Together with a new generation of researchers, Haanen developed a treatment that helps the immune system target cancer cells more effectively. One of his most notable achievements is the development of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy for melanoma. TIL therapy is a cancer treatment that enhances the patient’s own immune cells, collected from the tumor, and returns them to the patient, where they fight cancer more effectively. This therapy shows impressive results after just 4-6 weeks of treatment: better survival rates without cancer recurrence and a better quality of life for patients.
TIL therapy is now a standard treatment for melanoma patients in the Netherlands and Denmark and has been fully covered by health insurance since January 15, 2023. This therapy will soon be available for other types of cancer, including lung cancer and cervical cancer, further emphasizing Haanen’s key role in the field of cell therapy at large.
'You never research alone'
Haanen: “It's an incredible honor to be awarded the Bob Pinedo Cancer Care Award is an incredible honor - for me, and for the team of researchers and physicians I’ve worked with over the past decades. You never research alone. We are now working towards a better understanding of the way TIL works, and how we can improve this treatment even further. This is expensive research, and the prize money will help us continue this important work.”
