I am a hematologist involved in patient care, clinical and translation research in the field of malignant lymphoma. I focus on translational medicine on diffuse large B cell lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma. My question by all our findings: how does the patient profit or does it help me to treat the patients. The focus of my research group is on DNA repair, cell cycle and cell death. We test novel combinations of existing anti-cancer agents to ultimately improve the treatment of patients suffering from lymphoma. I participate in the organization of new clinical trials both international (European Mantle cell Lymphoma Network) and national (HOVON). Moreover, I am actively involved in clinical trials concerning the application of CAR T cells for patient with lymphoma.
Earlier corticosteroid use for adverse event management in patients receiving axicabtagene ciloleucel for large B-cell lymphoma
Published in: British Journal of Haematology
Axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) is an autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy approved for relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (R/R LBCL). To reduce axi-cel–related toxicity, several exploratory safety management cohorts were added to ZUMA-1 (NCT02348216), the pivotal phase 1/2 study of axi-cel in refractory LBCL. Cohort 4 evaluated the rates and severity of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurologic events (NEs) with earlier corticosteroid and tocilizumab use. Primary endpoints were incidence and severity of CRS and NEs. Patients received 2 × 106 anti-CD19 CAR T cells/kg after conditioning...
Max S. Topp,
Tom van Meerten, Roch Houot, Monique C. Minnema, Krimo Bouabdallah, Pieternella J. Lugtenburg, Catherine Thieblemont, Martin Wermke, Kevin W. Song, Irit Avivi, John Kuruvilla, Ulrich Dührsen, Yan Zheng, Saran Vardhanabhuti, Jinghui Dong, Adrian Bot, John M. Rossi, Vicki Plaks, Marika Sherman, Jenny J. KimAnne Kerber, Marie José Kersten
CD20 positive CD8 T cells are a unique and transcriptionally-distinct subset of T cells with distinct transmigration properties
Published in: Scientific Reports
The presence of T cells that are dimly positive for the B cell marker CD20 is well-established in autoimmunity and correlates with disease severity in various diseases. Further, we previously identified that the level of CD20-positive T cells was three-fourfold elevated in ascites fluid of ovarian carcinoma patients, together suggesting a role in both autoimmunity and cancer. In this respect, treatment of autoimmune patients with the CD20-targeting antibody Rituximab has also been shown to target and deplete CD20-positive T cells, previously identified as IFN-gamma producing, low proliferative, CD8...
New treatment for patients with therapy-resistant lymphoma: CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy
The prognosis of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma a primary refractory disease or relapsed within 12 months after autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation is poor with a median survival of only 6 months. With the new CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy, 40% of the patients still achieve a long-term remission. However, this new treatment does bring new challenges such as bridging the time during the CAR T-cell product time, and recognition of treatment-related side effects such as cytokine release syndrome or neurotoxicity. Therefore, treatment by a dedicated, multidisciplinary team...
New treatment for patients with therapy-resistant lymphoma: CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy
The prognosis of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma a primary refractory disease or relapsed within 12 months after autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation is poor with a median survival of only 6 months. With the new CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy, 40% of the patients still achieve a long-term remission. However, this new treatment does bring new challenges such as bridging the time during the CAR T-cell product time, and recognition of treatment-related side effects such as cytokine release syndrome or neurotoxicity. Therefore, treatment by a dedicated, multidisciplinary team...
Impact of rituximab biosimilars on overall survival in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a Dutch population-based study
Published in: Blood
In 2017, the European Medicines Agency approved rituximab biosimilars (R-biosimilars) for treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Thereafter, the Netherlands was one of the first countries to implement R-biosimilars, given lower costs compared with rituximab originator (R-originator). This study’s objective was to investigate whether overall survival (OS) of patients with DLBCL receiving R-biosimilars is similar to patients treated with R-originator. DLBCL patients >18 years, diagnosed between 2014 and 2018, who received at least 1 cycle of rituximab combined with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (R-CHOP) were identified...
Mirian Brink, Xaver U. Kahle, Joost S. P. Vermaat, Josee M. Zijlstra, Martine Chamuleau, Marie Jose Kersten, Mujde Durmaz,
Wouter J. Plattel, Pieternella J. Lugtenburg, Wendy Stevens, Rogier Mous,
Elisabeth G. E. de Vries, Marjolein W. M. van der Poel, Prashant V. Nannan Panday,
Gerwin Huls,
Tom van Meerten,
Marcel Nijland