Molecular profiling of bone and soft tissue tumors
Within the Leiden Center for Computational Oncology the bone and soft tissue tumor group generates molecular profiles of various sarcomas, especially those with complex genomes, using various -omics techniques. The aim is to identify specific molecular alterations that can be used to improve diagnosis or for targeted therapy. In collaboration with the Cancer ImmunoGenomics group (PI: Prof. Noel de Miranda) the immune microenvironment in bone and soft tissue cancers is being characterized. In collaboration with the imaging mass spectrometry group (PI: Bram Heijs) we also explore the proteome.
Sarcoma modeling towards patient specific treatment
The bone and soft tissue tumor group is developing in vitro models to study the functional effect of molecular alterations, and to evaluate drug response. Models are generated using genetic manipulation of the presumed cell of origin (e.g. mesenchymal stem cell) as well as using tumor tissue straight from sarcoma patients, in 2 (confluent) as well as 3 dimensions (spheroid culture).
