Publications by authors named "W K Maas"
Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can induce immune-related adverse events (irAEs). This study investigates the relationship between CT-assessed sarcopenia and irAEs in patients with lung cancer who are receiving ICIs.
Methods: Patients were enrolled if they had lung cancer treated with ICIs at the University Medical Center Groningen (2015-2021) and had undergone low-dose CT scans that included the third lumbar vertebral level (L3).
Article Synopsis
- - Lung cancer remains the top cause of cancer deaths globally with a low 5-year survival rate, but the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) like nivolumab in 2015 has improved patient survival rates and treatment strategies for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
- - An analysis of the Netherlands Cancer Registry from 2016-2020 reveals a dramatic increase in ICI usage from 1.1% to 54.9% among first-line NSCLC patients, with trends indicating a shift away from chemotherapy, though survival rates varied and showed some decline in recent years.
- - The study highlights that the median overall survival (OS) was different based on treatment lines: first-line patients had a
Background: Predictive biomarker testing has a key role in the treatment decision-making for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and is mandated by (inter)national guidelines. The aim of this study was to establish guideline-adherent biomarker testing rates in the Netherlands in 2019 and to examine associations of demographical, clinical, and environmental factors with guideline-adherent testing.
Methods: This study involved the integration of clinical data of the Netherlands Cancer Registry with pathology reports of the Dutch Nationwide Pathology Databank.
Objectives: Regional accessibility and distribution of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) capable facilities, that is, comprehensive stroke centres (CSCs), may significantly influence time to treatment. We analysed the impact of adding CSCs in the north of the Netherlands, a region with roughly 1.7 million inhabitants currently served by one CSC and eight primary stroke centres (PSCs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Patients who present in a primary stroke center (PSC) with ischemic stroke are usually transferred to a comprehensive stroke center (CSC) in case of a large vessel occlusion (LVO) for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) treatment, the so-called 'drip-and-ship' (DS) model. The 'drive-the-doctor' (DD) model modifies the DS model by allowing mobile interventionalists (MIs) to transfer to an upgraded PSC acting as a thrombectomy capable stroke center (TSC), instead of transferring patients to a CSC. Using simulation we estimated time savings and impact on clinical outcome of DD in a rural region.
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