Challenges in Rectal Cancer

28/09/2024 (8h30 - 14h15)

2nd Anniversary Multidisciplinary Symposium
Challenges in Rectal Cancer

Dear colleagues,
To celebrate the 2nd anniversary of our H.U.B departments, we are delighted to invite you to a symposium dedicated entirely to the multidisciplinary management of rectal cancer.
The management of this disease is constantly evolving and increasing in complexity, this posing important challenges in the decision making for both patients and multidisciplinary teams. With the help of local and international experts, we will discuss the most relevant advances in the field, alternating lectures, presentations of challenging cases, and sparkling debates on hot topics. 
We look forward to seeing you there on the 28th of September!
Yours sincerely,
Alexis Buggenhout, Gabriele Liberale, Francesco Sclafani, Jean-Luc Van Laethem
Medical and Surgical Department of Digestive Diseases
Institut Jules Bordet – Hôpital Erasme – H.U.B

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM  + REGISTRATION
08.30 - 08.55 : Registration and Breakfast
08.55 - 09.00 : Welcome and Introduction (J-L. Van Laethem and G. Liberale)

Chair: Gabriel Liberale
09.00 - 09.20 : Endoscopic resection of earlystage rectal lesions: novel indications and techniques (A. Lemmers, H.U.B)
09.20 - 09.40 : The new frontiers of robotic surgery for rectal cancer (A. Buggenhout, H.U.B)
09.40 - 09.45 : Clinical case (early-stage tumour) - (A-M. Bucalau, H.U.B)
09.45 - 10.00 : Q&A and panel discussion

Chair: Jean-Luc Van Laethem
10.00 - 10.20 Redefining the role of radiotherapy for rectal cancer: from treatment omission to dose-escalation (P. Martinive, H.U.B)
10.20 - 10.40 : Making sense of the recent data on total neoadjuvant therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors for rectal cancer (F. Sclafani, H.U.B)
10.40 - 10.45 :  Clinical case (locally advanced tumour) (I. Assaf, H.U.B)
10.45 - 11.00 : Q&A and panel discussion

11.00 - 11.20 : Coffee break

Chair: Alexis Buggenhout
11.20 - 11.40 : Predictive/prognostic biomarkers, and evaluation of treatment response: how the pathologist can guide management choices for rectal cancer (M. Svrcek, Saint-Antoine Hospital,
Paris)
11.40 - 12.00 : Standard criteria and novel tools for the radiological assessment of clinical complete response and detection of local regrowth (R. Beets-Tan, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam)
12.00 - 12.40 : Watch & wait is standard of care for rectal cancer after clinical complete response (pro: G. Beets, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam - con: F. Sclafani, H.U.B)
12.40 - 12.45 : Clinical case (L. Mans, H.U.B)
12.45 - 13.00 : Q&A and panel discussion
13.00 - 13.05 : Closing remarks (F. Sclafani)

13.05 - 14.15 Lunch