Prinses Máxima Center Foundation uses donation from The Potato Foundation for technical innovation.

In-house production of viral vectors enables children to receive specific cell therapy

Thanks to the donation from The Potato Foundation, the Prinses Máxima Center now has its own “virus maker” within reach. This is a technical feat, as this equipment will soon enable the Prinses Máxima Center to produce vectors at its own location. This so-called Viral Vector technique allows for very rapid changes in cell therapy. It also means that children with cancer who are eligible for cell therapy can start their treatment as soon as possible.

The Prinses Máxima Center has a large central hospital pharmacy, where specialist pharmacological expertise and innovative technology contribute to optimising treatments. The medication required is determined on a case-by-case basis for each child. This involves a wide range of medicines for children who are in hospital, receiving day care or staying at home. Sometimes this involves medication for treatments such as chemotherapy, but nowadays cell therapy is also used, with the Cell and Gene Therapy Unit (CGU) playing a crucial role as part of the pharmacy at the Maxima.

Speed is of the essence

‘Cell therapy focuses on the patient’s own immune system, which means that the patient’s own immune cells are used and modified so that they “clear away the bad cells”. This is a very targeted approach and has fewer unpleasant side effects. And that is better for the child’s future health,’ says Dr Lidwien Hanff, head of the pharmacy. “At present, the challenge of cell therapy lies in the speed at which the child’s immune cells can be modified and in making cell therapy available for less common tumours, such as those we see in paediatric oncology. This is because the immune cells for these childhood tumours also need to be modified in a very specific way. To do this, a virus vector technique is used outside the body to adapt and multiply the cells so that they can do their work in the body in a very targeted manner. The donation from The Potato Foundation will contribute to the purchase of a device (the Viral Vector) that can produce viral vectors on site, which can then be used to treat specific childhood tumours. The Clean Room (a hygienic, closed space that is part of the pharmacy), where the device will hopefully soon be installed, has already been prepared.

Cancer is the leading cause of death from disease among children and young people under the age of 20. Thanks in part to technical innovations such as these, the chances of recovery for children with cancer have increased enormously in recent decades.

In addition, many children who are cured suffer from serious consequences of the treatment later in life. That is why children with cancer need highly specialised care using the latest techniques, from which they will benefit throughout their lives. And that is what the Prinses Máxima Center offers. The Potato Foundation is pleased to be able to offer financial support with this donation, enabling the Prinses Máxima Center to start using the Viral Vector approach and make a difference in the lives of children with cancer. Children who, hopefully, still have their whole lives ahead of them.

The Prinses Máxima Center

Since June 2018, the Prinses Máxima Center for paediatric oncology has been treating all children with cancer in the Netherlands. They do so in an innovative and child-friendly manner. It is wonderful that all care and research is provided by around 1,500 employees, including approximately 500 people involved in research, under one roof. This allows for rapid sharing of knowledge and expertise and makes the Prinses Máxima Center one of the top five paediatric oncology centres in the world. It is the largest paediatric cancer center in Europe.

The exchange of knowledge and expertise in paediatric cancer is desperately needed, as approximately 600 children are diagnosed with cancer every year. Currently, 1 in 4 children still die from this terrible disease. So the Prinses Máxima Center is doing everything it can to offer ever better treatments, with the aim of curing every child with cancer in the future and ensuring they have the best possible quality of life. That is their mission.

The Prinses Máxima Center Foundation

Because the total of 600 children is not a large number in relation to all cancer patients in the Netherlands, it is sometimes difficult to secure investments for such a small population. That is why a foundation has been set up specifically for those projects and programmes for childhood cancer at the Prinses Máxima Center, which is fully committed to this cause. That is the Prinses Máxima Center Foundation. They raise funds, seek donors and consult closely with the Prinses Máxima Center on how the money will be spent, in line with the mission. ‘The support of individuals, companies, associations, schools and numerous other organisations is indispensable in this regard,’ says Marijn Brummelhuis, Head of Funds and Foundations at the Prinses Máxima Center Foundation.