Radiotracer Interactions Group

Background

Within Nuclear Medicine targeted radionuclide imaging and therapy are methods successfully applied and studied for imaging and treatment of various cancer types. For this radiotracers are applied that are directed against a specific target that is overexpressed on cancer cells. Although the radiotracers that are currently applied clinically are successful, complete response in patients is rare and treatment is often associated with side effects. This indicates the need for novel insights to improve these interventions. In addition novel targets on different cancer types are being explored as candidates for targeted radionuclide imaging and treatment.

Our Research

The research of the Radiotracer Interactions Group focuses on the development, evaluation and optimization of novel radiotracers and radiotracer application strategies by studying radiotracer interactions.
These radiotracer interactions are studied at 3 levels:

• The interaction between the target and radiotracer
• The interaction between the radiotracer, the tumor & healthy organs
• The interaction between the radiotracer and the patient

Our research is highly multidisciplinary and has a high translational character. Ultimately with our studies we aim to achieve more cure, less side effects and a better quality of life for cancer patients.

Radiotracer Interactions

For successful application of a radiotracer its biological interaction is important at 3 levels:

1. Radiotracer – Target
   Unravelling the binding mechanism of radiotracers to their target, and optimizing, developing and applying novel radiotracers and application strategies for optimal interaction between a radiotracer and its target.
2. Radiotracer – Tumor & Healthy organs
   Studying the uptake of radiotracers in tumors and healthy organs, and the development of novel radiotracers and application strategies to optimize tumor to healthy organ ratio.
3. Radiotracer – Patient
   Identification of patients that are best suited for application of a specific radiotracer, and investigating the combination of radiotracer treatment with other anti-cancer treatments.

A selection of ongoing projects in our research team:

• Better understanding leads to better decisions: Evaluating the effect of anti-hormone therapy and chemotherapy on GRPR-targeting
• Click on Target: Developing a Safe Drug with Enhanced Therapeutic Potential for Prostate Cancer Treatment 
• Epigenetic therapy to increase efficacy and optimize patient outcome of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (in collaboration with the SPECTRIM group and the dept of Internal Medicine)
  Combination therapy: Immunotherapy and Radionuclide therapy

For more information you contact Dr. Simone Dalm.

• In Vivo Stabilized SB3, an Attractive GRPR Antagonist, for Pre- and Intra-Operative Imaging for Prostate Cancer. Bakker IL, van Tiel ST, Haeck J, Doeswijk GN, de Blois E, Segbers M, Maina T, Nock BA, de Jong M, Dalm SU. Mol Imaging Biol. 2018 Dec;20(6):973-983.
• 68Ga/177Lu-NeoBOMB1, a Novel Radiolabeled GRPR Antagonist for Theranostic Use in Oncology. Dalm SU, Bakker IL, de Blois E, Doeswijk GN, Konijnenberg MW, Orlandi F, Barbato D, Tedesco M, Maina T, Nock BA, de Jong M. J Nucl Med. 2017 Feb;58(2):293-299.
• Comparison of the Therapeutic Response to Treatment with a 177Lu-Labeled Somatostatin Receptor Agonist and Antagonist in Preclinical Models. Dalm SU, Nonnekens J, Doeswijk GN, de Blois E, van Gent DC, Konijnenberg MW, de Jong M. J Nucl Med. 2016 Feb;57(2):260-5.

For all publications see: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Dalm+SU

Collaborations within Erasmus MC

• Dept of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine:
  • SPECTRIM group
  • Radiochemistry group
  • Radiobiology group
  • Clinical Radionuclide Imaging & Therapy 
• Dept of Urology
• Dept of Pathology
• Dept of Medical Oncology
• Dept of Internal Medicine

Collaborations outside of Erasmus MC

• Dept of Radiopharmacy from the National Centre of Scientific Research Demokritos, Athens, Greece (Dr. Thea Maina and Dr. Berthold Nock)
• Collaboration with Advanced Accelerator Applications, a Novartis Company, Turin, Italy
• Dept of Radiochemistry & Molecular Imaging Probes, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, New York, USA (Dr. Jason Lewis)
• Dept of Radiopharmaceutical Sciences at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, USA (Prof. dr. Jeffrey Norenberg)
• Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, UMR5247, CNRS-UM1-UM2, Montpellier, France (Dr. Jean-Alain Fehrentz)
• Division of Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry, Research and Development, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Prof. dr. Melpomeni Fani and Dr. Rosalba Mansi)

• Veni ZonMw (2019)
  https://www.nwo.nl/onderzoek-en-resultaten/programmas/nwo/vernieuwingsimpuls/toekenningen-veni-2019.html#zonmw
• KWF Young Investigator’s Grant/Bas Mulder Award (2018)
  https://www.kwf.nl/helpjijons/alpedhuzes/Pages/bas-mulder-award.aspx
  https://www.kwf.nl/onderzoek/welk-onderzoek-krijgt-geld/Pages/onderzoeker-van-de-week-simone-dalm.aspx
• Erasmus MC Mrace Grant (2017)
• Industry Sponsored Grants (2017, 2019)

For career opportunities please see: https://www.werkenbijerasmusmc.nl/en/vacancies?zoeken=Radiology+&+Nuclear+Medicine

Dr. Simone Dalm, PI, s.dalm@erasmusmc.nl
Msc. Marjolein Verhoeven, m.verhoeven.1@erasmusmc.nl
Msc. Ilva Klomp, m.j.klomp@erasmusmc.nl
Msc. Maryan Handula, m.handula@erasmusmc.nl