“I chose to pursue research in oncology because my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Early in my PhD trajectory, I read a paper describing an Italian study that immediately inspired me. In this study, participants with breast cancer were asked to followed a strict dietary regimen, which enhanced the efficacy of hormone therapy. This effect arises because tumor growth depends on energy.
However, adhering to the regimen proved challenging and many participants were unable to sustain their diets, and I know my grandmother would not have been able to maintain it either. This led me to investigate whether a medicine could replicate the effects of fasting. In collaboration with the Italian group, we identified a key role for the stress hormone cortisol, as its production tricks the body into believing it’s in a calorie deficit. A clinical trial is about to open for patients with metastatic hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
My grandma will be able to see me defend my PhD thesis soon. The cover of my thesis features a firebird, referring to the symphony by Stravinsky of the same name. Its musical progression reflects my PhD journey, with a challenging middle section followed by a triumphant conclusion culminating in a publication in Nature.”
Nuno Padrão now works as a postdoctoral researcher at the Netherlands Cancer Institute. He will defend his thesis on April 2.
Research at the Netherlands Cancer Institute is financially supported by KWF Dutch Cancer Society and the AVL Foundation.
Wilbert Zwart
Irene Caffa