Phase I/II trials

Clinical research (medical scientific research in humans) is essential for the realization of the mission of the Princess Máxima Center: to cure every child with cancer, with optimal quality of life. In oncology in general, the discovery of new drugs is translated into the clinic through clinical trials. Over the past decades, international collaborative clinical trials were the most important factors contributing to significant improvements in survival for most childhood cancers. Clinical trials are therefore the way forward to identify safer and more effective treatments for our patients.

Phase I/II clinical trials

In oncology in general, the discovery of new drugs is translated into the clinic through clinical trials. Given the low incidence of cancer in children, collaboration on a worldwide scale is crucial to continue to improve our knowledge of these diseases to identify better treatments for these patients.

The Trial and Data Center (TDC) at the Máxima Center coordinates and supports currently more than 100 clinical trials, with the aim to ensure high-quality research for further improvement of anti-cancer treatments.

Phase I/II clinical trials involve experimental therapeutics. In these trials, we assess the safety of new drugs when used for the first time in children and also whether they are efficacious. Information about our ongoing Phase I/II trials portfolio can be found here.

By participating in a Phase I/II clinical trial, a patient can have access to a new treatment while simultaneously contributing to the development of new anti-cancer treatments. These new treatments have been thoroughly tested in the laboratory and in adults before their use in children. They are offered to children only when there is sufficient evidence that they can be safely further evaluated in this patient group.

Please contact us if your child/patient has relapsed or refractory disease without available standard treatment options at your hospital or in your country.

Treatment program

Before a patient can enter a clinical trial, the patient must meet certain inclusion criteria. If the patient is eligible and approval for treatment at the Máxima Center has been provided, the patient can be included in the trial.

To comply with the legal requirements, the verbal and written information about the trial and subsequently the signing of the informed consent must take place at the Máxima Center. All trial related visits and procedures must be performed at the Princes Máxima Center.

Once the scheduled trial treatment is completed, or if the patient progresses or relapses on trial, or in case the patient wants to leave the trial for any other reason, our aim is to have the patient return home as soon as possible.

We have a dedicated team of doctors who specialize in Phase I/II clinical trials; we speak several languages and have an extended team of interpreters who help us to communicate with our well-travelled families.

The Phase I/II trial Team

Paco Bautista, pediatric oncologist
Leonie Kastaneer, clinical start up coordinator
dr. Michel Zwaan, pediatric oncologist, head of the Trial and Data Center
Natasha van Eijkelenburg, pediatric oncologist, clinical lead solid tumors
Jasper van der Lugt, pediatric oncologist, clinical lead neuro-oncology
Britta Vormoor, pediatric oncologist, clinical lead hematology-oncology
Caroline Lindemans, pediatric oncologist, clinical lead Stem cell therapy and immunology