Rectal Cancer - Response prediction of rectal cancer based on molecular and functional characteristics of the tumor.
From 01-12-2011 to 28-01-2015
Description
Rectal cancer is a frequent and curable malignancy in the Western world. The introduction of the total mesorectal excision (TME) with its wider lateral margins reduced the number of loco regional recurrences drastically [MacFarlane, 1993; Kapiteijn 2001]. Preoperative radiotherapy has proven its worth in reducing local control rates and overall survival in all stages of rectal cancer [Kapiteijn 2001], which was further increased by the addition of fluorouracil based chemotherapy schedules [Sauer 2004]. Besides the increased local control rate, chemoradiation (CRT) has the additional advantage of inducing a significant tumor downsizing and even down staging [Bosset, 2005; Valentini, 2001]. In 10-30% of the patients no residual tumor tissue after CRT can be observed. These patients have a favourable long term outcome. Currently, the standard therapy for each patient is neoadjuvant treatment followed by extensive surgery regardless of the tumor response. However, the last decade the question arose whether extensive surgery can be avoided and replaced by minimal invasive surgery or no surgery at all for patients with a pathologic complete response (pCR) without compromising tumor control [Habr-Gama, 2004]. To date however, the only way to ascertain pCR is pathologic examination of the resection specimen. Non-invasive assessment of the response of the tumor to neoadjuvant CRT is essential for further selection of patients who could be spared invasive surgery. To achieve this aim, we will assess the usefulness of molecular markers present in the tumor tissue and blood of the patients and two non invasive imaging techniques (Diffusion-Weighted (DW-)MRI and 18-F Fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18FDG-PET) in a group of 80 patients. The molecular and radiological features will be correlated in order to predict response prediction and make treatment adjustments
Team
- Vincent Vandecaveye (Rad Med diag Sc ), Co-promoter (External)
- E. Van Cutsem, Co-promoter (External)
- Annelies Debucquoy, Co-promoter (External)
- Bart De Moor, Co-promoter
- Xavier Sagaert, Co-promoter (External)
- Karin Haustermans, Promoter (External)
- Olivier Gevaert, Team member
- Inge Thijs, Team member
- Sylvia Plevritis, Team member (External)
- Dusan Popovic, Team member
- Yousef El Aalamat, Team member
Financing
Funding: IWT - Agentschap voor Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie
Program/Grant Type: IWT TBM - VLAIO TBM Projects Applied Biomedical Research with a Primary Social finality
Events
2/09/2024:
PhD defense - Martijn Oldenhof
Machine Learning for Advanced Chemical Analysis and Structure Recognition in Drug Discovery
3/09/2024:
Meet the Jury Igor Tetko on Advanced Machine Learning in Drug Discovery
12/09/2024:
Multimodal analysis of cell-free DNA for sensitive cancer detection in low-coverage and low-sample settings
Seminar by Antoine Passemiers
News
STADIUS Alumni Herman Verrelst – new CEO of Biocartis
08 June 2017
Herman Verrelst, the founder of KU Leuven spin-off Cartagenia, who has been working in Silicon Valley, US for the last few years will be returning to Belgium to follow the steps of Rudi Pauwels as CEO of the Belgian diagnostic company, Biocartis.
Supporting healthcare policymaking via machine learning – batteries included!
29 May 2017
STADIUS takes the lead in the data analytics efforts in an ambitious European Project MIDAS.
Marc Claesen gives an interview about his PhD for the magazine of the Faculty of Engineering Sciences "Geniaal"
10 February 2017
Did you know that in Belgium approximately one third of type 2 diabetes patients are unaware of their condition?
Joos Vandewalle is nieuwe voorzitter KVAB
09 October 2016
Op 5 oktober 2016 heeft de Algemene Vergadering van de Academie KVAB Joos Vandewalle verkozen tot voorzitter van de KVAB.