Annually, 4 million new cancer patients worldwide suffer from brain malignancies. Patients with brain malignancies show a median survival of less than one year. Current therapies are rarely curative and commonly associated with side effects. We have developed radioactive microspheres that are suitable for image-guided injection directly in the tumor. Based on results in veterinary patients and successful clinical application in patients we propose their use for tumors or metastases in the brain. In this translational project the effectiveness of these microspheres will be investigated in tumor bearing animals. A dedicated administration and monitoring system will be developed for controlled image-guided treatment. It is our main goal to translate the outcomes of this research project into a new treatment option for human patients. In future investigations this relatively inexpensive treatment can be used for any tumor that can be reached by needle.

The project is performed in cooperation between the department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Radboud UMC, TU Delft, UMC Utrecht and several high-tech companies. The project includes 2 PhD tracks (Chiron Morsink at dept. of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals; Nienke Klaassen at Radboud UMC).

Ontwikkeling van klinische toepassing van intratumorale holmium microsferen. Dit omvat zowel ex-vivo experimenten als proefdieronderzoek en experimentele behandeling van veterinaire patienten.

Doel van het onderzoek is ontwikkeling van beeldgestuurde injectie van holmium microsferen in tumoren en de optimalisatie van dosisverdeling in de tumor.

Het onderzoek is onderdeel van de Holmium Translational research Group, onder leiding van Frank Nijsen aan het Radboud UMC.

(Pre-)klinisch onderzoek en experimentele behandeling van veterinaire patienten wordt onderzocht bij Diergeneeskunde (department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals) binnen het promotieonderzoek van Chiron Morsink. Ontwikkeling van het toedieningssysteem en optimalisatie van beeldgestuurde toepassing en realitime dosimetrie vindt plaats binnen het promotieonderzoek van Nienke Klaassen aan het Radboud UMC.

• prof. dr. J.W. (Jan Willem) Hesselink
• dr. Chiron Morsink
• drs. I.A. (Irene) Schaafsma

• dr. J.F.W. Nijsen

• prof. dr. H.S. (Hans) Kooistra
• prof. dr. J.W. (Jan Willem) Hesselink

Objective: To compare Sonicision cordless ultrasonic dissector (SCUD) to LigaSure vessel sealing device (LVSD) for laparoscopic ovariectomy (Lap OVE) in dogs.

Study design: Randomized, paired prospective clinical trial.

Animals: Client-owned dogs (n 5 22) presented for elective Lap OVE.

Methods: Dogs were randomly assigned to one of two protocols: protocol 1 required the left ovary resected using SCUD and the right ovary using LVSD; protocol 2 required the left ovary resected using LVSD and the right ovary using SCUD. Duration of ovary excision, complications, surgical smoke production, and collateral thermal damage were compared between SCUD and LVSD. Total surgery duration, postoperative convalescence, obesity, mesovarial fat score, and technique-associated costs were also recorded.

Results: Ovary excision was significantly faster with LVSD than SCUD. Surgical smoke production was significantly greater for SCUD than LVSD. Minor pedicle hemorrhage occurred 3 times with SCUD and one time with LVSD (not significantly different) and was easily corrected intraoperative. Presence of hemorrhage signifi- cantly increased ovary excision time. Technique-associated costs were lower for SCUD than LVSD. No significant differences were found in collateral thermal damage between SCUD and LVSD. Total surgery duration and convalescence time were similar to previous reports of Lap OVE in dogs at the authors’ institution.

Conclusions: SCUD is a cost-effective alternative for Lap OVE, taking into account differences in technique and user preference.

Aanvullende behandeling met het Oncept(R) Canine Melanoma Vaccine van honden die behandeld worden voor maligne melanoom. Na gestandaardiseerde klinische stagering en behandeling van de tumor middels chirurgie en/of bestraling worden de hondden met het Oncept DNA-vaccin behandeld. Data mbt overleving, ziekteverloop en eventuele bijwerkingen worden verzameld tijdens een standaard follow-up protocol.

• dr. ir. J.A. (Jan) Mol