Group Liesbeth Boersma
Liesbeth Boersma is radiation-oncologist at Maastro, and has a chair at the UM in Radiotherapy, specifically breast cancer.
She did her residency and PhD in the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, under supervision of Joos Lebesque and Harry Bartelink. Her thesis (1995) dealt with radiation-induced lung injury. In 2003 she moved to Maastro, where she has been medical director of Maastro and Head of the dept. Radiotherapy of MUMC from 2015 – 2022.
Her research is focused on breast cancer:
Her first research line concerns optimisation of the indication for locoregional treatment of breast cancer patients, based objective outcome data, and on subjective patient preferences. This encompasses 1) The Young Boost Trial, a study in young breast cancer patients, for whom a randomized clinical trial is being performed to investigate the effect of an additional boost of 10 Gy on local control and cosmesis, in patients of 50 years or younger; 2) The IRMA trial, aimed at minimizing toxicity, by comparing partial breast irradiation with whole breast irradiation; 3) The RAPCHEM study, a prospective cohort study aimed at evaluating new guidelines for radiotherapy in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy;. 4) Shared decision making, including development evaluation and implementation of several decision aids.
In addition, as member and chair of the BOOG working group locoregional treatment of breast cancer, she is member of the writing committee of four grants (3 KWF and 1 Pink Ribbon grant) for two national randomized clinical trials, aimed to minimize axillary treatment in patients with early breast cancer and 1 prospective cohort study, to evaluate axillary treatment after primary systemic treatment (MiniMax study, PI: M.L. Smidt), which actually is a follow-up study of the RAPCHEM.
A second line of research deals with improved individualization of RT techniques, i.e. by improving regular photon therapy nationwide, but also by development, implementation and evaluation of proton therapy in breast cancer. In addition, the combination of radiotherapy with oncoplastic surgery is part of this research line.
A third and more recent research line deals with implementation of innovations in radiotherapy (Thesis Prof.dr. M.L. Jacobs, June 2018).
Read more about the expertise of Liesbeth at the Maasto Clinic