Research interest
His main scientific activities covered both translational research aspects i.e. the interaction of radiotherapy and chemotherapy and predictive assays, as well as clinical research devoted to exploring new treatment opportunities in head and neck, lung, anal and breast cancer. Starting i.e with a clinical trial comparing radical mastectomy and breast conserving therapy, a trial, which was followed by, further optimizing breast-conserving therapy. This trial demonstrated that young patients have a different prognosis than older patients. This has lead to intensive cooperation between the molecular biology and pathology department in looking for a gene profile with microarrays, which can explain the different prognosis in young breast cancer patients. The translation research was aimed at first predicting treatment outcome by first measuring the growth and regression rate of human tumors, adaptation of fractionation schedules by obtaining tumor biopsies and the concomitant use of cisplatin and radiotherapy. The latter leading to improved survival of patients with lung cancer. In the meantime, the research in the radiotherapy department was focused on improvement of quality assurance and image-processing leading to image-guided intensity modulated radiotherapy.
Key publications on PubMed
Bartelink H, Roelofsen F, Eschwege F, Rougier P, Bosset JF, Gonzalez DG, Peiffert D, van Glabbeke M, Pierart M. Concomitant radiotherapy and chemotherapy is superior to radiotherapy alone in the treatment of locally advanced anal cancer: results of a phase III randomized trial of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Radiotherapy and Gastrointestinal Cooperative Groups. J Clin Oncol. 1997 May;15(5):2040-9.
Bartelink H, Rubens RD, van der Schueren E, Sylvester R. Hormonal therapy prolongs survival in irradiated locally advanced breast cancer: a European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Randomized Phase III Trial. J Clin Oncol. 1997 Jan;15(1):207-15.
van Dongen JA, Voogd AC, Fentiman IS, Legrand C, Sylvester RJ, Tong D, van der Schueren E, Helle PA, van Zijl K, Bartelink H. Long-term results of a randomized trial comparing breast-conserving therapy with mastectomy: European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer 10801 trial. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2000 Jul 19;92(14):1143-50.
Bartelink H, Horiot JC, Poortmans P, Struikmans H, Van den Bogaert W, Barillot I, Fourquet A, Borger J, Jager J, Hoogenraad W, Collette L, Pierart M. Recurrence rates after treatment of breast cancer with standard radiotherapy with or without additional radiation. N Engl J Med. 2001 Nov 8;345(19):1378-87.
Bartelink H. Commentary on the paper "A preliminary report of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) in limited-stage breast cancers that are conservatively treated". A critical review of an innovative approach. Eur J Cancer. 2001 Nov;37(17):2143-6.
Vrieling C, Collette L, Fourquet A, Hoogenraad WJ, Horiot JC, Jager JJ, Bing Oei S, Peterse HL, Pierart M, Poortmans PM, Struikmans H, Van den Bogaert W, Bartelink H; EORTC Radiotherapy, Breast Cancer Groups. Can patient-, treatment- and pathology-related characteristics explain the high local recurrence rate following breast-conserving therapy in young patients? Eur J Cancer. 2003 May;39(7):932-44.
Dorresteijn LD, Kappelle AC, Boogerd W, Klokman WJ, Balm AJ, Keus RB, van Leeuwen FE, Bartelink H. Increased risk of ischemic stroke after radiotherapy on the neck in patients younger than 60 years. J Clin Oncol. 2002 Jan 1; 20(1): 282-8.
van de Vijver MJ, He YD, van't Veer LJ, Dai H, Hart AA, Voskuil DW, Schreiber GJ, Peterse JL, Roberts C, Marton MJ, Parrish M, Atsma D, Witteveen A, Glas A, Delahaye L, van der Velde T, Bartelink H, Rodenhuis S, Rutgers ET, Friend SH, Bernards R. A gene-expression signature as a predictor of survival in breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2002 Dec 19;347(25):1999-2009.
More publications by Harry Bartelink on PubMed
Biographic sketch
He received his medical degree at the University of Nijmegen, and thereafter did his residency at The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhuis in Amsterdam. There also completed his PhD and since then worked in several institutes; amongst them being the Institut Gustave-Roussy in Paris, and Stanford University in the USA.
The Radiotherapy Division treats 3100 new patients each year. His scientific activities have covered measurements of growth and regression rate of human tumors, irradiated with photons or fast neutrons; interaction of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in patients with lung, breast and head and neck cancer; predictive assays indicating possible adaptation of fractionation schedules; high dose-high precision radiotherapy; image processing and quality assurance. Recently his attention is focused on the prediction of treatment outcome with micro-arrays in breast cancer patients.
He currently holds various honorary positions: honorary fellow of the American College of Radiology, ESTRO Breur Medallist and the GH Fletcher Award. He is also a member of the Board of several European organizations (EORTC, EUSOMA, ECC, CTAAC) , President of ESTRO, President-elect of FECS, and holds membership of several editorial: International Journal of Radiation, Oncology, Biology and Physics, Radiotherapy & Oncology, European Journal of Cancer, The Breast, Journal of Oncology, The Cancer Journal of Scientific American, The Oncologist. From 1990 to 1994 he was joint editor in chief of the Radiotherapy & Oncology journal. At present his is author of more than 160 publications.
Co-workers
Aleman, Berthe MD Academic staff
Belderbos, Jose MD Academic staff
Bijker, Nina MD PhD Academic staff
Boersma, Liesbeth MD PhD Academic staff
Bruinvis, Iain PhD Academic staff
De Boer, Roel PhD Academic staff
Damen, Eugenè PhD Academic staff
Dewit, Luc MD PhD Academic staff
De Haan, Patricia MD Academic staff
De Jaeger, Katrien MD Academic staff
Haas, Rick MD Academic staff
Hart, Guus MSc Academic staff
Heemsbergen, Wilma MSc Academic staff
Hoebers, Frank MD Academic staff
Jansen, Edwin MD Academic staff
Kreike, Bas MD Academic staff
Lebesque, Joos MD PhD Academic staff
Masselink, Harry MD Academic staff
Mijnheer, Ben PhD Academic staff
Moonen, Luc MD PhD Academic staff
Nuyten, Dimitry MD Academic staff
Pos, Floris MD Academic staff
Rasch, Coen MD PhD Academic staff
Remeijer, Peter PhD Academic staff
Russell, Nicola MD PhD Academic staff
Salverda, Govert MD Academic staff
Schneider, Christoph PhD Academic staff
Steenbakkers, Roel MD Academic staff
Stroom, Joep PhD Academic staff
Theuws, Jacqueline MD Academic staff
Van Bunningen, Bart MD Academic staff
Van Herk, Marcel PhD Academic staff
Van Vliet-Vroegindeweij, Corine PhD Academic staff
Verheij, Marcel MD PhD Academic staff
Vrieling, Conny MD PhD Academic staff
Wittkämper, Frits PhD Academic staf