Belgium
Population in 2012: | 10.8m |
People newly diagnosed with cancer (excluding NMSC) / yr: | 65,300 |
Age-standardised rate, incidence per 100,000 people/yr: | 321.0 |
Risk of getting cancer before age 75: | 31.4% |
People dying from cancer /yr: | 29,800 |


Belgium Cancer Organisations and Resources (12 links)
Association Belge de Radiothérapie Oncologie | Belgian Association of Oncological Radiotherapy - Français - Translate to English
Belgian Gynaecological Oncology Group
BGOG
A multidisciplinary non-profit organization promoting research and running clinical trials for gynaecological cancer in Belgium.
Belgian Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners
A specialty group of the Francophone Association Of Hospital Pharmacists From Belgium.
Belgian Society of Surgical Oncology - BSSO
Belgium - European Cancer Observatory
Incidence, mortality and prevalence data and graphs.
Belgium Foundation Against Cancer - Français - Translate to English
Fondation contre le Cancer
A national anti-cancer organisation with a history going back to 1924. The site includes details of research, prevention, cancer information and support.
Cliniques Universitaire Saint-Luc Centre du Cancer - Français - English
Large cancer centre with referrals from around French-speaking Belgium. Established 1927.
Institut Jules Bordet, Centre des Tumeurs de l'Universite libre de Bruxelles | Institut Jules Bordet - Oncology Hospital - Français - English
Dedicated cancer centre, established 1939.
Lymfklierkankervereniging Vlaanderen | Lymphoma Flanders - Nederlands - Translate to English
LVV is a self-help group for Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in West and East Flanders, founded in 1985.
Vereniging voor Verpleegkundigen Radiotherapie & Oncologie | Belgian Association for Nurses in Radiotherapy and Oncology - Nederlands - Translate to English
Vlaamse Liga tegen Kanker | Flemish League against Cancer - Nederlands - Translate to English
Non profit organisation which originated in 1989, involved in the fight against cancer, research, prevention and advocacy.
Latest Research Publications Related to Belgium
Oral Selinexor-Dexamethasone for Triple-Class Refractory Multiple Myeloma.
N Engl J Med. 2019; 381(8):727-738 [PubMed] Related Publications
METHODS: We administered oral selinexor (80 mg) plus dexamethasone (20 mg) twice weekly to patients with myeloma who had previous exposure to bortezomib, carfilzomib, lenalidomide, pomalidomide, daratumumab, and an alkylating agent and had disease refractory to at least one proteasome inhibitor, one immunomodulatory agent, and daratumumab (triple-class refractory). The primary end point was overall response, defined as a partial response or better, with response assessed by an independent review committee. Clinical benefit, defined as a minimal response or better, was a secondary end point.
RESULTS: A total of 122 patients in the United States and Europe were included in the modified intention-to-treat population (primary analysis), and 123 were included in the safety population. The median age was 65 years, and the median number of previous regimens was 7; a total of 53% of the patients had high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities. A partial response or better was observed in 26% of patients (95% confidence interval, 19 to 35), including two stringent complete responses; 39% of patients had a minimal response or better. The median duration of response was 4.4 months, median progression-free survival was 3.7 months, and median overall survival was 8.6 months. Fatigue, nausea, and decreased appetite were common and were typically grade 1 or 2 (grade 3 events were noted in up to 25% of patients, and no grade 4 events were reported). Thrombocytopenia occurred in 73% of the patients (grade 3 in 25% and grade 4 in 33%). Thrombocytopenia led to bleeding events of grade 3 or higher in 6 patients.
CONCLUSIONS: Selinexor-dexamethasone resulted in objective treatment responses in patients with myeloma refractory to currently available therapies. (Funded by Karyopharm Therapeutics; STORM ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02336815.).
Circulating Protein Biomarkers to Differentiate Uterine Sarcomas from Leiomyomas.
Anticancer Res. 2019; 39(8):3981-3989 [PubMed] Related Publications
Imaging of Upper Limb Tumors and Tumorlike Pathology.
Radiol Clin North Am. 2019; 57(5):1035-1050 [PubMed] Related Publications
Erdafitinib in Locally Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma.
