Promotie S.A. (Santoesha) Ghisai

Hieronder volgt een korte samenvatting van het profschrift:

Gliomas vary greatly from one patient to another. Yet in clinical practice they are still often classified into fixed categories, even though the underlying biology is far more complex. In my PhD thesis, I investigate how modern molecular techniques can help us better understand how these tumours grow and change over time. This is important, because improved molecular characterisation can lead to more accurate diagnoses, more realistic prognoses, and ultimately better treatment decisions.
A major focus of my research is the refinement of grading for a specific group of brain tumours, known as IDH-mutant astrocytomas. Rather than placing these tumours into rigid classes, I developed an approach that positions them along a continuous spectrum of malignancy based on DNA methylation patterns. This better reflects the biological reality of tumour progression.
I also studied how glioblastomas, the most aggressive type of brain tumour, change following treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. By comparing tumours from the same patient before and after treatment, I identified molecular changes associated with tumour recurrence.
Finally, I examined the role of the EGFR signalling pathway, a key growth mechanism in glioblastoma. In particular, I sought to understand why drugs that inhibit EGFR are effective in EGFR-mutant lung cancers, but often show little or no benefit in glioblastoma. Together, this work contributes to a deeper biological understanding of brain tumours and supports progress toward more personalised cancer care.