Multidisciplinary RADAR study zooms in on rare cancers

As many as one in five cancer patients has to deal with a rare tumor. Rare cancers are more difficult to treat because less research is done on them. With a starting capital through donations to the AVL Foundation, research leader Wilbert Zwart hopes to improve the chances for this group of patients.

RARE CANCERS IN THE NETHERLANDS
“In the RADAR study, we are researching whether medicines that are already available for common types of tumors can also be used for rare tumors. Because the problem with rare tumors is that there is less scientific knowledge about them and the treatments are actually lagging behind. In the Netherlands, 1 in 5 cancer patients has a rare type of cancer, so we have to work hard to catch up,” says Wilbert Zwart.

LOOKING AT THE DNA ABNORMALITY 
“We are going to genetically map rare tumors and then compare them with common tumors. And then test the drugs that already exist and that we know work for common cancers on tumor types that are genetically very similar. In these cases we no longer look at whether something is ovarian, stomach or breast cancer, but we look at the DNA abnormality. And then you say: ‘this is the DNA abnormality and this is the drug that we should use to treat it’. This is called genotype-phenotype associations. In this study there will be no need to develop completely new drugs. 


COLLABORATING DISCIPLINES 
We have started this study at the beginning of January. It is a large study in which many different disciplines within the AVL/NKI collaborate; from researchers in the lab to surgeons in the operating room. In this case, the AVL Foundation has been very important in raising the money, because pharmaceutical companies cannot make much money from rare cancers. This way, we can still make a big impact.”

IMPACT FOR PATIENTS
In this linked video (Dutch), research leader Wilbert Zwart discusses with chairman of the board Maurice van den Bosch what the RADAR study entails and what the impact can be for patients. And the importance of donations to make this kind of research possible.

Many thanks to everyone who contributed to this study!

WANT TO CONTRIBUTE?
You can donate to cancer research in the NKI through this page.