Radiotherapy is one of the main treatments for cancer and is used as an independent treatment or in combination with surgery and/or systemic treatment (i.e. chemotherapy). The goal is to cure cancer, to augment the prognosis, or to palliate symptoms.
Radiation therapy has a biological effect on the DNA and the inflammatory status of the tumor. The side effects are decreased by modern techniques that allow to paint the dose more precisely.
The proposed treatment is discussed with the patient at consultation, usually after multidisciplinary discussion. The radiation oncologist follows the patient throughout the radiotherapy treatment and takes part in the follow-up after therapy, in close collaboration with the other health professionals.
The Radiotherapy Department of the Jules Bordet Institute is a reference center, well equipped with radiation oncology equipment and a dedicated specialized team. We treat over 2,300 patients per year for a total of 30,000 treatment sessions in a wide range of cancer pathologies. Each radiation oncologist is specialized in several disease domains. The physics and engineering team is responsible for the treatment plan calculation and the quality assurance, and develops and integrates novel technology into clinical routine. The radiation therapists perform the simulation and the daily patient treatments.
Our equipment and experience allow to offer patients a full range of techniques and to remain at the leading edge of innovation in order to improve the efficacy of the treatment and minimize their toxicities. Examples of equipment and techniques include:
- 4 conventional linear accelerators equipped with surface guiding technology.
- Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for lesions in the brain, lung, liver, bones and lymph nodes.
- Deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) for breast cancer patients, in combination with VMAT when indicated
- Total Body Radiation (TBI)
- Gamma Knife unit (Erasmus Hospital site): Radiosurgery of brain lesions
- Linear accelerator for Intraoperative Radiotherapy (IORT), avoiding postoperative radiotherapy in selected breast cancer patients
- Low dose rate (LDR) prostate brachytherapy (seeds)
- High dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy unit, for treatment of
- Gynaecological cancers (including interstitial brachytherapy)
- Oesophageal cancer
- Pulmonary lesions
In 2020, we joined a worldwide research consortium with the mission to implement an integrated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guided radiotherapy system. The Elekta Unity MR-linac is the first machine in the world to combine high field-strength MR imaging with a linear accelerator in a single system, allowing to adapt the treatment on a daily basis and to see the tumor while treating. The MR-linac will be installed at the New Bordet site, and we plan to treat patients with this novel machine in the beginning of 2022.
Our specific research page of the radiotherapy department shows our further research domains and projects.
The Radiotherapy Department of the Jules Bordet Institute is a teaching centre for Radiation Oncologists, medical physicists and radiation technologists in training.
The healthcare staff also participates in the academic teaching of radiotherapy and oncology, master’s degrees in medicine at the ULB university, radioprotection, interuniversity courses and the continued development of doctors, nurses, technologists, etc.
Research projects
Our dedicated research page provides a more comprehensive overview of our research activities. Below we show some examples of current research projects.
Projet 1
PEGASUS : Phase IIIb randomized trial comparing irradiation plus long-term adjuvant androgen deprivation with GnRH antagonist versus GnRH agonist plus flare protection in patients with very high risk localized or locally advanced prostate cancer. A joint study of the EORTC ROG and GUCG Pegasus
- Project leader : Dr Otte
- Promotor : EORTC
- Funding: EORTC
- Collaborations : Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UZ Brussel, Hopital De Jolimont
Projet 2
BEST OF : Phase III study assessing the “best of” radiotherapy compared to the “best of” surgery (trans-oral surgery (TOS)) in patients with T1-T2, N0-N1 oropharyngeal, supraglottic carcinoma and with T1, N0 hypopharyngeal carcinoma
- Project leader : Dr Willems
- Promotor : EORTC
- Funding: EORTC HQ, FOCA, Georges Dreyfus Foundation, SAKK, GORTEC
- Collaborations: https://www.eortc.org/research_field/clinical-detail/1420/
Projet 3
SEMIRAHN : A prospective randomized phase 2 study of dose and volume de-escalation in prophylactic nodal irradiation of contralateral neck by sentinel lymph nodes mapping in unilaterally node positive head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.
