From eels to the importance of cancer biobanks

Abstract

Paul Span obtained his PhD on steroid metabolism from the Radboud University Nijmegen in 1996. He is currently Associate Professor at the Department of Radiation Oncology. Here, the experimental and clinical research is aimed at molecular and functional imaging of tumors at the macroscopic and microscopic level in head and neck and breast cancer, and more recently colorectal, lung and prostate cancer. An important objective is the development of predictive profiles based on microenvironmental tumor characteristics to ultimately provide a mechanistic basis for the optimization of treatments that combine radiotherapy with novel biological modifiers and for development of patient selection strategies. He is Basic Affairs Officer and member of the Steering Committee of the PathoBiology Group of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer.