Reflecting on this decade, OncoLifeS looks back on significant strides made over the years. Cancer patient data is essential for improving treatments and reducing side effects. For example, blood analysis can help predict how a patient will respond to the treatment, potentially reducing the need for extensive tests like scans. Jeroen Hiltermann emphasizes, “A databank like this answers questions that we can only explore by combining data with biological material.”
Jeroen Hiltermann, a pulmonologist specializing in lung oncology, has been treating lung cancer patients since 2008. Alongside his clinical work, he is a member of the scientific committee of OncoLifeS, where he evaluates research proposals. He explains, "Our task is to ensure that research questions are well-founded. We also need to make sure that consent is obtained from the physicians of the patients involved before any materials, such as tissue or blood, are released for research."
OncoLifeS has grown significantly in recent years, having registered its 10,000th inclusion last year. Hiltermann believes that this increase in participants enables for more targeted research questions and deeper insights into treatments, like immunotherapy. Moreover, the biobank has become more professional, making it easier to collaborate with other institutions, such as hospitals within the region and beyond – for example the Ommelander Ziekenhuis Groningen (OZG) – and contributing to more organized research.
Hiltermann explains that the biobank offers opportunities for broader research than what pharmaceutical companies often can pursue. By collaborating with other universities and hospitals, such as Radboudumc, researchers can involve a larger number of patients and a wider range of data. This leads to the generation of ‘real-world evidence,’ which is crucial for understanding the effectiveness of treatments in practice. He emphasizes that researchers can conduct more in-depth analyses by using independent biobanks: “You can research for predictive signals at an academic level.”
Looking ahead, Hiltermann envisions a larger role for digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) within OncoLifeS and oncological research. “I compare digital data storage and AI to music files. While CDs can degrade over time, digital files remain clear. AI could eventually detect cancer cells even in minute quantities, opening up vast possibilities for cancer research.”
On this 10th anniversary, OncoLifeS reflects not only on its significant achievements and growth but also on future innovations that will further improve cancer patient care. Hiltermann concludes, “I hope people continue to trust in OncoLifeS, knowing their data is safe and valuable for the future of cancer research.”
