BELGIAN RESEARCH 2020

Page 84

© BIG

Saving lives by advancing breast cancer research Interview with Pr David CAMERON, Chair of BIG (Breast International Group), University of Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, NHS Lothian only global study to test the addition of pertuzumab to chemotherapy and trastuzumab, and demonstrated for those patients with a higher risk of cancer (as evidenced by its spread to lymph nodes) adding pertuzumab gave an additional benefit since it showed a 28% decrease of the risk of recurrence.

C

ould you remind us how BIG started? The Breast International Group (BIG) was created in 1996 by Prof. Martine Piccart and Prof. Aron Goldhirsch as a not-forprofit organisation dedicated to finding the right treatment for every patient with breast cancer. The not-for-profit became a legal entity in 1999, with its headquarters in Brussels. Today, the BIG network unites over 55 groups and reaches across more than 50 countries and 6 continents, connecting thousands of hospitals and more than 10.000 world-class breast cancer experts. Indeed global collaboration is crucial to make significant advances in breast cancer research. Over 20 years later, more than 60 trials have been run under the BIG umbrella, including several landmark trials that have had a real impact on breast cancer treatments. So far, approximately 95.000 patients have taken part in BIG trials all over the world. What is more BIG has invested over 94% of its income in pioneering breast cancer research.

What treatments did BIG help develop within the last 20 years? In addition to these studies with trastuzumab and pertuzumab, we carried out numerous studies in order to improve all types of treatments, be it hormone therapy, chemotherapy, bisphosphonates or radiotherapy. Our goal remains to change the way patients are treated for the better. What do you think are the main challenges in the field of breast cancer research? We remain committed to better understand the biology of various breast cancers and defining the subgroups where particular drugs work for particular kinds of cancer. In that perspective we collect samples of cancers for translational research. Whilst many of our studies are sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry, some trials and research programmes are sponsored by BIG member Groups or BIG as in the case with AURORA, and in all cases BIG (together with other academic groups) retains an independent control over the data and its analysis. Furthermore BIG carries out a variety of fund-raising campaigns in order to obtain relative financial independence. What is more BIG is working more and more with patients and patient advocacy groups: they have become important partners in recent years and BIG should increase its engagement with them in the years to come.

Could you tell us about the international clinical trials you are supporting? Let me start with HERA: this study aimed at testing the benefit of the drug Herceptin® (trastuzumab) in treating women with human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) 2- positive primary breast cancer. Each year 2 million people – 1% of which are men - are diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide, and you may be aware that HER2-positive breast cancer represents approximately 15-20% of these patients, and is a particularly aggressive form of the disease that previously meant poor survival rates. The first large trial of its kind with 5,102 patients recruited, HERA was designed and coordinated by the Institut Jules Bordet in Brussels together with Frontier Science Scotland and BIG, and enjoyed the financial sponsorship of Roche. It was the biggest, most successful pulling together of data so far, which made it possible to avoid duplication of research. HERA’s results indicated that one year of treatment with trastuzumab, together with other conventional curative treatments such as chemotherapy, had a significant and sustained benefit in preventing cancer recurrence and reduced by 26% the risk of dying. Furthermore two years of the drug was not found to have a significant benefit in comparison to one year of treatment. AURORA is another important, ongoing research study. Its goal is to understand genetic and molecular changes happening in all types of breast cancer when it is first present as well as when it comes back. According to the first results, cancers do change between their first appearance and their reappearance; yet the meaning of these changes and their implications for treatment remain to be clarified.

