Articles

The role of radiation therapy in pancreatic cancer management

BJMO - volume 16, issue 7, november 2022

I. Joye MD, PhD, S. Vanderkam MD, N. Meireson MD, R. Weytjens MD

SUMMARY

Treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has been the subject of controversy for decades. At the centre of this controversy is radiation therapy. Since PDAC is considered a systemic disease, the role of radiation therapy is debated. However, most of the available evidence is blurred by suboptimal radiation doses, less effective chemotherapy regimens and abandoned radiotherapy techniques. This article reviewed the available literature and discussed the changes in radiation therapy that have taken place over the past decade.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2022;16(7):328–35)

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Locally advanced rectal cancer: What is the best perioperative strategy?

BJMO - volume 14, issue 6, october 2020

I. Joye MD, PhD, S. Vanderkam MD, N. Meireson MD, R. Weytjens MD

SUMMARY

The treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer involves a multidisciplinary approach in which total mesorectal excision usually is preceeded by (chemo)radiotherapy. Depending on risk factors, adjuvant chemotherapy is frequently applied. Preoperative short course radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy result in high local control rates. However, the high risk on systemic relapse and the appealing concept of organ preservation urge researchers to explore alternative perioperative strategies. This review provides an overview of the established role of preoperative short course radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy, as well as the evidence so far for short course radiotherapy with delayed surgery, induction chemotherapy and for neoadjuvant chemotherapy without radiotherapy.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2020;14(6):254-62)

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The 2nd European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) Forum

BJMO - volume 7, issue 3, july 2013

I. Joye MD, PhD, K. Verhoeven MD, M. Lambrecht MD, PhD

Summary

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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