The aim of the Institut Bordet J.-C. Heuson Breast Cancer Translational Research Laboratory (BCTL) is to facilitate the transfer of scientific discoveries about breast cancer that are made in the laboratory into clinical practice. It seeks to improve the molecular characterisation of breast cancer through the use of leading-edge technologies. A particular objective is to improve understanding of the biology of these cancers and of the mechanisms involved in resistance to treatment.
The principal objective of research at the BCTL is to improve our understanding of the biology of breast cancer and of the propagation and progression of the disease at a molecular level by using leading-edge technologies such as high throughput DNA sequencing. The Laboratory has developed a number of prognostic and predictive gene signatures, notably the Genomic Grade Index (GGI). This Index makes it possible to classify patients into different prognostic groups and to identify which of them will derive significant benefit from chemotherapy or hormone therapy.
Professor Sotiriou’s team is also studying the molecular heterogeneity of breast cancer, from the viewpoint of both inter- and intra-patient variability, and is seeking to identify the mechanisms associated with sensitivity and resistance to treatment.
Alongside this, the team is developing a number of research projects involving liquid biopsies, in particular the characterisation of tumour DNA circulating in the bloodstream. This tool is promising for the monitoring of cancerous disease, the early detection of recurrence and the evaluation of response/resistance to a treatment. The results of this research should offer new prospects for the therapeutic treatment of patients affected by breast cancer.
The BCTL is involved in training students from the ULB Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. In particular, each year we welcome students in the process of completing their final dissertation. We also supervise students completing their doctoral thesis in Biomedical Sciences (4 to 6 students over a 4-year period).
Research Projects
Project 1
Genomic characterization of endocrine resistant metastatic lobular breast cancer
- Project leader : Christos Sotiriou et Christine Desmedt
- Collaborations :
- Dr Diether Lambrechts, Laboratory for Translational Genetics, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Belgium; Vesalius Research Center, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Dr Giancarlo Pruneri, Division of Pathology, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
- Dr Patrick Neven, University Hospitals Leuven, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Multidisciplinary Breast Centre, Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Dr Elia Biganzoli, Unit of Medical Statistics, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan Campus Cascina Rosa, Milan, Italy - Funding : Les Amis de l'Institut Bordet,Fondation Contre le Cancer, Fondation Suzan G. Komen
Project 2
Molecular characterization of triple-negative breast cancer and rare histotypes
- Project leader : Christos Sotiriou et Françoise Rothé
- Collaborations :
- International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG)
- BRussels Interuniversity Genomics High Throughput core (BRIGHTcore) - Funding : Les Amis de l'Institut Bordet, Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS - Télévie), Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF)
Project 3
Interrogating the use of liquid biopsy to evaluate breast cancer progression
- Project leader : Christos Sotiriou et Françoise Rothé
- Collaborations : Dr Philippe Bedard, Cancer Clinical Research Unit (CCRU), Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto
- Funding : Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS)
Project 4
Impact of elevated patient’s body mass index (BMI) on BC dormancy and biology
- Project leader : Christos Sotiriou et Christine Desmedt
- Collaborations :Dr Elia Biganzoli, Unit of Medical Statistics, Biometry and Bioinformatics "Giulio A. Maccacaro", Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Université de Milan Campus Cascina Rosa, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
Project 5
Elucidating the effect of pregnancy on breast cancer biology
- Project leader : Christos Sotiriou et Françoise Rothé
- Collaborations :
- Prof Elaine Mardis, McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University
- Prof Viale et Dr Pruneri, Istituto Europeo di Oncologia, Milan - Funding : Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS - Télévie), Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF)
Project 6
Interrogating the functional relevance of A-to-I RNA editing in breast cancer
- Project leader : Christos Sotiriou et Françoise Rothé
- Collaborations : Prof. Vincent Detours, IRIBHM, ULB
- Funding : Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS - Télévie)
Our team
Laboratory Director
Professor Christos Sotiriou, MD PhD
Researchers
Christine Desmedt, PhD
David Venet, PhD
François Richard, PhD
Françoise Rothé, PhD
Marion Maetens, PhD
PhD students
Bastien Nguyen
David Norman Brown
Floriane Dupont
Laurence Buisseret
Vinu Jose
Yacine Bareche
Laboratory Technologists
Delphine Vincent
Ghizlane Rouas
Naïma Kheddoumi
Samira Majjaj
Administrative Assistance
Dominique Roels
Jeanne Letor
Scientific publications
Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Prognosis: A Pooled Individual Patient Analysis of Early-Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancers.
Authors : Loi S, Drubay D, Adams S, Pruneri G, Francis PA, Lacroix-Triki M, Joensuu H, Dieci MV, Badve S, Demaria S, Gray R, Munzone E, Lemonnier J, Sotiriou C, Piccart-Gebhart M, Kellokumpu-Lehtinen PL, Vingiani A, Gray K, Andre F, Denkert C, Salgado R, Michiels S
Year : 2019
Journal : J Clin Oncol
Pages : JCO1801010
PIK3CA mutations are associated with reduced pathological complete response rates in primary HER2-positive breast cancer: pooled analysis of 967 patients from five prospective trials investigating lapatinib and trastuzumab.
Authors : Loibl S, Majewski I, Guarneri V, Nekljudova V, Holmes E, Bria E, Denkert C, Schem C, Sotiriou C, Loi S, Untch M, Conte P, Bernards R, Piccart M, Von Minckwitz G, Baselga J
Year : 2019
Journal : Ann Oncol
Pathway level alterations rather than mutations in single genes predict response to HER2-targeted therapies in the neo-ALTTO trial.
Authors : Shi W, Jiang T, Nuciforo P, Hatzis C, Holmes E, Harbeck N, Sotiriou C, Peña L, Loi S, Rosa DD, Chia S, Wardley A, Ueno T, Rossari J, Eidtmann H, Armour A, Piccart-Gebhart M, Rimm DL, Baselga J, Pusztai L
Year : 2019
Journal : Ann Oncol
Author Correction: Landscape of somatic mutations in 560 breast cancer whole-genome sequences.
Authors : Nik-Zainal S, Davies H, Staaf J, Ramakrishna M, Glodzik D, Zou X, Martincorena I, Alexandrov LB, Martin S, Wedge DC, Van Loo P, Ju YS, Smid M, Brinkman AB, Morganella S, Aure MR, Lingjærde OC, Langerød A, Ringnér M, Ahn SM, Boyault S, Brock JE, Broeks A, Butler A, Desmedt C, Dirix L, Dronov S, Fatima A, Foekens JA, Gerstung M, Hooijer GKJ, Jang SJ, Jones DR, Kim HY, King TA, Krishnamurthy S, Lee HJ, Lee JY, Li Y, McLaren S, Menzies A, Mustonen V, OMeara S, Pauporté I, Pivot X, Purdie CA, Raine K, Ramakrishnan K, Rodríguez-González FG, Romieu G, Sieuwerts AM, Simpson PT, Shepherd R, Stebbings L, Stefansson OA, Teague J, Tommasi S, Treilleux I, Van den Eynden GG, Vermeulen P, Vincent-Salomon A, Yates L, Caldas C, vant Veer L, Tutt A, Knappskog S, Tan BKT, Jonkers J, Borg Å, Ueno NT, Sotiriou C, Viari A, Futreal PA, Campbell PJ, Span PN, Van Laere S, Lakhani SR, Eyfjord JE, Thompson AM, Birney E, Stunnenberg HG, Van de Vijver MJ, Martens JWM, Børresen-Dale AL, Richardson AL, Kong G, Thomas G, Stratton MR
Year : 2019
Journal : Nature
The circular RNome of primary breast cancer.
Authors : Smid M, Wilting S, Uhr K, Rodriguez-Gonzalez G, de Weerd V, Prager-Van der Smissen W, van der Vlugt-Daane M, van Galen A, Nik-Zainal S, Butler A, Martin S, Davies H, Staaf J, van de Vijver M, Richardson A, Macgrogan G, Salgado R, Van den Eynden G, Purdie C, Thompson A, Caldas C, Span P, Sweep F, Simpson P, Lakhani S, Van Laere S, Desmedt C, Paradiso A, Eyfjord J, Broeks A, Vincent-Solomon A, Futreal A, Knappskog S, King T, Viari A, Børresen-Dale AL, Stunnenberg H, Stratton M, Foekens J, Sieuwerts A, Martens J
Year : 2019
Journal : Genome Res
