Cancer remains a major global health issue, with millions of new cases and deaths each year. Despite these numbers, cancer immunotherapy has proven to be a significant breakthrough, with some end-stage patients achieving complete remission. In addition to conventional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, the immune system plays a crucial role. Autophagy, an internal cell-cleaning process, can enhance the effectiveness of therapies. This process helps the immune system function properly and can improve the efficacy of disease treatments. By understanding and targeting these processes, we can develop more comprehensive and effective cancer treatments.
In the thesis of Nienke Visser explored two distinct but interconnected topics to investigate and optimize (new) approaches to combating cancer: (1) autophagy and (2) immunotherapy.
Nienke Visser is part of MoHAD.
