| The department of Clinical Haematology has 3 main lines of research: 1. Development and treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Lymphomas are malignant tumours of lymphocytes, i.e. the white blood cells which play a pivotal role in the immune system. Both in tumour specimens obtained from patients and in mouse models we study factors possibly involved in development and growth of lymphomas. Treatment studies focus on immunotherapy, either with antibodies specifically directed against the lymphoma cells, or by vaccination with DNA encoding proteins which are only expressed on the lymphoma cells. These new treatment modalities have only minimal toxicity, a considerable advantage over conventional chemotherapy. 2. (Auto)immune disorders of blood cells. Disturbed function of the immune system can result in the formation of antibodies (so-called 'auto-antibodies') destroying patients' own blood cells (red cells, white cells, platelets). We investigate which molecules on the surface of the blood cells are involved, and try to develop new treatment strategies. 3. Development of blood platelets from primitive blood stem cells. We focus on the role of a recently discovered hormone that is essential in this process: thrombopoietin. The aim of these studies is to develop methods to improve supportive care with thrombocyte transfusions after stem cell transplantation. |
