, Hugo Snippert, Bas Ponsioen and
Geert Kops. Image of Newt Lung Cell © Alexey Khodjakov
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