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Marcel Nijland
dr.

I work as a hematologist and my main focus is on patients with aggressive B-cell lymphomas and CNS lymphomas. My research is centered on the application of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies into clinical trials. These include imaging-studies like 18F-FDG-PET, Zr-Brentuximab-PET and Zr-atezolizumab-PET. In addition, I aim to implement novel strategies to measure minimal residual disease, and prognostic gene expression profiles in DLBCL. Linked to this I also focus on mutational analysis to study clonal evolution and prognostic / predictive values of mutations. These studies are carried out in a close collaboration with HOVON and other departments in the UMCG.

Interim thymus and activation regulated chemokine versus interim F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography in classical Hodgkin lymphoma response evaluation
Published in: British Journal of Haematology
Serum thymus and activation regulated chemokine (TARC) levels reflect classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) disease activity and correspond with treatment response. We compared mid-treatment interim TARC (iTARC) with interim 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography (iPET) imaging to predict modified progression-free survival (mPFS) in a group of 95 patients with cHL. High iTARC levels were found in nine and positive iPET in 17 patients. The positive predictive value (PPV) of iTARC for a 5-year mPFS event was 88% compared to 47% for iPET. The negative predictive value was comparable at 86%...
Molecular imaging in lymphoma beyond F-18-FDG-PET: understanding the biology and its implications for diagnostics and therapy
Published in: Lancet Haematology
Mature lymphoproliferative diseases are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms arising from different stages of B-cell and T-cell development. With improved understanding of the molecular processes in lymphoma and novel treatment options, arises a growing need for the molecular characterisation of tumours. Molecular imaging with single-photon-emission CT and PET using specific radionuclide tracers can provide whole-body information to investigate cancer biology, to evaluate phenotypic heterogeneity, to identify resistance to targeted therapy, and to assess the biodistribution of drugs in patients. In this Review, we evaluate the existing literature on...
Late relapses in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: where to move next?
Published in: Leukemia & Lymphoma
Diagnostic performance of FDG-PET/CT of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder and factors affecting diagnostic yield
Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
PURPOSE: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a serious complication after solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, requiring a timely and accurate diagnosis. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of FDG-PET/CT in patients with suspected PTLD and examined if lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) load, or timing of FDG-PET/CT relate to detection performance of FDG-PET/CT. METHODS: This retrospective study included 91 consecutive patients with clinical suspicion of PTLD and a total of 97 FDG-PET/CT scans within an 8-year period. Pathology reports and a 2-year...
MYD88 mutations identify a molecular subgroup of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with an unfavorable prognosis
Published in: Haematologica
The 2016 World Health Organization classification defines diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) subtypes based on Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and oncogenic rearrangements of MYC/BCL2/BCL6 as drivers of lymphomagenesis. A subset of DLBCL, however, is characterized by activating mutations in MYD88/CD79B. We investigated whether MYD88/CD79B mutations could improve the classification and prognostication of DLBCL. In 250 primary DLBCL, MYD88/CD79B mutations were identified by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction or next-generationsequencing, MYC/BCL2/BCL6 rearrangements were analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization, and EBV was studied by EBV-encoded RNA in situ hybridization. Associations...
Joost S. Vermaat, Sebastiaan F. Somers, Liesbeth C. de Wreede, Willem Kraan, Ruben A. L. de Groen, Anne M. R. Schrader, Emile D. Kerver, Cornelis G. Scheepstra, Henriette Berenschot, Wendy Deenik, Jurgen Wegman, Rianne Broers, Jan-Paul D. De Boer, Marcel Nijland, Tom van Wezel, Hendrik Veelken, Marcel Spaargaren, Arjen H. Cleven, Marie Jose Kersten, Steven T. Pals