Amsterdam institute for Immunology and Infectious diseases

Researchers from the Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases (AI&I) have been awarded over €4.6 million by the Dutch Cancer Society (KWF) to fund four studies targeting lung cancer, skin cancer, throat cancer, and a novel form of immunotherapy. This investment is part of a €39 million initiative by KWF to accelerate the development of new cancer treatments, with academia playing an important role. Two of these studies are supported by proceeds from the Alpe d’HuZes charity cycling event and are set to begin in 2025.

Boosting Immunotherapy with a New Lung Cancer Vaccine – Dr. Affandi

Dr. Affandi and his team are working on an intranasal nanovaccine to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy for lung cancer. Delivered through the nose, this vaccine is designed to activate T-cells—immune cells in the lungs—using specially engineered nanoparticles for better uptake. Researchers will test the vaccine in preclinical models to evaluate its ability to activate T-cells and slow cancer progression. If successful, the vaccine could be further developed for patient use. This project is funded by contributions from the Alpe d’HuZes event.

Predicting Immunotherapy Effectiveness in Melanoma – Prof. van Kooyk

Neoadjuvant immunotherapy, given before surgery, shows promise in treating stage III melanoma, but 20-30% of patients do not respond well. Prof. Dr. van Kooyk, in collaboration with Christian Blank of the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI), aims to uncover immune-suppressive mechanisms, focusing on sialyltransferases and Siglec receptors, which may reduce treatment effectiveness. By analyzing tumor and lymph node biopsies from 130 melanoma patients, the team hopes to identify biomarkers that predict treatment success, paving the way for personalized therapies and improved outcomes.

Developing a New Immunotherapy with Oncolytic Viruses – Dr. Lameris

Dr. Roeland Lameris is advancing a novel immunotherapy using oncolytic viruses (OVs), which selectively infect and destroy cancer cells. To amplify the immune response, the team will equip OVs with multi-specific antibodies to train T-cells to identify and attack cancer.

This approach has the potential to treat multiple cancer types and could enhance the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors, benefiting a broader range of patients. The research is supported by Alpe d’HuZes fundraising participants.

Monitoring Disease Progression in Throat Cancer – Prof. Brakenhoff

Prof. Dr. Brakenhoff, alongside Prof. Dr. René Leemans, Prof. Dr. Veerle Coupé, and Dr. Jos Poell, is developing a sequencing test to improve aftercare for throat cancer patients. The test detects HPV DNA in the blood of patients with HPV-positive tumors, providing early and accurate detection of residual or recurring tumors, which are often indistinguishable from scar tissue on imaging scans like MRI or PET-CT. This test could also predict disease recurrence much earlier than current methods, significantly improving patient outcomes.