Patients with operable breast cancer are treated with surgery, and subsequently radiotherapy, endocrine and/or chemotherapy. Recent results from the Radiotherapy & OncoImmunology (ROI) laboratory indicate that prolonged anti-estrogen receptor treatment, leading to acquired endocrine treatment resistance, also induces radioresistance.

The current project will focus on preliminary results indicating that endocrine treatment of breast cancers induces particular immune pathways that may be involved in this cross-resistance. In the present project, the PhD candidate will investigate the activation of this pathway by estrogen receptor antagonists, and how this might subsequently induce radioresistance. Additionally, possible effects of endocrine treatment on anti-tumor immune responses will be assessed. Immunological/cell-biological approaches (FACS, Transfection/Crispr-CAS, Microscopy, colony forming assays) will be combined with murine xenografted tumor models, and analyses of available breast cancer patient cohorts.

The preferred candidate will have a MsC degree in biomedical sciences (molecular/cellular biology/medical biology). He/she has proven interest in pre-clinical research and a passion for science. Candidates with cell culture experience and/or holding an article 9 certificate for working with experimental animals are especially invited to apply.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

The employment for this position will start per January 1st, 2020.

Upon commencement of employment we require a certificate of conduct (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag, VOG) and there will be, depending on the type of job, a screening based on the provided cv. Radboud university medical center's HR Department will apply for this certificate on your behalf.

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Radboudumc

The department of Radiation Oncology of the Radboudumc has recently established the Radiotherapy & OncoImmunology (ROI) laboratory. Here, ~ 25 researchers aim at better understanding tumor cell interactions with the immune system using imaging, molecular-, cell biological- and immunological- techniques in relation to cancer therapies, especially radiotherapy. The interplay between immune- and tumor cells is studied within the tumor microenvironment (TME) and modulation of the TME on the efficacy of treatment. An important activity of the department is the translation of basic research into clinical application.

Radboudumc
Radboudumc strives to be a leading developer of sustainable, innovative and affordable healthcare to improve the health and wellbeing of people and society in the Netherlands and beyond. This is the core of our mission: To have a significant impact on healthcare. To get a better picture of what this entails, check out our strategy.

Read more about what it means to work at Radboudumc and how you can do your part.