Doctoral researcher
KU Leuven, Belgium
Britt Van Renterghem is a third-year PhD student in the Laboratory of Experimental Oncology at the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven). Her doctoral research investigates the use of cytotoxic (pro)drugs and antibody drug conjugates as potential more active and safe treatment options for patients with advanced soft tissue sarcomas. In this project, she explores three different approaches: (1) the use of tetrapeptide-doxorubicin prodrugs that are predominantly activated by enzymes expressed in the tumor tissue, (2) the repurposing of existing cytotoxic agents already proven to be less toxic and (3) the use of antibody-drug conjugates that are selectively binding antigen-presenting tumor cells. All agents are explored in the platform of sarcoma patient-derived xenografts available at her research facility but the ultimate goal is to translate results into the clinic, where the most promising agents will be tested in patients with sarcoma.