N Engl J Med. 2019; 381(4):338-348 [PubMed] Related Publications
METHODS: In this open-label, phase 2 study, we enrolled patients who had locally advanced and unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma with prespecified
RESULTS: A total of 99 patients in the selected-regimen group received a median of five cycles of erdafitinib. Of these patients, 43% had received at least two previous courses of treatment, 79% had visceral metastases, and 53% had a creatinine clearance of less than 60 ml per minute. The rate of confirmed response to erdafitinib therapy was 40% (3% with a complete response and 37% with a partial response). Among the 22 patients who had undergone previous immunotherapy, the confirmed response rate was 59%. The median duration of progression-free survival was 5.5 months, and the median duration of overall survival was 13.8 months. Treatment-related adverse events of grade 3 or higher, which were managed mainly by dose adjustments, were reported in 46% of the patients; 13% of the patients discontinued treatment because of adverse events. There were no treatment-related deaths.
CONCLUSIONS: The use of erdafitinib was associated with an objective tumor response in 40% of previously treated patients who had locally advanced and unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma with
Adverse effects of bevacizumab in metastatic colorectal cancer : a case report and literature review.
Acta Gastroenterol Belg. 2019 Apr-Jun; 82(2):322-325 [PubMed] Related Publications
Selection criteria for liver transplantation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Eastern and western experiences, and perspectives for the future.
Acta Gastroenterol Belg. 2019 Apr-Jun; 82(2):314-318 [PubMed] Related Publications
Endoscopic features, pathological correlates and possible origin of foveolar gastric metaplasia presenting as a duodenal polyp.
Acta Gastroenterol Belg. 2019 Apr-Jun; 82(2):257-260 [PubMed] Related Publications
Influence of perioperative anaesthetic and analgesic interventions on oncological outcomes: a narrative review.
Br J Anaesth. 2019; 123(2):135-150 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
Randomized phase III study (ADMYRE) of plitidepsin in combination with dexamethasone vs. dexamethasone alone in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.
Ann Hematol. 2019; 98(9):2139-2150 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
Model-based analysis of treatment effects of paclitaxel microspheres in a microscopic peritoneal carcinomatosis model in mice.
Pharm Res. 2019; 36(9):127 [PubMed] Related Publications
METHODS: PTX blood concentrations and survival data were obtained in Balb/c Nu mice receiving different single IP doses (7.5 and/or 35 mg/kg) of PTX-ethanolic loaded GP-MS (PTX
RESULTS: A PKPD model was developed that simultaneously describes the competing effects of treatment efficacy (driven by peritoneal concentration) and toxicity (driven by blood concentration) of PTX on survival. Clear survival advantages of PTX
CONCLUSIONS: The model predicts that the dose range of 7.5-15 mg/kg of PTX
Investigational drugs in early stage clinical trials for the treatment of HER2+ breast cancer.
Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2019; 28(7):617-627 [PubMed] Related Publications
AREAS COVERED: We describe the recent advances in clinical development of anti-HER2 treatments. To this aim, we used literature search via Pubmed and made an inventory of abstracts published during the last two years in major oncology conferences.
EXPERT OPINION: Further changes will probably occur during the next decade in the management of metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. This is mainly driven by the fact that the two mainstay drugs (pertuzumab and TDM-1) that confer prolonged survival (56 months) to these patients are currently being used in the treatment of early-stage disease in a subset of patients. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop new, innovative approaches in those patients whose disease has become resistant to these highly potent drugs. Several new antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific antibodies or new generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKIs) hold promise and should be assessed and compared with drugs currently used.
Protein Induced by Vitamin K Absence II (PIVKA-II) as a potential serological biomarker in pancreatic cancer: a pilot study.
Biochem Med (Zagreb). 2019; 29(2):020707 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
Materials and methods: We studied 26 PC patients (Group 1) and 20 patients with benign pancreatic diseases (Group 2). PIVKA-II and CEA were measured by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay method (CLEIA) on LUMIPULSE G1200 (Fujirebio-Europe, Gent, Belgium), CA 19-9 and CA 242 were measured by ELSA (CisBio Bioassays, Codolet, France) and EIA (Fujirebio Diagnostics AB, Göteborg, Sweden), respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to assess biomarkers' diagnostic characteristics in both groups.
