My research focusses on the interplay between cancer and inflammation. We have three major research lines in the lab:  

1. Colitis-associated cancer (CAC) is the most feared complication of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). We investigate how chronic intestinal inflammation in IBD patients induces immune-cell adaptations that promote CAC development. In particular, we study intrinsic anti-inflammatory mechanisms emerging during cycles of inflammation, which are beneficial to dampen inflammation but simultaneously promote CAC by decreasing immunosurveillance.  

2. Next to inflammation-induced cancer, we also investigate how cancer treatment (immunotherapy) results in intestinal inflammation. Immune-checkpoint blockade (anti-PD1, anti-CTLA4) has shown unprecedented responses in selected patients with metastasized cancer, yet it also has considerable side-effects, such as the development of immune-checkpoint inhibitor-induced (ICI) colitis. In the DECIPHER study, we aim to develop predictive algorithms for susceptibility to develop such immune-related side effects. This is key to select patients in which prophylactic colon-specific anti-inflammatory therapy should be started concomitant with immunotherapy, to avoid cessation of anti-cancer therapy in these patients.  

3. Third, we study the role of the peritoneal immune system in peritoneal metastasized disease, a disease entity for which no therapies are available, and thus with a large unmet clinical need. We recently discovered that the human peritoneal immune system is immunosuppressive in nature, as for example demonstrated by the large amounts of suppressive macrophages. In pre-clinical in vivo and in vitro models, we test immunomodulatory treatments. With the help of Oncode, we are currently setting up a clinical proof of concept study to target intraperitoneal suppressive macrophages as a treatment option of peritoneal metastasized gastric- and colorectal cancer.