PI
Specialization

Hyperthermia

Focus of research

Hyperthermia (HT) research with main focus on:

1) The development of new hyperthermia techniques, for different superficial and deep-seated tumour sites. Goals are optimal 3-D steering and (non-invasive) thermometry. Existing techniques are often incapable of achieving the tumour goal temperature without overheating normal tissue. New 3-D steered hyperthermia systems are developed to overcome this problem. Use of treatment planning to improve and optimize the temperature distribution. Final step is commercialisation of equipment to achieve worldwide application of in-house developed equipment to facilitate and promote high quality application of hyperthermia.

2) Clinical research to establish the clinical benefit of hyperthermia for different tumour sites by setting up or contributing to pilot studies and randomised phase II and phase III clinical trials comparing standard radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy plus hyperthermia. Sites include breast, cervix, bladder, pancreas. Providing high level evidence is crucial for the clinical acceptance of Hyperthermia. Example. the HyperCR study for recurrent breast cancer, comparing RT+HT+/-CDDP

3) Fundamental research into the Working Mechanisms of Hyperthermia. Includes in vitro and in vivo research to optimise synergistic actions of hyperthermia and radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and development of small animal hyperthermia device to study various working mechanisms in an orthotopic small animal model (mouse) in collaboration with various Dutch institutes. This knowledge thus gained is utilised in technical design and in modifying clinical treatment schedules to optimise the synergistic actions.
 

Projects:

 

Coordinator for:

- H2020-MSCA-ITN-2020-955625 “HYPERBOOST: Hyperthermia boosting the effect of Radiotherapy”: € 3,761,881.56

 

Project leader for a number of research projects funded by the Dutch Cancer Society KWF:

- Development of a dual modality heating technique for treatment of cancer at the esophagus (AMC 2002-2622), project leaders J Crezee, N. van Wieringen, G van Tienhoven: € 423.363,-

- Optimisation of regional hyperthermia delivery using a newly developed 3-D hyperthermia system and advanced hyperthermia treatment planning techniques (UVA 2006-3484), project leaders J Crezee, MCCM Hulshof, JB van de Kamer: € 461.914,-

- An improved temperature measurement technique to be used during hyperthermia treatment of cancer at superficial locations may improve clinical results (UVA 2007-3841), project leaders J Crezee, Nvan Wieringen, G van Tienhoven: € 262.000,-

- Improved regional hyperhtermia delivery using hyperthermia treatment planning based on MRI data to predict and suppress treatment limiting hot spots (UVA 2010-4660), project leaders J Crezee, AJ Nederveen, LJA Stalpers: € 319.600,-

- Active hot spot suppression to improve thermal dose and clinical outcome of locoregional hyperthermia (UVA 2012-5393), project leaders J Crezee, HP Kok, LJA Stalpers: € 339.300,-

- Optimization of bladder hyperthermia treatment for NMIBC by using loco-regional heating, improved thermometry and 3D hyperthermia treatment planning (UVA 2012-5539), project leaders J Crezee, MCCM Hulshof, TM de Reijke: € 417.000,-

- MRI based hyperthermia treatment planning for improved hyperthermia delivery in cervical cancer patients (UVA 2014-7197), project leaders J Crezee, ALHMW van Lier, LJA Stalpers: € 572.500,-

- Irreversible electroporation for locally advanced pancreatic cancer; optimization of clinical treatment by advanced treatment planning (UVA 2014-7244), project leaders MGH Besselink, J Crezee, TM van Gulik: € 523.100,-

- Hyperthermia induced synthetic lethality combined with PARP1 inhibition to sensitize radiotherapy and CDDP treatment of Cervical cancer (UVA 2015-7820) project leaders NAP Franken, LJA Stalpers, J Crezee: € 485.600,-

- Development of patient specific treatment planning to enhance and optimize clinical effectiveness of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in colorectal cancer patients (UVA 2017-10595) project leaders J Crezee, NAP Franken, HP Kok, PJ Tanis: € 563.765,-

- Clinical evaluation of the benefit of planning based steering to improve effectiveness of hyperthermia in cervical cancer patients (UVA 2017-10873) project leaders HP Kok, J Crezee, LJA Stalpers: € 326.486.-

- Optimization of pancreatic cancer treatment using chemotherapy and hyperthermia (UVA 2020-12985) project leaders HP Kok, J Crezee, MF Bijlsma project: € 622711.75

 

Project leader for

- investment grant NWO-ZonMw medium “A dedicated high resolution small animal hyperthermia device to support translation of novel cancer therapies from lab to bedside” (project 40-00506-98-16015, principal applicant J. Crezee, co-applicant N.A.P. Franken): € 443.250,-

- KiKa project 253 “Radiotherapy and hyperthermia for children: from concept to breakthrough?”. Project leaders A. Bel, J. Crezee, C.R.N. Rasch, H.J. Merks: € 78.762,-.