Willem Linders received some bad news in September 2024: pancreatic cancer. His illness is incurable. Nevertheless, the 66-year-old from Geldrop decided not only to be a patient but also to contribute to scientific research.
Source: Catharina Hospital Eindhoven / Geert Piek
He is participating in a study by TU/e PhD candidate Lotte Ewals at the Catharina Hospital, in which artificial intelligence (AI) helps to recognize tumors earlier on CT scans. It is a special collaboration because it is rare for a patient to be so actively involved in scientific research.
Thinking along from a patient's perspective
Willem Linders has a technical background. He studied physics and business administration and worked for many years as a consultant for quality management. Later in life, he ran a travel company with his family. Just as he had enrolled in an astronomy course at KU Leuven last year, he received the diagnosis that changed everything.
"Instead of focusing on galaxies, I thought: I want to dedicate myself to something that benefits others. I don't have a medical background, but I want to think along and see if we can improve something," says Willem.
His role in Ewals' research is mainly to participate from a patient perspective and to make the research more in line with practice. "I don't need anything in return. But it would be great if the illness is detected earlier and people receive care sooner in a few years because of my contribution."
AI as an extra pair of eyes
The research focuses on the faster and better detection of pancreatic cancer. Tumors in the pancreas are often difficult to see on CT scans. Sometimes they are missed, so patients only receive the correct diagnosis at a late stage.
Researcher Ewals explains: "Our AI model is trained to recognize subtle abnormalities on CT scans that a radiologist might overlook. The goal is to make the diagnosis faster and definitively so that patients can be treated earlier."
This research is part of a collaboration between the Catharina Hospital and Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) under the flag of e/MTIC (Eindhoven MedTech Innovation Center).
Linders is helping with the grant application, so that the research can be carried out on a larger scale. Misha Luyer , oncological surgeon at the Catharina Hospital and professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering, emphasizes how special his role is: "We have a patient who actively participates in scientific research. That is unique. Willem thinks along, provides valuable input, and opens the dialogue. He not only wants to share his own story but also contribute to improvements for future patients."
Cooperation in the region
Linders undergoes treatment at the Anna Hospital and speaks highly of his oncologist Linda van de Winkel. His participation in research at the Catharina Hospital is separate not part of his treatment, but is also symbolic of how hospitals in the region collaborate to improve care. By joining forces, innovations are developed and applied more quickly.
Ewals: "If we can develop and implement this technology properly, it can make a big difference for future patients. Faster recognition means starting treatment earlier and possibly a better chance of recovery."
Looking ahead despite everything
Linders knows that he will not be cured. Yet he continues to look ahead. "I try to keep it up as long as possible, but I know how this ends. However, I don't want to accept that just yet. In the Netherlands, available treatments are limited to those whose effectiveness has been proven, and I am not eligible for those. That's why I'm also looking at promising but still experimental therapies, which are available in Germany, among other countries."
His greatest hope? Future patients should be diagnosed sooner for a greater chance of successful treatment. At the moment, diagnosis often depends on CT scans, but these are expensive and not available everywhere. That is why it is important to develop other techniques and methods that can be used more widely and give an indication of pancreatic cancer at an early stage.
More research
For example, researchers are looking at tumor markers: substances in the blood that can signal the early stages of certain types of cancer. If you can detect them early, you can intervene more quickly. Ultrasound equipment is also playing an increasingly important role. By further improving this technique and making it available in more places, an ultrasound can serve as a first examination method, even before an expensive scan is needed.
Additionally, technology offers more possibilities over time. Think of data your smartwatch or smartphone collects, such as your heart rate, sleep patterns, or weight. In the future, this data can be stored in a 'digital twin', also known as a digital copy of your body. When this twin detects a worrying trend, it can warn you and urge you to see a doctor.
Lotte Ewals' PhD research is part of the Eindhoven MedTech Innovation Center (e/MTIC).
