PhD defence A.W. (Anne-Rose) Schut

Below is a brief summary of the dissertation:

Desmoid-type fibromatosis (DTF) is a rare soft tissue tumour with a highly variable clinical course. It usually affects adult patients, mainly females, and tumours can be located in almost any part of the body, including the extremities and the abdominal wall. DTF cannot metastasise, but can grow invasively. Independent of tumour behaviour and size, symptoms can vary from completely absent to extremely painful and function limiting. Its rare nature, unpredictable clinical course and heterogeneous presentation make DTF a challenging tumour to treat. The aim of this thesis was to provide insights to personalise the management strategy of DTF. The first part of this thesis focuses on two treatment modalities and evaluates the results of an active surveillance approach and the antitumour effects of sorafenib. The second part addresses health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in DTF and provides insights into DTF-specific HRQoL issues patients experience. The ultimate goal is to provide a personalised care approach for DTF patients, taking into account the natural behaviour, factors related to treatment outcomes and the impact of DTF on HRQoL.