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Anke van den Berg
prof. dr.

I work as a clinical molecular biologist in the department of Pathology. In this function I supervise and implement advanced molecular diagnostic techniques. Within my research line, I focus on the molecular pathogenesis of B-cell Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The specific fields of interest are genomic aberrations, genetic susceptibility, and the role of small and long noncoding RNAs. I have several international collaborations and am PI and co-PI in various projects.

Current smoking-specific gene expression signature in normal bronchial epithelium is enhanced in squamous cell lung cancer
Published in: The Journal of Pathology
Cigarette smoking is the main risk factor for the development of squamous cell lung carcinoma (SCC). However, the smoking-related molecular changes in SCC have not been studied. Gene expression studies in both histologically normal bronchial epithelium and SCC epithelial samples identified genes differentially expressed between current and ex-smokers. Subsequently, expression levels of the smoking-related genes in normal bronchial epithelium were compared with those in SCC cells, since we hypothesized that the smoking-induced changes would be also deregulated in SCC. Gene expression profiles were generated using Agilent whole human...
Mirjam C. Boelens, Anke van den Berg, Rudolf S. N. Fehrmann, Marie Geerlings, Wouter K. de Jong, Gerard J te Meerman, Hannie Sietsma, Winn Timens, Dirkje S. Postma, Harry J. M. Groen
Expression of miR-21 and its targets (PTEN, PDCD4, TM1) in flat epithelial atypia of the breast in relation to ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma
Published in: BMC Cancer
Background: Flat epithelial atypia (FEA) of the breast is characterised by a few layers of mildly atypical luminal epithelial cells. Genetic changes found in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive ductal breast cancer (IDC) are also found in FEA, albeit at a lower concentration. So far, miRNA expression changes associated with invasive breast cancer, like miR-21, have not been studied in FEA. Methods: We performed miRNA in-situ hybridization (ISH) on 15 cases with simultaneous presence of normal breast tissue, FEA and/or DCIS and 17 additional cases with...
Liqiang Qi, Joost Bart, Lu Ping Tan, Inge Platteel, Tineke van der Sluis, Sippie Huitema, Geert Harms, Li Fu, Harry Hollema, Anke van den Berg
Specific expression of miR-17-5p and miR-127 in testicular and central nervous system diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Published in: Modern Pathology
Recent studies have shown that certain non-coding short RNAs, called miRNAs, play an important role in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. Patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma have great diversity in both clinical characteristics, site of presentation and outcome. The aim of our study is to validate the differential expression in germinal center and non-germinal center diffuse large B-cell lymphoma,s and to study to the extent to which the primary site of differentiation is associated with the miRNA expression profile. We studied 50 cases of de novo diffuse large...
Jan-Lukas Robertus, Geert Harms, Tjasso Blokzijl, Marije Booman, Daphne de Jong, Gustaaf van Imhoff, Stefano Rosati, Ed Schuuring, Philip Kluin, Anke van den Berg
Hodgkin Lymphoma Cell Lines Are Characterized by a Specific miRNA Expression Profile
Published in: Neoplasia
Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is derived from preapoptotic germinal center B cells, although a general loss of B cell phenotype is noted. Using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and miRNA microarray, we determined the microRNA (miRNA) profile of HL and compared this with the profile of a panel of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The two methods showed a strong correlation for the detection of miRNA expression levels. The HL-specific miRNA included miR-17-92 cluster members, miR-16, miR-21, miR-24, and miR-155. Using a large panel of cell lines, we found differential expression...
Johan H. Gibcus, Lu Ping Tan, Geert Harms, Rikst Nynke Schakel, Debora de Jong, T. Blokzijl, Peter Moller, Sibrand Poppema, Bart-Jan Kroesen, Anke van den Berg
Composite Lymphoma: EBV-positive Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma and Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma A Case Report
Composite lymphomas are rare and defined as hematopoietic neoplasms with more than I malignant lymphomatous clone showing different phenotypic features. Of all possible combinations between non-Hodgkin lymphomas, B cell or T cell, and Hodgkin lymphoma, the least frequent are the ones combining T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and classic Hodgkin lymphoma. We report a case of a 55-year-old woman with cervical and mediastinal lymphadenopathy, fever, weight loss, and night sweats. A cervical lymph node biopsy revealed a composite lymphoma with classic Hodgkin lymphoma and peripheral T-cell lymphoma components. The bone...
Gabriela Gualco, Lucimara Chioato, Anke Van Den Berg, Lawrence M. Weiss, Carlos E. Bacchi