- Project leader : Pr Van Gestel
- Promotor : UZ Leuven
- Funding : Stichting tegen Kanker
- Collaborations : CHU-UCL Namur, Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Leuven, University Hospital Gent
Projet 4
PART : Phase II Trial to Investigate the Benefit of Elective Para-Aortic Radiotherapy (PART) for pN1 Prostate Cancer Using Arc Therapy (IMAT/VMAT)
- Project leader : Dr Otte
- Promotor : UZ Leuven
- Collaborations : UZ leuven
Projet 5
PRIMALUNG : PRophylactic cerebral Irradiation or active MAgnetic resonance imaging surveillance in small-cell Lung cancer patients (PRIMALung study)
- Project leader : Dr Berghmans
- Promotor : EORTC
- Funding : Astra Zeneca, EORTC LCG, KCE / Ligue Contre le Cancer / Swiss Cancer League / Unicancer
- Collaborations: https://www.eortc.org/research_field/clinical-detail/1901/
projet 6
STEREOPAC: Preoperative treatment with mFOLFIRINOX or Gemcitabine/Nab-paclitaxel +/- isotoxic high-dose stereotactic body Radiation Therapy (iHD-SBRT) for borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma (the STEREOPAC trial)
- Project leader : Dr Bouchart
- Promotor : HUB
- Funding : Anticancer Fund, Association Jules Bordet, Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique–FNRS, Fondation Roi Baudoin, Rising Tide
- Collaborations: Belgian Group of Digestive Oncology, University Hospital St Luc, Pôle Hospitalier Jolimont, UZA Antwerpen, CHIREC, AZ Groeninge, Clinique CHC Montlégia, CHU Ambroise Paré, UZ Gent
Projet 7
XRAY VISION: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2-arm Phase III study to assess efficacy and safety of xevinapant and radiotherapy compared to placebo and radiotherapy for demonstrating improvement of disease-free survival in participants with resected squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, who are at high risk for relapse and are ineligible for high-dose cisplatin
- Project leader : Dr Dragan
- Promotor : MERCK
- Funding : MERCK
- Collaborations: https://clinicaltrials.merckgroup.com/en/trial-details/?id=MS202359_0002
Projet 8
PROCAR-BQ: PROstate CAncer Radiotherapy: Its real impact on Bowel symptoms & Quality of Life today, measured by the EORTC QLQ C30 & specific PRT20 Module. PROstate CAncer Radiotherapy - Bowel Quality of Life (PROCAR-BQ)
- Responsable : Dr De Bruyn
- Promotor : HUB
Projet 9
SQUAL: A randomized phase II study to explore the benefits of the MonaLisa Touch® system in the improvement of the Sexual QUAlity of Life in gynaecological cancer patients treated by (chemo)-radiotherapy.
- Project leader : Dr Ahrouch
- Promotor : HUB
Project 10
PROJET THERA-NCT : « DÉVELOPPEMENT DE NOUVEAUX VECTEURS THÉRANOSTIQUES POUR UNE THÉRAPIE PERSONNALISÉE PAR CAPTURE NEUTRONIQUE »
- Project leader (Institut Bordet) : Sébastien Penninckx
- Searcher : Eloïse Rapport
- Funding : FNRS via appeal Télévie
- Collaboration : Université de Namur (C. Michiels)
Project 11
PROJET FLASH 4 CLINIC : « ETUDE PRÉCLINIQUE DES OBSTACLES RADIOBIOLOGIQUES LIMITANT LA TRANSITION CLINIQUE OPTIMALE DE L’EFFET FLASH EN RADIOTHÉRAPIE »
- Project leader (Institut Bordet): Sébastien Penninckx
- Searchers : Nina Blond, Coralie Destrebecq, Ayoub Daraaoui
- Funding : The "Association Jules Bordet", FNRS via appeals « Télévie » and « Aspirant »
- Collaborations : IRIBHM (V. Wittamer, ULB)
Project 312
PROJET D-CAF : DÉVELOPPEMENT DE NOUVEAUX OUTILS DOSIMÉTRIQUES POUR LA CARBONE, L’ARC ET LA FLASH THÉRAPIE
- Project leaders : Nick Reynaert, Sébastien Penninckx
- Searcher : Guillaume Houyoux
- Funding: Région Wallonne via appeals « Biowin » and « MecaTech »
- Collaboration: UC Louvain (E. Sterpin), IBA et Thélis
Our team
Head of Department
- Prof. MARTINIVE Philippe : neurological and digestive tumours
Medical Physics Department
The radiotherapy physics’ team is part of the central Medical Physics Department of the Institute.
