Making pancreatic tumours visible during surgery and turning immune cells inside the body into targeted cancer fighters. With two new research projects, KiKa, Oncode Institute and KWF Kankerbestrijding are investing in innovative treatments for rare cancers in adults and children. The projects were awarded within REACT-NL, a public-private partnership programme funded by Health-Holland.
Rare cancers occur infrequently, yet together they affect a large group of patients. Because diagnosis often comes late and treatment options remain limited, outcomes are frequently less favourable. These projects address those challenges with a clear ambition: accelerating the development of new treatment options for patients with rare cancers.
Innovative CAR-T therapy for children, produced inside the body
The second study, PEDICAR, focuses on children with solid tumours. These tumours grow as solid masses in organs and tissues, unlike blood cancers such as leukaemia. Treatment options for this group of patients are often intensive and not always effective.
The project builds on CAR-T therapy, a form of immunotherapy in which a patient’s T cells are genetically modified. The cells receive an additional receptor, known as a CAR, that enables them to better recognise and attack cancer cells. Traditionally, CAR-T therapy is produced outside the body in specialised laboratories, making the process complex, labour intensive and expensive.
PEDICAR is developing a new approach in which immune cells receive the genetic instructions inside the body, for example through small lipid particles. This allows the cells to transform into CAR-T cells directly in the patient. Researchers are also working on ways to improve the ability of CAR-T cells to enter and eliminate solid tumours. This production method could make CAR-T therapy faster, more affordable and more accessible for patients worldwide.
The project is led by immunologist Judith Wienke of the Prinses Máxima Centrum. She collaborates with researchers from Sanquin Research, Oncode Institute and NanoCell Therapeutics, which provides the in vivo CAR-T technology. Oncode Investigator Monika Wolkers is part of the consortium and contributes expertise in immunology and T cell biology to the development of this in vivo T cell approach.
Monika Wolkers, Oncode Investigator
Monika Wolkers, Oncode Investigator
“Children with rare solid tumours urgently need better treatment options. By developing T therapies that can be produced directly inside the body. Our aim is to make these treatments not only more effective, but also more accessible for patients worldwide. This is exactly the kind of collaborative, impact-driven innovation that Oncode Institute wants to accelerate: translating scientific breakthroughs into meaningful advances for patients.”
Making tumours visible with fluorescent dye and AI
The first study focuses on neuroendocrine tumours in the pancreas. These rare tumours arise from hormone-producing cells and are often detected at a late stage. Surgery is usually the only curative option, but tumours are not always clearly visible to the surgeon. Small and deeply located tumours in particular can be difficult to identify.
Researchers at Leiden University Medical Center are therefore developing a fluorescent dye that binds to cancer cells. This allows surgeons to literally see tumour cells light up during surgery. In parallel, the team is developing new software that uses artificial intelligence to visualise tumour boundaries. This may help surgeons remove tumours more completely while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. The approach could improve treatment outcomes and contribute to a better quality of life after surgery.
The project is led by oncological surgeon Sven Mieog. His research group collaborates with MesoBio and Renew Pharmaceuticals to develop the technology.
Collaboration helps patients gain faster access to new treatments
The projects are part of REACT-NL, Rare Cancer Therapies-NL, a public-private partnership programme of KiKa, Oncode Institute and KWF, funded by Health~Holland through the PPP programme within the Life Sciences & Health sector.
REACT-NL focuses on accelerating the path from research to clinical application. The programme supports projects that are not only scientifically innovative, but also have a clear route towards use in clinical practice. By bringing researchers and companies together from the start, REACT-NL increases the likelihood that innovations will ultimately reach patients.
With this investment, the organisations provide an important boost to research into rare cancers. The projects contribute to more effective treatments and a better quality of life for a group of patients that often receives limited attention.