Results: Median and interquartile range (IQR) in Group 1 and Group 2 were: 1749.0 (320.2 - 3921.0)
Conclusions: PIVKA-II is significantly higher in PC than in benign pancreatic diseases. PIVKA-II shows a rather good diagnostic performance compared to CA 19-9, CEA and CA242, thus its determination could help PC management.
Targeting enhancer switching overcomes non-genetic drug resistance in acute myeloid leukaemia.
Nat Commun. 2019; 10(1):2723 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
Effect of treatment sequence on survival in stage IV rectal cancer with synchronous and potentially resectable liver metastases.
J Surg Oncol. 2019; 120(3):415-422 [PubMed] Related Publications
METHODS: Consecutive patients diagnosed with stage IV RC with SLM and who underwent complete resection were included. Both groups were matched using propensity scores. Differences in postoperative outcome, local control, and long-term survival were studied. In addition, a decision analysis (DA) model was built using TreeAge Pro to define the approach that results in the highest treatment completion rate.
RESULTS: During a 12-year period, 52 patients were identified, 21 and 31 of whom underwent the BFA and the LFA, respectively. Twenty-eight patients were matched; patients treated with the BFA experienced a longer median OS (50.0 vs 33.0 months; P = .40) and higher 5-year OS (42.9% vs 28.6%). The DA defined the BFA to be superior when the failure threshold (ie, no R0 resection, treatment discontinuation regardless of cause) for colectomy is less than 28.6%.
CONCLUSIONS: In stage IV rectal cancer with SLM, either the BFA or the LFA result in similar long-term outcomes. Treatment should be tailored according to clinicopathological variables.
Bullous Lupus Under Nivolumab Treatment for Lung Cancer: A Case Report With Systematic Literature Review.
Anticancer Res. 2019; 39(6):3003-3008 [PubMed] Related Publications
CASE REPORT: A patient with lung adenocarcinoma developed a non-specific skin lesion at the time of his cancer diagnosis followed by flare episodes until the eighth cycle of nivolumab, when he developed a bullous lupus. As the first eruption had started a few months after his cancer diagnosis and was exacerbated during immunotherapy, a paraneoplastic origin is discussed. Since the patient also presented with flares under nivolumab, we reviewed reported irAEs. No bullous lupus was found but to date, 33 cases of paraneoplastic lupus and two of lupus erythematosus have been reported.
CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first description of a bullous lupus exacerbated by nivolumab.
Brain Metastasis and Renal Cell Carcinoma: Prognostic Scores Assessment in the Era of Targeted Therapies.
Anticancer Res. 2019; 39(6):2993-3002 [PubMed] Related Publications
PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data of 93 metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients who were diagnosed with brain metastases between October 2005 and July 2016 who received targeted therapy. Potential prognostic factors (RTOG RPA, BS-BM, and a newly developed score CERENAL) were analyzed.
RESULTS: A total of 75 patients received targeted therapy. All scores showed prognostic value in progression-free survival after first-line treatment with CERENAL being the sole independent prognostic factor associated with improved duration of first-line treatment. Both RTOG RPA and CERENAL were potential prognosticators for overall survival, whereas only the CERENAL score was associated with prolonged disease-specific survival.
CONCLUSION: Several prognostic scores can be useful to predict survival of patients with brain metastases from renal cancer, especially the newly developed CERENAL score.
Bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone with or without daratumumab before and after autologous stem-cell transplantation for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (CASSIOPEIA): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 study.
Lancet. 2019; 394(10192):29-38 [PubMed] Related Publications
METHODS: In this two-part, randomised, open-label, phase 3 CASSIOPEIA trial, we recruited transplant-eligible patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma at 111 European sites. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive four pre-transplant induction and two post-transplant consolidation cycles of VTd alone (VTd group) or in combination with daratumumab (D-VTd group). The primary endpoint of part 1 was stringent complete response assessed 100 days after transplantation. Part 2 (maintenance) is ongoing. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02541383.
