BJMO - 2025, issue Men Vs Women Special Edition , september 2025
Els Dewulf MSc
The treatment landscape of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) has evolved dramatically over the past decade. While androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) was long considered the cornerstone of management, it is now recommended to combine ADT with androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs), with or without chemotherapy, to improve survival outcomes. Multiple combination strategies are now supported by robust evidence from large phase III trials. This review provides a contemporary update, highlighting key efficacy data, safety concerns in poly-medicated older patients, and the growing role of patient preferences in clinical decision-making.
Read moreBJMO - 2025, issue Men Vs Women Special Edition , september 2025
Els Dewulf MSc
Ovarian cancer continues to pose a significant challenge in oncology, largely due to its frequent diagnosis at an advanced stage and a high propensity for recurrence. In Belgium, it was the tenth most common cancer among women in 2022, with 753 new cases reported and a median age at diagnosis of 69 years.1 Despite initial promising response rates to platinum-based chemotherapy, approximately 80% of patients will experience disease relapse within two years following first-line treatment, often developing resistance to platinum agents.2 This clinical pattern highlights the urgent need for continuous innovation in systemic therapies, drifting a shift from conventional cytotoxic agents towards more targeted approaches and immunotherapy. The ultimate goal of these evolving strategies is to extend progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), while meticulously managing treatment-related side effects to preserve the quality of life of the patient. This review offers an overview of the current and emerging treatment landscape for advanced ovarian cancer in both the frontline and relapsed settings.
Read moreBJMO - 2025, issue Men Vs Women Special Edition , september 2025
Els Dewulf MSc
Hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) breast cancer represents the most prevalent subtype of breast cancer, with endocrine therapy (ET) being the cornerstone of treatment in both the early and metastatic settings.1–3 The combination of ET and a cyclin dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i) is the standard first-line treatment in the metastatic setting, offering significant improvements in survival outcomes.3 However, endocrine resistance inevitable develops, leading to disease progression. The optimal treatment sequencing after CDK4/6i progression remains undefined and clinically challenging. Diverse resistance mechanisms complicate treatment decisions in the post-CDK4/6i setting and necessitate the exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies.4 Novel oral selective oestrogen receptor degraders (SERDs), such as elacestrant, show promise, especially in patients whose tumours harbour oestrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) mutations. This article provides an overview of the pivotal role of ESR1 mutations in acquired endocrine resistance and presents the current evidence on the efficacy and safety of SERDs and other novel ETs in the metastatic setting.
Read moreBJMO - 2025, issue SPECIAL, june 2025
Els Dewulf MSc
Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) is a highly aggressive malignancy characterised by rapid growth, high metastatic potential, and poor prognosis. Despite historically limited progress, recent advances in immunotherapy and targeted agents have reshaped the treatment landscape. This article provides an overview of current standards and emerging strategies to improve outcomes for patients with ES-SCLC. The article is limited to systemic therapy and does not address the role of radiotherapy.
Read moreBJMO - 2025, issue SPECIAL, june 2025
Els Dewulf MSc
Over the past decade, the identification of actionable oncogenic driver alterations has revolutionised the treatment landscape of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Among these, rearrangements involving the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene, or ALK fusions, have emerged as a distinct molecular subset, primarily affecting younger patients with little or no smoking history. The development of ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has led to remarkable improvements in clinical outcomes, particularly compared to conventional chemotherapy. More recently, the role of ALK inhibition has also expanded into the adjuvant setting for patients with resectable disease. This article provides an up-to-date overview of the evolving therapeutic landscape for ALK-positive NSCLC.
Read moreBJMO - 2025, issue SPECIAL, june 2025
Els Dewulf MSc
Over the past few years, immunotherapy has radically changed the management of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). More recently, this paradigm shift has extended into early-stage resectable disease. A series of landmark trials have demonstrated that the addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the perioperative setting, i.e. both before (neoadjuvant) and after (adjuvant) surgery, can significantly improve long-term outcomes. This article reviews the latest evidence supporting perioperative immunotherapy in resectable NSCLC.
Read moreBJMO - 2025, issue Special, january 2025
Els Dewulf MSc
The 27th annual BSMO (Belgian Society of Medical Oncology) meeting kicked off with the Breast Cancer Task Force. Dr. Yannick Van Herck (University Hospitals Leuven) started the session with a presentation on early recurrence to (neo)adjuvant systemic therapy in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Next, Dr. Andrea Gombos (Institute Jules Bordet) discussed the occurrence of resistance to cyclin dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) in luminal breast cancer and the optimal treatment choice following CDK4/6i. Finally, Dr. Eline Naert (UZ Ghent) explored the utility of gene expression profiling (GEP) in clinical practice.
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