"Patient care actually suits me better than research, but the two fields collided while coordinating the DRUP study. In this large study, we offer cancer patients who don’t have any other treatment options available to them anymore a drug that matches their unique tumor profile. The location of the original tumor isn’t as important as the type of mutations—changes in the DNA. This personalized treatment is effective for about a third of these patients, although I suspect that this percentage could increase if we would be able to treat our patients at an earlier stage. I primarily focused on patients with microsatellite instability. Errors in DNA copying are common when cells divide, but these errors aren’t fixed or repaired properly in these patients. This makes their tumors especially sensitive to immunotherapy. Our treatment for patients with this type of tumor is now covered by insurance. I'm proud of that. It was very rewarding to collaborate with so many people. I played field hockey for years with real dedication. In the hospital I am that same driven team player. I now work as a resident at the Flevo Hospital in Almere."
Laurien Zeverijn will defend her thesis on November 28.
Research at the Netherlands Cancer Institute is financially supported by KWF Dutch Cancer Society.
prof. dr. E.E. Voest & prof. dr. A.J. Gelderblom