Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancer types. This study shows that a new local treatment using radioactive holmium microspheres can be safely administered to patients with this disease. In initial patient studies, the treatment caused minimal serious side effects, and patients recovered quickly. The microspheres are clearly visible on scans, allowing for accurate monitoring of the treatment. In some patients, the tumor remained stable for an extended period. The study also shows that there is room for improvement in the technique, particularly in preventing the microspheres from spreading outside the tumor and in achieving a higher treatment dose. The results demonstrate that this new local therapy holds promise as an additional treatment option for patients who cannot undergo surgery. It represents an important step toward better and more targeted care for people with pancreatic cancer.
Ysbrand Willink (1995) behaalde in 2021 zijn Masterdiploma Technical Medicine, Imaging & Intervention, aan de TU Delft, LUMC Leiden en Erasmus MC Rotterdam. Zijn afstudeerscriptie bij de afdeling Medische Beeldvorming van het Radboudumc vormde de basis van zijn promotieonderzoek. Tegenwoordig werkt hij als kwaliteitscoördinator medische hulpmiddelen bij B. Braun Medical.