The growing availability of genome-wide profiling and sequencing technologies revolutionizes our understanding of cancer genomes, and provides us with opportunities to better predict risks for cancer development and response. The Kuiper group aims to identify and investigate genetic aberrations and mechanisms involved in the process of cancer development in order to understand genetic predisposition and disease recurrence. Our research projects focus around two major themes:
– Genomic aberrations associated with therapy resistance and relapse in leukemia. We perform an in-depth genomic characterization of (relapsed) acute lymphoblastic leukemia in order to improve its diagnosis, prognosis and risk stratification, and to provide novel options for (targeted) therapy.
– Identification of genetic abnormalities associated with childhood cancer predisposition. Approximately 10% of the children diagnosed with cancer are genetically predisposed, a major fraction can be recognized by trained clinicians/clinical geneticists. A subset of these, however, is more difficult to recognize, and the involvement of genetic predisposition in childhood cancer may well be underestimated. We aim to identify genetic risk factors through the collection and genetic characterization of children with suspected forms of cancer predisposition.