FINDINGS: Between Sept 22, 2015, and Aug 1, 2017, 1085 patients were enrolled at 111 European sites and were randomly assigned to the D-VTd group (n=543) or the VTd group (n=542). At day 100 after transplantation, 157 (29%) of 543 patients in the D-VTd group and 110 (20%) of 542 patients in the VTd group in the intention-to-treat population had achieved a stringent complete response (odds ratio 1·60, 95% CI 1·21-2·12, p=0·0010). 211 (39%) patients in the D-VTd group versus 141 (26%) in the VTd group achieved a complete response or better, and 346 (64%) of 543 versus 236 (44%) of 542 achieved minimal residual disease-negativity (10
INTERPRETATION: D-VTd before and after autologous stem-cell transplantation improved depth of response and progression-free survival with acceptable safety. CASSIOPEIA is the first study showing the clinical benefit of daratumumab plus standard of care in transplant-eligible patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.
FUNDING: The Intergroupe Francophone du Myélome and Dutch-Belgian Cooperative Trial Group for Hematology Oncology.
Optimizing the management of locally advanced pancreatic cancer with a focus on induction chemotherapy: Expert opinion based on a review of current evidence.
Cancer Treat Rev. 2019; 77:1-10 [PubMed] Related Publications
Maintenance Olaparib for Germline
N Engl J Med. 2019; 381(4):317-327 [PubMed] Related Publications
METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial to evaluate the efficacy of olaparib as maintenance therapy in patients who had a germline
RESULTS: Of the 3315 patients who underwent screening, 154 underwent randomization and were assigned to a trial intervention (92 to receive olaparib and 62 to receive placebo). The median progression-free survival was significantly longer in the olaparib group than in the placebo group (7.4 months vs. 3.8 months; hazard ratio for disease progression or death, 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35 to 0.82; P = 0.004). An interim analysis of overall survival, at a data maturity of 46%, showed no difference between the olaparib and placebo groups (median, 18.9 months vs. 18.1 months; hazard ratio for death, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.56 to 1.46; P = 0.68). There was no significant between-group difference in health-related quality of life, as indicated by the overall change from baseline in the global quality-of-life score (on a 100-point scale, with higher scores indicating better quality of life) based on the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (between-group difference, -2.47 points; 95% CI, -7.27 to 2.33). The incidence of grade 3 or higher adverse events was 40% in the olaparib group and 23% in the placebo group (between-group difference, 16 percentage points; 95% CI, -0.02 to 31); 5% and 2% of the patients, respectively, discontinued the trial intervention because of an adverse event.
CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with a germline
Apalutamide for Metastatic, Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer.
N Engl J Med. 2019; 381(1):13-24 [PubMed] Related Publications
METHODS: In this double-blind, phase 3 trial, we randomly assigned patients with metastatic, castration-sensitive prostate cancer to receive apalutamide (240 mg per day) or placebo, added to ADT. Previous treatment for localized disease and previous docetaxel therapy were allowed. The primary end points were radiographic progression-free survival and overall survival.
RESULTS: A total of 525 patients were assigned to receive apalutamide plus ADT and 527 to receive placebo plus ADT. The median age was 68 years. A total of 16.4% of the patients had undergone prostatectomy or received radiotherapy for localized disease, and 10.7% had received previous docetaxel therapy; 62.7% had high-volume disease, and 37.3% had low-volume disease. At the first interim analysis, with a median of 22.7 months of follow-up, the percentage of patients with radiographic progression-free survival at 24 months was 68.2% in the apalutamide group and 47.5% in the placebo group (hazard ratio for radiographic progression or death, 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39 to 0.60; P<0.001). Overall survival at 24 months was also greater with apalutamide than with placebo (82.4% in the apalutamide group vs. 73.5% in the placebo group; hazard ratio for death, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.51 to 0.89; P = 0.005). The frequency of grade 3 or 4 adverse events was 42.2% in the apalutamide group and 40.8% in the placebo group; rash was more common in the apalutamide group.
CONCLUSIONS: In this trial involving patients with metastatic, castration-sensitive prostate cancer, overall survival and radiographic progression-free survival were significantly longer with the addition of apalutamide to ADT than with placebo plus ADT, and the side-effect profile did not differ substantially between the two groups. (Funded by Janssen Research and Development; TITAN ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02489318.).
Daratumumab plus Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone for Untreated Myeloma.
