"We manage to identify around 2,500 women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) through the breast cancer population screening program each year. DCIS is a breast cancer precursor located in the milk ducts. These tumor cells are not a threat at this stage, as they are confined to the milk ducts. In the majority of these women, the tumor will remain harmless and never spread beyond the duct, even without treatment. However, it’s challenging to predict which women fall into this category. We currently treat all DCIS patients as if they have invasive cancer. I used specialized mouse and 3D models to investigate how DCIS behaves when left untreated. This allowed me to observe the development of the condition, and identify characteristics that indicate a higher risk of the tumor spreading beyond the ducts. This knowledge could help us identify the women who need immediate treatment, and who could safely opt for a 'Watch & Wait' approach, in which we monitor the tumor cells over time. During my PhD, I also worked with the Diversity & Inclusion Committee to ensure that everyone at the Netherlands Cancer Institute can be themselves. I felt so at home there that I recently started on a new project as a postdoctoral researcher."
Stefan Hutten will defend his thesis on December 5.
Research at the Netherlands Cancer Institute is financially supported by KWF Dutch Cancer Society.
prof. dr. J.M.M. Jonkers & prof. dr. J. Wesseling
C.L.G.J. Scheele