Clinical program director: Dr. Lidwien Hanff
Program topics:
- Pharmacological research by drug evaluation studies: the research interest of specialized clinical pharmacists/ pharmacologists is based upon evaluating clinical problems in relation to drug use, assessing gaps in pharmacological knowledge and evaluation of guidelines, both in supportive care as well as in tumor treatment, using real-world data.
- Drug formulation and technology: The pharmacists of the backoffice are focused on quality, safety and quality assurance during compounding activities, improvement of drug formulations and implementing innovative technologies like compounding robots and 3D printing.
- Innovations in Cell therapy: the Cell and Gene therapy unit contributes to the development of innovative cell products and aims to optimize the manufacturing process of these products by own research.
- Therapeutic drug monitoring: The drug analysis laboratory is involved in analysing blood levels of new drugs, relevant to pediatric oncology. TDM data are used to optimize treatment for individual patients and to build PK/PD models to improve dosing in clinical practice.
- Pharmacogenetics: Pharmagenetic data are used to pre-emptively guide drug dosing in individual patients and to develop new guidelines for personalized treatment, based upon sequencing data in relation to toxicity and efficacy.
The pharmacy has an extensive infrastructure to accomodate drug studies in the Maxima under GCP quality level, with dedicated pharmacy technicians and pharmacists. Pharmacists participate in the Medical Ethical Review Board and CRC.
A close collaboration with the Huitema group exists, sharing expertise, infrastructure and knowledge.
1. Nijstad AL, Barnett S, Lalmohamed A, Berenos IM, Parke E, Carruthers V, Tweddle DA, Kong J, Zwaan CM, Huitema ADR, Veal GJ. Clinical pharmacology of cytotoxic drugs in neonates and infants: Providing evidence-based dosing guidance. Eur J Cancer. 2022;164:137-154.
2. de Baat EC, van Dalen EC, Mulder RL, Hudson MM, Ehrhardt MJ, Engels FK, Feijen EAM, Grotenhuis HB, Leerink JM, Kapusta L, Kaspers GJL, Merkx R, Mertens L, Skinner R, Tissing WJE, de Vathaire F, Nathan PC, Kremer LCM, Mavinkurve-Groothuis AMC, Armenian S. Primary cardioprotection with dexrazoxane in patients with childhood cancer who are expected to receive anthracyclines: recommendations from the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2022 Dec;6(12):885-894
3. Bernsen EC, Hogenes VJ, Nuijen B, Hanff LM, Huitema ADR, Diekstra MHM. Practical Recommendations for the Manipulation of Kinase Inhibitor Formulations to Age-Appropriate Dosage Forms. Pharmaceutics. 2022;14(12).
4. Brigitha LJ, Mondelaers V, Liu Y, Albertsen BK, Zalewska-Szewczyk B, Rizzari C, Kotecha RS, Pieters R, Huitema ADR, van der Sluis IM. Pharmacokinetics of PEGasparaginase in Infants with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Pharm Res. 2024;41(4):711-720.
5. Meijer AJM, Diepstraten FA, Ansari M, Bouffet E, Bleyer A, Fresneau B, Geller JI, Huitema ADR, Kogner P, Maibach R, O'Neill AF, Papadakis V, Rajput KM, Veal GJ, Sullivan M, van den Heuvel-Eibrink MM, Brock PR. Use of Sodium Thiosulfate as an Otoprotectant in Patients With Cancer Treated With Platinum Compounds: A Review of the Literature. J Clin Oncol. 2024:42(18):2219-2232.
6. Bury D, Wolfs TWF, Ter Heine R, Muilwijk EW, Tissing WJE, Brüggemann RJ. Pharmacokinetic evaluation of twice-a-week micafungin for prophylaxis of invasive fungal disease in children with acute lymphatic leukaemia: a prospective observational study. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2022;77:699-703.
7. Bury D, Wolfs TWF, Muilwijk EW, Fiocco M, Pieters R, Brüggemann RJ, Tissing WJE. Micafungin twice-a-week for prophylaxis of invasive Aspergillus infections in children with acute lymphoblastiv leukaemia: A controlled cohort study. Int J Antimicrob Agents; 2024; 63: 107058. 8. E.C. Bernsen, L.M. Hanff, L.M. Haveman, B.B.J. Tops, M. van der Lee, J.J. Swen, A.D.R. Huitema, M.H.M. Diekstra. Genetic variants found in paediatric oncology patients with severe chemotherapy-induced toxicity: a case series. Oncol Pharm Pract. 2023 Jul;29(5):1237-1245.
