The DRUP trial is a global, unique clinical trial providing treatment to small patient groups with metastatic cancer who no longer have treatment options available to them, and who have a rare tumor DNA for their cancer type. They receive existing medicines that have been registered for other cancer types in which their DNA profile is more common.
Trial coordinator Ilse Spiekman told the attendees about the trial, after which Paul Roepman from Hartwig Medical Foundation explained how DNA mistakes occur. Hartwig connects genetic data to data about treatments and treatment results, which are stored in the Hartwig Medical Database. They managed to convey this difficult topic in terms that were easy to understand for a general audience.
Two patients shared their experiences through an interview with Henk Verheul and Joost Vullings. Geert Cirkel, medical oncologist at the Meander Medical Center, discussed his personal experiences with the DRUP trial.