CONGRESS NEWS

Highlights of the 21st annual European Neuroendocrine Tumour Society (ENETS) Conference

BJMO - 2024, issue 4, june 2024

W. Lybaert MD, T. Vandamme MD, PhD, L. Mariën MSc, O. Islam MD, S. Chhajlani MD, C. De Weerdt MSc, I. Nietvelt MSc, M. Ulenaers MD, V. Casneuf MD, M. Maly MD, K. Geboes MD, D. Van Genechten , H. Leupe MD, C.M. Deroose MD, PhD

SUMMARY

During the ENETS Conference, the NETTER-2 trial was again in the spotlight and is shifting [177Lu]Lu-DOTATATE PRRT to the first-line treatment setting of patients with advanced, well-differentiated grade 2 and grade 3 gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (NET). Nuclear medicine treatment for NET is now intensively focusing on alpha-emitting peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). Adding immunotherapy to angiogenesis inhibition for NET is again a disappointing story, and all eyes are now set on the CAR T-cell technology to stimulate anti-tumour immune responses. Delta-like ligand 3 is an inhibitory Notch ligand selectively and highly expressed on the cell surface of small cell lung cancer and neuroendocrine carcinoma, and appears to be a promising target for bispecific T-cell engager therapy. In this report, the most important headlines will be discussed, with comments on the clinical relevance of the different studies.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2024;18(4):164–75)

Read more

Highlights of the Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 2024

BJMO - 2024, issue 3, may 2024

W. Lybaert MD

SUMMARY

This year’s conference was organised in San Francisco from 18–20th January 2024, again as a hybrid event. It was an excellent meeting, with TIGIT as new immune checkpoint target in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Tinengotinib is a new fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitor that enriches the armentarium for cholangiocarcinoma. Considering metastasis-directed therapy in oligometastatic pancreatic cancer is worth the effort. Shifting immunotherapy + angiogenesis inhibition to the transarterial chemoembolisation setting is the way forward in hepatocellular carcinoma. Nivolumab + ipilimumab is the second immunotherapy scheme that shows promising results in the first-line treatment of MSI-high/deficient mismatch repair (MMR) metastatic colorectal cancer. The prognostic role of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in colorectal cancer stage II-III is highly consistent between studies, but its predictive role and how and which chemotherapy to use in case of ctDNA-positivity is more variable/immature at this moment and under active investigation. Top story of ASCO GI 2024 is peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) entering the first-line treatment algorithm of high grade 2 and grade 3 gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours. In this report, the most important headlines will be discussed, with comments on the clinical relevance of the different studies.

(Belg J Med Oncol 2024;18(3):95–108)

Read more

Highlights from ASCO GU 2024

BJMO - 2024, issue 3, may 2024

A. Enguita PhD, T. Feys MBA, MSc

SUMMARY

From January 25th until the 27th of January, San Francisco once again formed the background for the yearly high mass in urological cancer. During the 2024 ASCO Genitourinary cancers symposium, the latest clinical and scientific advances in the management of urothelial, prostate, and renal cell cancer were presented. This report will provide a brief overview of the key presentation at this years’ meeting.

(Belg J Med Oncol 2024;18(3):109–14)

Read more

EMUC23: Expert multidisciplinary discussions in GU cancer diagnosis and treatment

BJMO - volume 18, issue 2, march 2024

H. Van Poppel MD, PhD

SUMMARY

The 15th European Multidisciplinary Congress on Urological Cancers (EMUC23) took place in Marseille, France, from 2 to 5 November 2023, bringing together various medical specialists dedicated to the care of genitourinary (GU) cancer patients. Expert medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, nuclear medicine specialists, urologists and radiologists participated in the multidisciplinary panel discussions. This article aims to provide an overview of the GU cancer diagnosis, treatment updates, and case discussions deliberated during the congress.

(Belg J Med Oncol 2024;18(2):65–7)

Read more

SIOG 2023: Highlights from the International Society of Geriatric Oncology annual conference

BJMO - volume 18, issue 2, march 2024

L. Decoster MD, PhD, C. Kenis RN, PhD

SUMMARY

The annual meeting of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) unites each year different health care workers involved in the treatment of older patients with cancer with the goal of improving personalised care. This year, recent advances in the field of geriatric oncology were discussed, including randomised controlled trials and ASCO guidelines for the implementation of comprehensive geriatric assessment.

(Belg J Med Oncol 2024;18(2):68–70)

Read more

All.Can Belgium Lung Cancer Working Group: Ready for take-off

BJMO - volume 18, issue 1, february 2024

I. Demedts MD, PhD, J. Van Meerbeeck MD, PhD, A. Awada MD, PhD, T. Berghmans MD, PhD

SUMMARY

All.Can Belgium is multi-stakeholder, non-profit organisation working to improve the efficiency of cancer care by focusing on what matters to patients. In this spirit, they bring together healthcare professionals, representatives from patient organisations, policymakers, researchers, and the pharmaceutical industry. Over the last decade, we have witnessed a dramatic evolution in the treatment landscape for patients with lung cancer. However, to have a more profound impact on the lung cancer burden, these therapeutic advances need to be coupled with effective strategies for lung cancer screening, prevention, and patient support. By leveraging on the collaboration between healthcare professionals, patient organisations, policy makers and the pharmaceutical industry, the Lung Cancer Working Group established by All.Can Belgium wants to address the most prominent needs in the care pathway for patients with lung cancer. On the 16th of November 2023, the official launch of the Lung Cancer Working Group was celebrated with a symposium coupling lectures on pertinent issues in lung cancer with patient testimonials.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2024;18(1):33–9)

Read more

Highlights from the European Neuroendocrine Tumour Society congress

BJMO - volume 17, issue 4, june 2023

W. Lybaert MD, T. Vandamme MD, PhD, L. Mariën MSc, O. Islam MD, S. Chhajlani MD, I. Van der Massen MSc, N. Ahmadi Bidakhvidi MD, C.M. Deroose MD, PhD

SUMMARY

The 2023 edition of the European Neuroendocrine Tumour Society (ENETS) congress was held in Vienna between 22nd and 24th March. This article aims to provide an overview of the most remarkable findings and insights presented during this congress.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2023;17(4):139–49)

Read more