Charlotte Stubbe

My research focuses on cell-free RNA-profiling with though liquid biopsies for minimally invasive phenotyping, risk-stratification, and follow-up of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). DLBCL belongs to the most common histological subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, represented by almost 25 percent of new diagnoses. With current therapy (R-CHOP), complete remission can be obtained in 70 percent of cases. Nevertheless, relapsing or refractory patients show a 5-year survival rate of only 20 percent. DLBCL is an aggressive malignancy with major heterogeneity in morphology, genetics, and biological behavior. The latter underscores the need for in-depth molecular analysis for identification and characterization of high-risk patients, elucidating biological pathways, and revealing novel therapeutic targets, ultimately improving outcomes for patients. Liquid biopsies can serve as a promising tool to serve this goal. This method brings several advantages, including the possibility of repeated longitudinal measurements in a non-invasive way where also inter and intra tumor heterogeneity is reflected. In these biopsies, cfRNA can be found in several types and forms, offering insights into tumor microenvironment, immune response modulation, and therapeutic resistance mechanisms. Previous and exciting research has recently shown that the total cell-free transcriptome can be longitudinally explored, providing distinct plasma cfRNA profiles holding potential as unique biomarkers for prognosis and therapy monitoring. Ultimately, integrating cfRNA analysis into cancer and lymphoma care can support a comprehensive precision oncology approach, enabling more tailored and effective patient management.
 

• Lab address: The Core, third floor, room 130.006 (entrance 37a), campus UZ Gent
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• Charlotte Stubbe  is interested to receive invitations for presentations or talks