About
Introduction
As a medical oncologist, my primary focus is on upper GI cancer and my research focus has followed that direction. My goal is to come to better, more personalized and less invasive staging and treatment of cancers of the upper gastrointestinal tract. On the preclinical side, we are analysing the prognostic and predictive value of ctDNA in plasma and peritoneal fluids of esophagogastric cancer patients. Furthermore, also in collaboration with others, we are investigating tissue and plasma biomarkers predictive of response to immune therapy.
With respect to clinical studies, I am involved as (local) principal investigator in several investigator-initiated and industry-initiated phase 2/3 studies in upper gastro-intestinal tract malignancies. Among others, I am the principal investigator of the SANO3 multicentre prospective clinical trial, which investigates the efficacy of nivolumab during active surveillance for esophageal cancer patients.
With respect to clinical studies, I am involved as (local) principal investigator in several investigator-initiated and industry-initiated phase 2/3 studies in upper gastro-intestinal tract malignancies. Among others, I am the principal investigator of the SANO3 multicentre prospective clinical trial, which investigates the efficacy of nivolumab during active surveillance for esophageal cancer patients.
Field(s) of expertise
Clinical studies on organ-sparing and new (combinations of) treatment of cancers of the upper gastro-intestinal tract. Preclinical studies on tissue and liquid biomarkers to improve response prediction, prognostication and staging.
Education and career
- 2008-2012 PhD on Circulating tumor cells, counts and characteristics under the supervision of Prof. dr. Stefan Sleijfer, MD and Prof. dr. John A. Foekens (Erasmus MC)
- 2012 – 2018 Medical Specialty Internal Medicine, specialization in Medical Oncology (Erasmus MC)
- 2018 – now: Medical Oncology staff member, focus on upper GI cancer
Publications
My publications can be found on Pubmed
Teaching activities
- Co-supervisor of Jessie Huizer, MD, PhD student on the SANO3 trial
- Co-supervisor of Emmelie Dekker, MD, PhD student on a clinical trial in duodenal cancer (DuoBlock).
Other positions
- Chair of the CONCORD upper GI network tumor group
- Chair of the Erasmus MC cytostaticacommittee
- Editor for Frontiers in Oncology
- Member of the guideline committee for esophageal and gastric cancer
- Vice Medical Coordinator for the outpatient clinic of the department of Medical Oncology
Scholarships, grants, and awards
- 2009 - winner of the Pieter de Mulder Award of the Dutch Society of Medical Oncologists
- 2012 - AACR-Pezcoller Foundation Scholar-in-Training Award
- 2013 - winner of the Thesis of the Year Award of the Dutch Society of Medical Oncologists