N Engl J Med. 2019; 380(22):2104-2115 [PubMed] Related Publications
METHODS: We randomly assigned 737 patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who were ineligible for autologous stem-cell transplantation to receive daratumumab plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (daratumumab group) or lenalidomide and dexamethasone alone (control group). Treatment was to continue until the occurrence of disease progression or unacceptable side effects. The primary end point was progression-free survival.
RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 28.0 months, disease progression or death had occurred in 240 patients (97 of 368 patients [26.4%] in the daratumumab group and 143 of 369 patients [38.8%] in the control group). The estimated percentage of patients who were alive without disease progression at 30 months was 70.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 65.0 to 75.4) in the daratumumab group and 55.6% (95% CI, 49.5 to 61.3) in the control group (hazard ratio for disease progression or death, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.73; P<0.001). The percentage of patients with a complete response or better was 47.6% in the daratumumab group and 24.9% in the control group (P<0.001). A total of 24.2% of the patients in the daratumumab group, as compared with 7.3% of the patients in the control group, had results below the threshold for minimal residual disease (1 tumor cell per 10
CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who were ineligible for autologous stem-cell transplantation, the risk of disease progression or death was significantly lower among those who received daratumumab plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone than among those who received lenalidomide and dexamethasone alone. A higher incidence of neutropenia and pneumonia was observed in the daratumumab group. (Funded by Janssen Research and Development; MAIA ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02252172.).
Management of bone health in solid tumours: From bisphosphonates to a monoclonal antibody.
Cancer Treat Rev. 2019; 76:57-67 [PubMed] Related Publications
Phase 2 study of anastrozole in recurrent estrogen (ER)/progesterone (PR) positive endometrial cancer: The PARAGON trial - ANZGOG 0903.
Gynecol Oncol. 2019; 154(1):29-37 [PubMed] Related Publications
METHODS: Investigator initiated single-arm, open label trial of anastrozole, 1 mg/d in patients with ER and/or PR positive hormonal therapy naive metastatic endometrial cancer. Patients were treated until progressive disease (PD) or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end-point was clinical benefit (response + stable disease) at 3 months. Secondary endpoints include progression-free survival (PFS), quality of life (QOL) and toxicity.
RESULTS: Clinical benefit rate in 82 evaluable patients at 3 months was 44% (95% CI: 34-55%) with a best response by RECIST of partial response in 6 pts. (7%; 95% CI: 3-15%). The median PFS was 3.2 months (95% CI: 2.8-5.4). Median duration of clinical benefit was 5.6 months (95% CI: 3.0-13.7). Treatment was well tolerated. Patients who had clinical benefit at 3 months reported clinically significant improvements in several QOL domains compared to those with PD; this was evident by 2 months including improvements in: emotional functioning (39 vs 6%: p = 0.002), cognitive functioning (45 vs 19%: p = 0.021), fatigue (47 vs 19%: p = 0.015) and global health status (42 vs 9%: p = 0.003).
CONCLUSION: Although the objective response rate to anastrozole was relatively low, clinical benefit was observed in 44% of patients with ER/PR positive metastatic endometrial cancer and associated with an improvement in QOL.
MALT Lymphoma as a Model of Chronic Inflammation-Induced Gastric Tumor Development.
Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 2019; 421:77-106 [PubMed] Related Publications
Ferroptosis at the crossroads of cancer-acquired drug resistance and immune evasion.
Nat Rev Cancer. 2019; 19(7):405-414 [PubMed] Related Publications
ALPK1 hotspot mutation as a driver of human spiradenoma and spiradenocarcinoma.
Nat Commun. 2019; 10(1):2213 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
Cellular and sub-cellular Cu isotope fractionation in the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line: proliferating versus neuron-like cells.
Anal Bioanal Chem. 2019; 411(19):4963-4971 [PubMed] Related Publications
EUropean REcommendations for female FERtility preservation (EU-REFER): A joint collaboration between oncologists and fertility specialists.
Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2019; 138:233-240 [PubMed] Related Publications
Immune induction strategies in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer to enhance the sensitivity to PD-1 blockade: the TONIC trial.
Nat Med. 2019; 25(6):920-928 [PubMed] Related Publications
Half-Wave Potentials and In Vitro Cytotoxic Evaluation of 3-Acylated 2,5-
Molecules. 2019; 24(9) [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications