“The flowers on the cover of my thesis grow out of capsules. Flowers need water to bloom, some more than others. Just like our patients: some people absorb certain medications much better than others. During my PhD research, I investigated how we can tailor the dosage of several anticancer drugs to these differences in absorption.
I measured how much of the drug abiraterone, which is used to treat prostate cancer, was absorbed into the blood. The results showed large differences between patientsWe advised patients with a low concentration in their blood to start taking their medication with a meal: that improves absorption. Thanks to this adjustment, these patients showed the same long-term survival as those who naturally absorbed the drug well.
One of the highlights of my research was being able to present at the ASCO conference in Chicago. I also learned a lot from working with pharmacists, lessons I’ll take with me when I start next month at Meander Medical Center in Amersfoort as a doctor not in training to become a specialist (ANIOS). I’m really looking forward to seeing patients again.”
Maud van der Kleij will defend her thesis on November 20.
Research at the Netherlands Cancer Institute is financially supported by KWF Dutch Cancer Society.and the AVL Foundation
prof. dr. N. Steeghs & prof. dr. A.D.R. (Alwin) Huitema & prof. dr. A.H.J. Mathijssen
dr. S.L.W. Koolen