Histiocytic disorders are rare blood diseases in which certain white blood cells - called histiocytes - accumulate in one or more organs. The diseases are very diverse and the course of the disease varies greatly from one child to another.
In the Netherlands, all children with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), the most well-known histiocytic disease, are treated at the Princess Máxima Center. Pediatric oncologist Dr. Cor van den Bos is an expert in this field. Together with Dr. Astrid van Halteren, from the Heidenreich research group, he was closely involved in Kemps' research, who has a temporary guest appointment in the Máxima Center.
'We wanted to better understand why histiocytic disorders can manifest so differently,' Kemps says. 'In addition, we can treat children more precisely if the cause of their disease is known.'
ALK-positive histiocytosis
Together with colleagues from abroad, Kemps discovered that mutations in the ALK gene cause a peculiar histiocytic disease characterized by frequent brain tumors. The disease proved so different from known histiocytic disorders such as LCH that ALK-positive histiocytosis has now been recognized as a new disease by the WHO. A total of 81 researchers from eleven countries collaborated in the study, which was published in the prestigious journal Blood.
'Knowledge about the genetic cause of the disease not only helps in making the correct diagnosis, but is also very important for treatment,' Kemps says. His research showed that targeted therapy that specifically targets the ALK mutation works very well. 'All eleven children who received targeted therapy responded to the treatment, including six children with brain tumors. As long as children continue to take the drug, the disease is effectively suppressed.'
Improving care
For Kemps, the biggest motivation is to do research that has an impact on children's care. 'Taking the field another step forward. That's what makes research so fun and valuable.' For his work, he received KiKa's Tom Voûte Young Investigator Award in 2024.
Continued in pediatrics
On April 24, Kemps will defend his thesis in Leiden. He has now been working for several months as a doctor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Reinier de Graaf Hospital in Delft - one of the shared care centers that the Máxima works with. In time, he hopes to specialize as a pediatric oncologist. 'I think it would be really nice to be able to make a difference for children with cancer.’