Neuro-Oncology
Focus and Aim
Traditional outcomes in brain tumor studies are survival and tumor response on imaging. However, to determine the net clinical benefit of a new treatment strategy, the patients’ functioning and well-being should also be considered. The focus of the Neuro-Oncology programme is on outcome measures in brain tumor patients, particularly health-related quality of life (HRQoL), functioning in daily life and symptoms (e.g. epilepsy, cognitive functioning), and radiological outcomes. The programme focuses on glioma, meningioma, and brain metastases from solid tumors.
…Focus and Aim
Traditional outcomes in brain tumor studies are survival and tumor response on imaging. However, to determine the net clinical benefit of a new treatment strategy, the patients’ functioning and well-being should also be considered. The focus of the Neuro-Oncology programme is on outcome measures in brain tumor patients, particularly health-related quality of life (HRQoL), functioning in daily life and symptoms (e.g. epilepsy, cognitive functioning), and radiological outcomes. The programme focuses on glioma, meningioma, and brain metastases from solid tumors.
The aim of the Neuro-Oncology programme is to evaluate the impact of different cancer treatments on these outcomes in large clinical trials, to develop measurement tools to assess these outcomes, and to apply new outcome measure in clinical practice. This is supported by a close regional collaboration within the larger Leiden and The Hague area (RO West Oncology region and beyond), national and international collaboration and active participation within EORTC (Brain Tumor Group and Quality of Life Group), and EANO.
What are we currently doing?
On a local and regional level we are running several projects to improve the treatment of epilepsy in brain tumor patients. By aggregating patient data from different referral centers we aim to optimize current treatment strategies by gaining more knowledge on the effectiveness of different antiseizure medications.
To optimize diagnostics at tumor presentation as well as outcome assessment in the follow-up of glioma patients we are evaluating the additional value of ultra high-field MRI (7-Tesla MRI). Ongoing studies focus on protocol optimalization and comparing 3T with 7T MRI, as well as the development of new MRI techniques such as glutamate CEST.
…On a local and regional level we are running several projects to improve the treatment of epilepsy in brain tumor patients. By aggregating patient data from different referral centers we aim to optimize current treatment strategies by gaining more knowledge on the effectiveness of different antiseizure medications.
To optimize diagnostics at tumor presentation as well as outcome assessment in the follow-up of glioma patients we are evaluating the additional value of ultra high-field MRI (7-Tesla MRI). Ongoing studies focus on protocol optimalization and comparing 3T with 7T MRI, as well as the development of new MRI techniques such as glutamate CEST.
On a national level we have initiated several projects to improve the quality of care for patients with a brain tumor and evaluate and implement advance care planning in clinical practice.
We are leading a randomized controlled multicenter trial on antiseizure medication (STING study) to evaluate which first-line treatment in glioma patients with a first seizure is best in terms of effectiveness.
Internationally we have initiated several research projects in close collaboration with the EORTC. The overarching goal is to improve outcome measures in brain tumor patients, for example by the development of new questionnaires to assess symptoms and functioning in daily life, by evaluating the use of a summary score in cancer clinical trials, and by combining outcomes from previous international clinical trials.