BJMO - volume 13, issue 7, november 2019
A. Hébrant PhD, M. Lammens MD, PhD, C. Van den Broecke MD, N. D’Haene MD, PhD, J. Van den Oord MD, PhD, A. Vanderstichele MD, PhD, A. Dendooven MD, PhD, P. Neven MD, PhD, K. Punie MD, PhD, G. Floris MD, PhD, J. Van der Meulen PhD, HA. Poirel MD, PhD, C. Dooms MD, PhD, S. Rottey MD, PhD, T. Boterberg MD, PhD, L. Brochez MD, PhD, M.C. Burlacu MD, G. Costante MD, D. Creytens MD, PhD, P. De Paepe MD, PhD, R. De Pauwn MD, B. Decallonne MD, PhD, F. Dedeurwaerdere MD, H. Denys MD, PhD, L. Ferdinande MD, PhD, R. Forsyth MD, PhD, M. Garmyn MD, PhD, T. Gevaert MD, PhD, J. De Grève MD, PhD, E. Govaerts MD, E. Hauben MD, PhD, J. Kerger MD, PhD, O. Kholmanskikh Van Criekingen MD, PhD, V. Kruse MD, PhD, Y. Lalami MD, L. Lapeire MD, PhD, P. Lefesvre MD, PhD, J.P. Machiels MD, PhD, B. Maes MD, PhD, G. Martens MD, PhD, M. Remmelink MD, PhD, I. Salmon MD, PhD, R. Sciot MD, PhD, S. Tejpar MD, PhD, K. Van de Vijver MD, PhD, L. Van de Voorde MD, I. Van den Berghe MD, A. Van den Bruel MD, K. Vandecasteele MD, PhD, L. Vanwalleghem MD, K. Vermaelen MD, PhD, R. Salgado MD, PhD, E. Wauters MD, B. Weynand MD, PhD, E. Van Valckenborgh PhD, G. Raicevic PhD, M. Van den Bulcke PhD, P. Pauwels MD, PhD
In order to advise the Federal Government on the reimbursement of molecular tests related to Personalised Medicine in Oncology, the Commission of Personalised Medicine (ComPerMed), represented by Belgian experts, has developed a methodology to classify molecular testing in oncology. The different molecular tests per cancer type are represented in algorithms and are annotated with a test level reflecting their relevance based on current guidelines, drug approvals and clinical data. The molecular tests are documented with recent literature, guidelines and a brief technical description. This methodology was applied on different solid tumours for which molecular testing is a clear clinical need.
(BELG J MED ONCOL 2019;13(7):286–95)
Read moreBJMO - volume 11, issue 7, november 2017
V. Kruse MD, PhD, L. Brochez MD, PhD, A. Rutten MD
During this year’s ESMO congress a lot of promising new data were presented with regard to melanoma care. We have selected 13 abstracts to discuss here.
(BELG J ONCOL 2017;11(7):334–337)
Read moreBJMO - volume 11, issue 6, october 2017
V. Kruse MD, PhD, M. Schreuer , K. Vermaelen MD, PhD, P. Ost MD, PhD, T. Kerre , B. De Moerloose MD, PhD, L. Brochez MD, PhD
Checkpoint inhibitors targeting CTLA4, PD1 and PD-L1 have become a part of the daily clinical practice in the management of stage IV melanoma, renal cell carcinoma (RCC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and Hodgkin-lymphoma patients. While these agents can elicit strong anti-tumour immune responses, they can also generate immune related adverse events, which can become life threatening if not detected and managed promptly. At the University Hospital Ghent, we created a working group of organ specialists with specific experience in dealing with immune related adverse events. This initiative is part of ION (Immuno-Oncology-Network) Ghent. In this paper we would like to share our institutional guidelines for the clinical care of patients treated with checkpoint-inhibitors with the Belgian Oncology Community.
(BELG J MED ONCOL 2017;11(6):265–276)
Read moreBJMO - volume 11, issue 9, february 2017
L. Brochez MD, PhD, I. Chevolet MD, PhD, A. Meireson , V. Kruse MD, PhD
Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO, also referred to as IDO1) has been demonstrated to be a normal endogenous mechanism of acquired peripheral immune tolerance in vivo. This manuscript reviews the currently available data on the role of IDO in cancer and the current results obtained with IDO inhibition in clinical trials in humans. Preliminary results with IDO inhibitors, usually combined with other anti-cancer drugs, seem encouraging. Further studies are needed to clarify the conditions in which IDO inhibitors can be of value as an anti-cancer strategy. In addition, further research should address whether the expression of IDO in tissue or blood can be a marker to select patients who can benefit most from IDO inhibition.
Read moreBJMO - volume 10, issue 8, december 2016
V. Kruse MD, PhD, L. Brochez MD, PhD
Although immunotherapy for melanoma caught a lot of interest at this year ESMO congress, some interesting new data on targeted therapies were presented as well. We have selected 10 abstracts, which, to our opinion, deserve some extra attention.
(BELG J MED ONCOL 2016;10(8):314–18)
Read moreBJMO - volume 10, issue 6, september 2016
V. Kruse MD, PhD, I. Chevolet MD, PhD, K. De Wolf MD, P. Ost MD, PhD, L. Brochez MD, PhD
The therapeutic landscape for the treatment of metastatic melanoma has been changing dramatically over the last years. Given the availability of several promising drugs, choosing the best sequence for the individual patient has become a challenge. Immunotherapy by means of checkpoint-inhibitors, such as the anti-CTLA4-antibody ipilimumab and the anti-PD1-antibodies nivolumab and pembrolizumab, has demonstrated unprecedented long-term survival rates. When prescribing an immunotherapeutic agent, the clinician should be aware that the patient is at risk of developing an immune-related adverse event, especially when anti-CTLA4 and anti-PD1 are administered together. A promising future strategy to increase response rates of the checkpoint-inhibitors is combining them with radiotherapy. Hereby an abscopal effect is induced, reducing both irradiated and non-irradiated tumour lesions. Another therapeutic strategy is based on the presence of a BRAF mutation among approximately 40–50% of melanoma patients. For those patients, combined therapy with a BRAF inhibitor and a MEK inhibitor is valued to be a convincing regimen, especially in case of a high disease burden, elevated LDH and a performance status of 1–2. In contrast, T-VEC is a valuable therapeutic option for patients with limited disease.
(BELG J MED ONCOL 2016;10(6):215–222)
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