PhD defence C.W.F. (Casper) van Eijck

Brief summary of the doctoral thesis:

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive malignancy with the lowest 5-year survival rate within the field of oncology, ranking third as a cause of cancer-related death in the United States and Europe. Despite years of dedicated research into treatments for pancreatic cancer, improvements in survival rates have been marginal due to multiple challenges. Patients often receive diagnoses at advanced stages, a consequence of the tumor’s aggressive behavior and their asymptomatic presentation. Furthermore, there is inter-patient variability in tumor characteristics, resulting in diverse responses to conventional therapies. The absence of available biomarkers for treatment response further complicates clinical decision-making. The foremost factor compromising treatment efficacy is the pancreatic tumor microenvironment (TME), distinguished by its complexity, immunosuppressive nature, and patient heterogeneity. This thesis presents the results of studies aimed at unraveling the immunological landscape of pancreatic cancer and exploring avenues to guide personalized treatment options.