“Cancer research is like a large puzzle. Our knowledge continues to expand, yet many pieces are still missing. One unresolved question concerned cells that lack p53 but still undergo apoptosis, a form of regulated cell death. When normal cells experience extensive DNA damage, the protein p53 initiates apoptosis to eliminate those cells. In many tumors, p53 does not function properly, allowing damaged cells to continue proliferating and accumulate additional mutations, which contributes to the development of cancer.
My research aimed to understand how it’s possible that apoptosis still occurs in cells without functional p53. I discovered that another protein, SLFN11, plays an important role in this process. In healthy cells, SLFN11 remains inactive under normal conditions and activates when severe DNA damage occurs. Its function is often impaired in cancer cells. When SLFN11 is active, tumor cells tend to be sensitive to chemotherapy. When the protein is inactive, patients tend to respond poorly to this therapy. These findings suggest that patients whose tumors lack functional SLFN11 are less likely to benefit from chemotherapy. In the future, clinicians may be able to offer alternative or additional treatments to these patients to avoid unnecessary toxicity, although such strategies still require further research.
While working towards my PhD, I joined the diversity committee. One of our achievements was the introduction of an internal confidential advisor at the Netherlands Cancer Institute. We also helped secure a position for a researcher who continues the research projects of female scientists during their maternity leave.”
Nicolaas Boon will defend his thesis on March 20.
Research at the Netherlands Cancer Institute is financially supported by KWF Dutch Cancer Society and the AVL Foundation.
Promotor(s)
Thijn Brummelkamp & Lodewijk Wessels