Projects
Patient-centred and cost-neutral introduction of novel interventions in gynaecology KU Leuven
We aim to study the introduction of novel technologies, such as vNOTES and vaginal laser application, into our gynaecologic practice. For vNOTES hysterectomy, we will study the learning curve, perform a cost minimisation study, and measure the impact of an enhanced recovery protocol on hospital stay. In breast cancer patients under AI, we will perform a randomized controlled trial comparing fractional CO2 vaginal laser to hyaluronic acid ...
Translational research for optimization of preoperative diagnosis and minimally invasive surgical techniques in gynaecology. KU Leuven
Minimally invasive surgery is growing rapidly in various domains, including benign gynaecological surgery. This stems from the advantages for the patient, such as less morbidity, better postoperative quality of life and a shorter interval to regaining normal functioning. But also the societal burden diminishes by omitting or shortening the need for overnight hospitalisation, and by enhancing a quicker return to work. We strive to optimize ...
Improving treatment of rare women’s cancers and conditions. KU Leuven
This research is focusing on rare gynecological conditions, in particular on malignancies diagnosed during pregnancy and rare gynecological tumors. Altogether, rare women’s cancers account for more than 20% of all cancer diagnoses, but still present poorer clinical outcomes in comparison to other single common cancers. Similarly, though rare, the incidence of cancer in pregnancy has been increasing in recent decades, resulting in more complex ...
Improving treatment of rare women’s cancers and conditions. KU Leuven
This research is focusing on rare gynecological conditions, in particular on malignancies diagnosed during pregnancy and rare gynecological tumors. Altogether, rare women’s cancers account for more than 20% of all cancer diagnoses, but still present poorer clinical outcomes in comparison to other single common cancers. Similarly, though rare, the incidence of cancer in pregnancy has been increasing in recent decades, resulting in more complex ...
Fulvestrant in gynecological cancers that are potentially hormone sensitive: the FUCHSia study KU Leuven
Here, we aim to set up a Phase II, multicenter study to test the efficacy of Fulvestrant in patients with ER-positive low-grade gynecological cancers. Fulvestrant is an anti-ER drug already approved for ER-positive metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal women progressing under previous endocrine treatments. Because of its peculiar mechanisms of action, there are indeed high
chances that tumors developing resistance to other hormone ...
Three dimensional ultrasound and artificial intelligence in the characterization of adnexal masses KU Leuven
The objective of the thesis is to develop knowledge on gynecologic ultrasound. Specifically I will concentrate myself on the fields of artificial intelligence and three- dimensional ultrasound applied to the ovarian cancer first and later also focus on the three- dimensional ultrasound to endometrial cancer and uterine malformations. I will participate in the already ongoing research projects and take the chance to start new projects based on ...
An In-vitro and In-vivo Study on the Effect of alpha PLGF in Gynaecological Tumours KU Leuven
Serine auxotrophy: a novel metabolic vulnerability of platinum resistant ovarian cancers? KU Leuven
Ovarian cancer is the eight most common type of cancer in women and accounts for the second highest number of gynecological cancers associated deaths in the developed world. While for many cancer types the overall survival increased over the last years, this is unfortunately not true for ovarian cancer, showing a stagnation over the last decades. For over 40 years standard of care consists out of platinum-based chemotherapy, with or without ...
EFFectiveness of Endometrial Cancer Treatment (EFFECT) KU Leuven
EFFECT (EFFectiveness of Endometrial Cancer Treatment): A study on the quality and effectiveness of the care for endometrial cancer in Belgium.
With 78.920 newly diagnosed cases in 2018, corpus uteri cancer (i.e. uterine cancer, cervix uteri excluded) is the fourth most common cancer in European women after breast, colorectal and lung cancer. Furthermore, it is also the most common gynecologic cancer, preceding ovarian ...