Targeted radionuclide therapy delivers radioactive radiation directly to a tumor by linking it to molecules that specifically recognize the cancer cells. This treatment is already used for several types of cancer but often does not work or only works temporarily. This dissertation focuses on kidney cancer and shows that the therapy becomes far more effective when combined with immunotherapy. In mouse tumor models, the combination even led to complete cures in many animals. It caused profound changes in both the tumor and the immune system. In addition, an extensive review demonstrated that this principle is promising for other types of cancer as well. Further research now explores how to combine the therapies in the most effective way, for example in terms of dose, sequence, and treatment type. Based on these results, work is now underway to design a clinical study to investigate the combination treatment in patients.
Simone Kleinendorst (1996) obtained her Bachelor's degree in Medical Biology in 2018, cum laude, followed by her Master's degree in Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, cum laude in 2020, both at Radboud University. That year, she began her PhD research at the Department of Medical Imaging - Nuclear Medicine at Radboud university medical center. She currently works as a postdoctoral researcher in this department.