The Institut Bordet Medical Oncology Clinic has a number of roles:
- diagnosis and therapeutic care of patients with solid tumours
- overseeing administration of cancer medication for in-patients and out-patients
- monitoring patients during and after their treatment.
The Clinic takes a multidisciplinary approach. Therapeutic decisions are made in consultation with other specialist doctors and healthcare professionals involved in the patient’s care.
The aim is that patients should be monitored in all respects, including psychologically.
The Medical Oncology Clinic forms an integral part of the Department of Oncological Medicine. It is also very active in clinical research (particularly in the development of new medication) and translational research. At the Clinic, research is integrated into the care provided, enabling patients to benefit from the latest diagnostic and therapeutic advances, well before these become part of clinical routine.
The Medical Oncology Clinic is divided into 12 sectors:
- thoracic oncology
- urogenital oncology
- breast oncology
- innovative treatments
- endocrine tumour oncology
- bone and soft tissue tumour oncology
- gynaecological oncology
- digestive oncology
- cervico-facial oncology
- skin tumour oncology
- oncogeriatrics
- central nervous system oncology.
The Medical Oncology Clinic works in close collaboration with the Institut Bordet Clinical Trials Conduct Unit (CTCU). This unit, which is responsible for the development of new drugs and innovative approaches to care, handles phase I, II and III clinical studies in tumours. The CTCU is made up of research nurses, clinical research associates and data managers who, with research doctors, closely monitor patients taking part in clinical trials.
The Institut’s different research laboratories are also closely linked to the Medical Oncology Clinic. Their principal aim is to identify predictive marker molecules (indicating probability of response to a given treatment) and/or prognosis (chances of a cure) as part of the development of breast cancer treatments.
The Medical Oncology Clinic participates actively in research projects conducted by many international collaborative groups such as the EORTC and the Breast International Group (BIG).
Recently, the Oncodistinct research network was created. This network brings together numerous researchers who share a common vision of innovative clinical research. The aim of the network is to accelerate the personalisation of treatment and the development of innovative treatments while also promoting a multidisciplinary approach to research and care.
Below, among others, some studies :
- BRAINSTORM
- ROSALINE
- TENACITY
- Destiny Pan-Tumor 01
- Futibatinib
- GeNeo
The Institut Bordet Medical Oncology Clinic plays an important role in education, both in Belgium and abroad. Within the hospital, the Clinic’s medical team supervises the training of young doctors and medical students specialising in oncology. Always keen to promote quality training, the Clinic also welcomes many doctors from abroad as part of its Fellowship Programme.
Research projects
Project 1
AURORA Programme aimed at understanding the molecular characteristics of recurrent and metastatic breast cancer early in the evolution of metastatic disease.
- Project leaders : Philippe Aftimos, Martine Piccart
- Collaborations : International clinical study (80 partners)
- Funding (or) Support : BIG
Project 2
CHARACTERIZATION OF ENDOCRINE RESISTANT Luminal Breast Cancer using spatial transcriptomics AND epigenetic ANALYSIS.
- Project leaders : Christos Sotiriou, Françoise Rothé and Mattia Rediti
- Collaborations :
- Dr François Fuks, Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, ULB-Cancer Research Center (U-CRC), Université libre de Bruxelles
- Prof Lundeberg at the SciLife laboratory, Stockholm, Sweden
- Dr Frédérick Libert, ULB/VUB Brightcore sequencing facility
Project 3
ZENITH: A PHASE 2 STUDY OF ZEN003694 IN COMBINATION WITH TALAZOPARIB IN PATIENTS WITH TRIPLE-NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER (BRCA1 OR BRCA2 NON MUTATED)
- Project leader : Philippe Aftimos
- Collaborations : International clinical study
- Funding (or) Support : Zenith Epigenetics Ltd.
Project 4
MULTICENTRIC PHASE II SINGLE-ARM STUDY OF NIVOLUMAB IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE B3 THYMOMA AND THYMIC CARCINOMA PREVIOUSLY TREATED WITH CHEMOTHERAPY
- Project leader : Thierry Berghmans
- Collaborations : International clinical study
- Funding (or) Support : EORTC
Project 5
AURA : Avelumab as neoadjuvant therapy in subjects with urothelial muscle invasive bladder cancers
- Project leader : Nieves Martinez-Chanza, Ahmad Awada
- Collaborations : Oncodistinct - CTSU
Our team
Head of the Medical Oncology Clinic
Pr A. Awada
Solid Tumours / New Innovative drugs
Pr A. Awada, Dr Ph. Aftimos, Dr N. Kotecki
Solid and RareTumours
Pr A. Awada, Dr Ch. Jungels
Breast Oncology
Pr A. Awada, Dr D. de Valeriola
Dr Ph. Aftimos, Dr A. Gombos
Pr Ch. Sotiriou, Dr E. de Azambuja
Dr M. Ignatiadis, Dr F. Lebrun
Dr L. Buisseret, Pr A. Drowart,
Dr D. t’Kint de Roodenbeke, Dr M. Hanappe
Oncogeriatrics
Dr L. Dumont (geriatrician)
Cervico-facial Oncology
Dr Y. Lalami, Dr S. Luce
Skin Tumour Oncology
Pr A. Awada, Pr A. Drowart, Dr M. Langouo
Dr M. Suppa (dermatologue)
Digestive Oncology / Gastroenterology / Endoscopy
Pr J.L. Van Lathem, Dr A. Hendlisz, Dr F. Sclafani,
Prof. A. Demols, Dr L.Mans, Dr A.M. Bucalau
Dr R. Saude Conde
Gynaecological Oncology
Dr L. Polastro, Dr F. Lebrun
Dr M. Langouo, Dr M. Hanappe
Thoracic Oncology
Pr Th. Berghmans, Dr M. Brandao
Dr Z. Mekinda, Dr A. Goudsmit
Urogenital, Bone and Soft Tissue Oncology
Dr Ch. Jungels (sarcomas)
Dr N. Martínez-Chanza (urogenital tumors)
Dr S. Sideris (urogenital tumors)
Dr M. Vanhalleux (urogenital tumors)
Oncological Day Hospital
Dr D. de Valeriola, Dr Y. Lalami, Dr L. Polastro
Oncogenetics
Dr D. t’Kint de Roodenbeke
Neuro-oncology
Dr S. Luce, Pr A. Awada
Psychooncology
Pr D. Razavi
Supportive and Palliative Cares / Pain Clinic
Dr I. Libert, Dr. V. Ligabo
Consultants :
Pr J. Klastersky (internal medicine/oncology)
Dr Z. El Ali (medical oncology)
Dr J. Kerger (oncologie gynécologique/cutanée)
Dr H. Rouvière (geriatry)
Pr A. Van Gossum (endoscopy/gastroenterology/nutrition)
06/12/2023
Scientific publications
Food in painting: From dietetics to symbolism.
Authors : Van Gossum A
Year : 2023
Journal : Clin Nutr ESPEN
Volume : 54
Pages : 374-381
Immunotherapy in breast cancer: an overview of current strategies and perspectives.
Authors : Debien V, De Caluwé A, Wang X, Piccart-Gebhart M, Tuohy VK, Romano E, Buisseret L
Year : 2023
Journal : NPJ Breast Cancer
Volume : 9
Pages : 7
Tailoring the optimal duration of the extended adjuvant endocrine therapy in patients with early-stage breast cancer. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.
Authors : Pala L, De Pas T, Pagan E, Sala I, Catania C, Zattarin E, Arnone P, Grassi MM, Colleoni M, Wolff AC, Cortes J, Piccart-Gebhart M, Gelber Rd, Viale G, Bagnardi V, Conforti F
Year : 2023
Journal : Breast
Volume : 69
Pages : 258-264
Cardiac safety of dual anti-HER2 blockade with pertuzumab plus trastuzumab in early HER2-positive breast cancer in the APHINITY trial.
Authors : de Azambuja E, Agostinetto E, Procter M, Eiger D, Pondé N, Guillaume S, Parlier D, Lambertini M, Desmet A, Caballero C, Aguila C, Jerusalem G, Walshe JM, Frank E, Bines J, Loibl S, Piccart-Gebhart M, Ewer MS, Dent S, Plummer C, Suter T
Year : 2023
Journal : ESMO Open
Volume : 8
Pages : 100772
ASO Visual Abstract: The Prognostic Value of Distinct Histological Growth Patterns of Colorectal Peritoneal Metastases-A Pilot Study.
Authors : El Asmar A, Demetter P, Fares F, Sclafani F, Hendlisz A, Donckier V, Vermeulen P, Liberale G
Year : 2023
Journal : Ann Surg Oncol