PhD defence Anne Gerarda Wilhelmina Elisabeth Wintjens

Keywords: Peritoneal metastases, Injectable hydrogel, Drug delivery system, Biomarker

"Peritoneal Metastases of Colorectal Cancer: From Biomarkers to Therapeutic Innovations"

Treating peritoneal metastases in colorectal cancer remains a major challenge. This thesis explored how these metastases can be better predicted and treated. An important finding is that the so-called BRAF mutation may help predict which patients are at higher risk of developing peritoneal metastases. This could allow for more targeted monitoring in the future, although confirmation in larger studies is still needed.

In addition, a new injectable hydrogel (UPy-PEG) was investigated, designed to slowly release chemotherapy into the abdominal cavity. In animal models with peritoneal metastases, this gel showed promising results: survival improved, and the drug was released more evenly, which may reduce peaks in the bloodstream and limit side effects. However, using too large a volume of the gel after colorectal surgery was found to pose risks, indicating that further optimization is required.

The results suggest that this hydrogel could become a promising new treatment option, but additional research is essential before it can be applied in patients.

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