BJMO - volume 13, issue 9, february 2019
M. Lambrecht MD, PhD, T. Feys MBA, MSc
Radiotherapy not only allows us to selectively target the tumour, it also interacts with the tumor microenvironment and consequently the host’s immune system. Theoretically this can lead to an in situ vaccination and trigger so-called abscopal responses, away from the irradiated site. Unfortunately, these are rarely seen the clinic. Over the past years, both preclinical and clinical studies demonstrated synergistic effects of radiation in combination with several types of immunotherapy. However, the optimal dose and fractionation of radiation therapy as well as the optimal combination and sequence of radiotherapy and immunotherapy still needs to be determined.
Read moreBJMO - volume 13, issue 1, february 2019
M. Thomas , M. Lambrecht MD, PhD, K. Haustermans
Radiotherapy has become the standard of care in the curative treatment of locally advanced oesophageal cancer. Advanced radiotherapy techniques, such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy, can reduce doses to normal tissues resulting in lower toxicities and an improved outcome. The unique physical features of proton beam therapy has tremendous potential to further spare organs at risk. Besides the clear dosimetric advantages of proton beam therapy in oesophageal cancer, there is evidence that supports a clinical benefit. However, results from prospective randomised trials are awaited. To maximise the cost-effectiveness of this new technology, patient selection for proton beam therapy using validated multifactorial normal tissue complication probability models is suggested. However, this requires international collaboration to prospectively collect data of patients treated with proton beam therapy.
(BELG J MED ONCOL 2019;13(1):11–15)
Read moreBJMO - volume 12, issue 3, may 2018
K. Van Beek , M. Lambrecht MD, PhD, J. Menten , K. Erven MD, PhD
Over the last decade the use of whole-brain radiotherapy has decreased due to therapeutic advances, as well as in systemic treatment as in radiotherapy, but also due to a growing concern about neurocognitive failure in long-term survivors.
In patients with good prognostic factors (defined by recursive partitioning analysis or disease specific-graded prognostic assessment) and with limited brain metastases (excluding histologies s.a. SCLC, germ cell tumours, lymphomas and leukaemias), there is a trend to defer WBRT and only perform localised treatment (surgery, radiosurgery, stereotactic fractionated radiotherapy) with close follow up.
WBRT is still an option in better prognostic patients with higher intracranial tumour burden. When patients have a poor performance status, best supportive care is an equally valid option.
(BELG J MED ONCOL 2018:12(3):103–109)
Read moreBJMO - volume 7, issue 3, july 2013
I. Joye MD, K. Verhoeven MD, M. Lambrecht MD, PhD
Highlights of the 2nd ESTRO forum, 19th-23rd April 2013, Geneva, Switzerland.
Organised every other year, the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) Forum follows the concept of combining several meetings encompassing the various aspects of the radiation oncology arena: clinical and translational research, brachytherapy, radiation physics, radiation technology and normal tissue effects of radiotherapy. This approach allows clinicians, medical physicists, radiobiologists, radiation technologists and nurses to attend a plethora of symposia, teaching lectures and debates, all directed at fostering interdisciplinarity and encouraging exchange of knowledge and experience between the professionals involved in radiotherapy. In this brief overview we mainly focus on the important clinical findings presented at the conference. All abstracts are freely available at www.estro.org.
(BELG J MED ONCOL 2013;7(3):98–100)
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