T. Feys MBA, MSc

Breast cancer task force

In line with the tradition, the 2023 annual BSMO meeting kicked off with a session from the Breast Cancer Task Force. Prof. Evandro de Azambuja (Institut Jules Bordet, Brussels) opened the session with a lecture on the extended use of adjuvant endocrine therapy and the impact of recent insights on clinical practice. Thereafter, Dr. Donatienne Taylor (Clinique Sainte-Elisabeth CHU UCL Namur, Namur) discussed the antibodydrug conjugate landscape in advanced breast cancer. Finally, Dr. Caroline Duhem (Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, Luxemburg) shared her knowledge and experiences with the emerging adjuvant treatment escalation options in early HR+/HER2- breast cancer

Political and economic issues in oncology

In the session on political and economic issues in oncology, Dr. Jeroen Mebis from the Jessa Hospital in Hasselt gave an overview on oncological nomenclature. In his talk, he discussed the relevant nomenclature numbers in daily clinical practice and shared his knowledge on hospital financing. Subsequently, Dr. Johan Kips (representative of the Minister of Social Affairs and Health Frank Vandenbroucke) discussed the legal and medical parameters for network formation in oncological treatment. Mattias Neyt (Senior health economist at the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre) closed the session with some insights into the new health technology assessment collaboration at a European level.

Supportive care task force

The second day of the 2023 annual BSMO meeting kicked off with a session from the supportive care task force. First, Dr. Fontaine (UZ Brussel, Brussels) and Prof. Klastersky (Institut Jules Bordet, Brussels) organised an interactive session on the proposal of a new multidisciplinary oncology consultation for supportive care. Thereafter, Dr. Fontaine presented the results of the Belgian pain survey. Finally, Dr. Gabry Kuijten presented the aim and achievements of the My Cancer Navigator initiative by the Anticancer Fund.

Impact of somatic mutations and cellular plasticity on cancer

Cancer is classically conceived as a genetic disease caused by somatic mutations acquired during life. In the last years, this has fuelled research efforts into the characterization of activating mutations in different tumour types. However, apart from knowing the activating mutation, other factors are also important in the development and optimization of an effective personalised treatment. During the 25th annual Belgian Society of Medical Oncology (BSMO) meeting 2023, Dr. Luc Dirix (GZA hospital, Belgium) discussed the significance of somatic mutations in normal tissues and their effect on cancer, with a special focus on clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP). Additionally, Dr. Dirix addressed the topic of cellular plasticity, which plays a fundamental role in cancer development.

Looking towards the future: Innovations and advances in cancer immunotherapy

In recent years, innovative, T-cell based immunotherapeutic strategies have yielded excellent outcomes, with long-lasting results and tumour-specific antitumour activity. During the 25th annual BSMO meeting, Prof. Pierre Coulie (de Duve Institute, Brussels) opened a window on the potential future of immunotherapy in the treatment of cancer

Skin cancer session

The skin cancer session of the 25th annual meeting of The Belgian Society for Medical Oncology highlighted recent advances in the treatment of patients with melanoma and other skin cancers. Beginning this session, Prof. Dr. Vibeke Kruse (VITAZ – AZ Nikolaas, Sint-Niklaas) discussed adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatments for melanoma. Subsequently, Prof. Dr. Oliver Bechter (University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven) outlined recent findings in metastatic melanoma. Prof. Dr. Jean-Francois Baurain (Cliniques Universitaires St Luc, Brussels) followed up with a ‘survival guide’ for medical oncologists dealing with non-melanoma skin cancer. Dr. Tess van Meerhaeghe (Hôpital Erasme, Cliniques Universitaires de Bruxelles, Brussels) closed the session with an overview of immune checkpoint inhibitors in kidney transplant recipients.

New oncology reimbursements in Belgium

OVERVIEW OF BELGIAN REIMBURSEMENT NEWS

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2023;17(1):33)