- Prof REYNAERT Nick, Head of Medical Physics Department:
- Mr JOURANI Younes, Responsible for physics in radiotherapy:
Head of technologists
- GLINEUR Nicolas
Radiation Oncologists
- Dr AHROUCH Imane: breast and gynaecological tumours, brachytherapy
- Dr BOUCHART Christelle : pancreatic and neurological tumours
- Dr COLLEN Christine : neurological and thoracic tumours
- Dr DESMET Antoine : breast and skin tumours, intraoperative radiotherapy and brachytherapy
- Dr DRAGAN Tatiana : head and neck tumours, sarcomas
- Prof. MORETTI Luigi : digestive and thoracic tumours
- Dr OTTE François-Xavier : urological tumours
- Dr PHILIPPSON Catherine : breast tumours and intraoperative radiotherapy
- Dr VAN DEN BEGIN Robbe : oligometastatic, urological and digestive tumours
- Dr VAN KAMPEN Daphné : breast tumours and lymphomas
- Prof. Honorary VAN HOUTTE Paul : thoracic and gynecological tumours, non-malignant tumours, brachytherapy
- Dr DE CALUWE Alex: Research consultant
- Prof. LAMBIN Philippe : Research Consultant
- Dr BARE Mathilde : brachytherapy
- Dr MANDERLIER Martin : brachytherapy
- Dr JULLIAN Nicolas : oligometastatic, urological and breast tumours
Radiation Oncologists in training
- Dr Badreddine Boussadia
- Dr Belbaraka Zineb
- Dr Bodson Elisa
- Dr Broeckaert Camille
- Dr Daan Stas
- Dr De Bruyn Pauline
- Dr Descamps Thomas
- Dr Fardeau Emmanuel
- Dr Kelly Ziane
- Dr Michel Madeline
- Dr Simon Guezello
Radiotherapy Nurse Coach
The Nurse Coach in radiotherapy supports the patients in organizing their multidisciplinary care, in the first place for the patients referred by other centers.
- HOUTEKENS Ysabelle
- BILLIET Maureen
- DA CAL PIRES Joel
Quality Manager
- KHAWAJA, Thérèse
Administration
- GEVART Elodie
- SEREDIUC Cristina
- DELVAEYE Valerie
14/10/2024
Scientific publications
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
Radiation therapy-induced left vocal cord paralysis following lung stereotactic body radiation therapy: A case report and review of the literature.
Authors : Pierrard J, Deheneffe S, Longton E, Henry S, Van Houtte P, Remouchamps V
Year : 2023
Journal : Cancer Radiother
Volume : 27
Pages : 69-74
Frailty in older adults with cancer (Fabio Gomez, editor) - Part III : Breast cancer in older adults with frailty
Authors : Dal Lago L, De Caluwe A, Borghgraef C, Dumont L, Pepersack T
Year : 2022
Journal : Book
Volume : part III
Pages : 303 - 318
The Road to Dissemination: The Concept of Oligometastases and the Barriers for Widespread Disease.
Authors : AlGhamdi H, Dhont J, Krayem M, De Bruyn P, Engels B, Van Gestel D, Van den Begin R
Year : 2022
Journal : Cancers (Basel)
Volume : 14
Barriers in education and professional development of Belgian medical imaging technologists and nurses working in radiotherapy: A qualitative study.
Authors : Sousa F, Vaandering A, Couto JG, Somoano M, Van Gestel D
Year : 2022
Journal : Radiography (Lond)
Volume : 28
Pages : 620-627