Radiotherapy Clinical Research Group

Genito-urinary group

Research is focused on the development of radiation techniques to improve quality of life, by decreasing side effects of radiation therapy for urological malignancies, in particular prostate cancer. The on-going programs are focused on hypofractionation for prostate cancer, bladder-sparing chemo-radiotherapy and “plan of the day”, use of radiosensitizers during radiotherapy for prostate cancer, and personalized radiotherapy.

Head & Neck group

The head & neck group is participating in several research projects on a national level with respect to technical, biological, and clinical aspects of proton therapy (DUPROTON/PROTRAIT). Another on-going research project is the single vocal cord irradiation for low stage laryngeal cancer.

Liver and Brain group

Research is mainly based on high precision radiotherapy applied to the treatment of liver and brain tumors with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and brain tumors with proton therapy.

• The impact of modern radiotherapy in patients with prostate cancer on second primary tumor risks (SPARC Study). 
• Prospective cohort study on health-related quality of life of prostate cancer patients (PRORAD Study).
• Modeling rectal and urinary toxicity from data of the Dutch HYPRO trial.
• COMPLETE study and MR-only planning study for head & neck cancer.
• Transarterial chemoembolization versus SBRT for hepatocellular carcinoma (TRENDY Trial).
• SBRT following chemotherapy for unresectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (STRONG Trial).
• Improving toxicity modelling, patient selection and clinical outcome of proton therapy in low grade glioma (HollandPTC-Varian consortium).

Collaboration within Erasmus MC

• Department of Otorhinolaryngology
• Academic Center of Excellence for Genito-Urinary Tumors

Collaboration outside of Erasmus MC

• EORTC
• PROTRAIT

Principal investigators

• Wilma Heemsbergen, PhD
• Prof. Luca Incrocci, MD PhD
• Martine Franckena, MD PhD
• Alejandra Mendez Romero, MD PhD
• Joost Nuyttens, MD PhD

 Medical Staff

Zorgverleners - Erasmus MC

Outcome unit

• Rene Vernhout
• Wilma Heemsbergen