This PhD research focused on the immune system of patients with endocrine tumors, such as thyroid cancer. Normally, the immune system detects and destroys cancer cells. However, in thyroid cancer, certain immune cells actually support tumor growth. This research, which included retrospective database studies and prospective laboratory experiments, investigated whether these cells can be reprogrammed towards anti-cancer behavior using the concept of trained immunity. This approach was shown to be effective in laboratory experiments. In addition, the research demonstrated that specific pathways, such as the IL-6/JAK/STAT-3 pathway, are highly active in patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer, a very aggressive form of thyroid cancer. In the laboratory, inhibiting this pathway reduced anaplastic thyroid cancer cell proliferation. Further research is needed to determine whether trained immunity and inhibition of the IL-6/JAK/STAT-3 pathway can be translated into effective treatments for patients with thyroid cancer.
Pepijn van Houten (14-11-1995) obtained his Master’s degree in Medicine from the Radboud University in Nijmegen. After working for one year as a resident not in training in Internal Medicine at the Slingeland Ziekenhuis in Doetinchem, he began his PhD trajectory in 2022 at the Laboratory of Experimental Internal Medicine. He will soon start in the Internal Medicine residency.