© BIG

I would also like to mention APHINITY, which focused on further improvements in the chances of cure for patients with HER2 positive primary breast cancer. Building on the results of HERA (and some other similar trials elsewhere in the world) it was the

Workshop about progress in breast cancer research with Her Majesty the Queen of the Belgians on BIG’s 20th anniversary

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Alternative methods to deal with new toxins

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INFOPOLE Cluster TIC The Walloon network of digital stakeholders at the service of innovation

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CREMAN - Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Centre A well-informed partner of the industrial innovations of tomorrow

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Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department – ULiège Cutting-edge research and industrial applications join forces

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Chemical Engineering Research Unit – Liege University (ULiège) Working towards sustainable transformation processes

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Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules - CERM Polymers to serve coatings, biomaterials and energy

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StratiCELL Smart science dedicated to healthcare

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SOWALFIN, a key innovation stakeholder in Wallonia

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PDC*line Pharma Your partner in immuno-oncology

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Quality Assistance Analytical expertise for tomorrow’s innovative medicines

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Medi-Line A medical devices expert

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GSK Vaccines An amazing place to create the future

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Miracor Medical SA Cutting-edge cardiac care

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AbbVie Transforming patients' lives

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Dendrogenix A new family of molecules that fight deafness and cancer

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The leading expert in the tumour microenvironment

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Interview with Mr Julien Compère, CEO of University Hospital of Liege (CHU Liège

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Accessia Pharma Provide efficient tools to grow

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Maximising the participation of Walloon stakeholders in European research programmes

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Sizeable investments for the life sciences

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SRIW, a key partner in the regional strategy for plastic recycling & circular economy

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Bridge2Health - B2H Providing solutions leveraging excellence

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Agoria Wallonia brings the technology industry into the 4.0 era

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Industry as the main source of technological progress

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Pro-Rector for Research at UCLouvain

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Haute Ecole Lucia de Brouckère Bachelor’s in medical electronics: a cutting-edge course as a response to the increasing demand for specialist technicians

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Haute Ecole Lucia de Brouckère Master’s in Industrial Engineering Sciences: a highly practical course that integrates research and the needs of the industrial world

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Breast International Group (BIG): the power of international collaboration in cancer research

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A widely recognized expertise in interdisciplinarity

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Queen Fabiola Children’s University Hospital – HUDERF Ensuring optimal development of young children

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The Center for Research in Cognition & Neurosciences

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treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

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Teresinha Leal’s research on the identification of biomarkers in the sweat gland to evaluate the efficacy of treatment of Cystic Fibrosis

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Regenerative medicine to treat liver diseases

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RNA epigenetics in the battle against cancer

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Brussels Polytechnic School – EPB A well-renowned training course to reflect proven global standing

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The 4MAT Department The Specialist in Inorganic Materials

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Vrije Universiteit Brussel - VUB Research and innovation for health

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Université Libre de Bruxelles - ULB Interdisciplinary and interregional research for the benefit of health

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Interview with Prof. Alban de KERCHOVE d’EXAERDE, Research Director at the Laboratory of Neurophysiology of the Faculty of Medicine of the Université Libre of Brussels, President of the Belgian Society of Neuroscience, Vice-President of the Brussels Commissionon Animal Experimentation

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Bayer A pharmaceutical company focusing on innovation to improve patient’s quality of life and answer unmet medical needs

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Alcon A global leader in eye care

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Bolstering the appeal of ULB research centres at a global level

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NVS Consulting Your consultancy partner in clinical research on medicines and medical devices

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Nestlé Strong environmental responsibility

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Towards a more open and innovative Brussels’ economy

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Nestlé Health Sciences A strong player in medical nutrition and consumer care

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pharma.be: Belgium, an innovative pharmavalley in Europe

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Accelerating innovation in medical devices and e-health for patients and healthcare providers

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MedTech Accelerator® Stimulating innovation in medical technologies

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AZ Groeninge implements new care model from a holistic approach

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Better measure the heterogeneity of inflammatory breast cancer

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AZ Jan Palfijn Gent Already two pregnancies after brand new Corona test at IVF

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Clinical research at UZ Gent: a focus on patient-oriented, personalized medicine

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Biotronik A leader in the field of cardiovascular devices

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Arseus Medical Group Innovative solutions for health professionals

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Fujirebio Europe A pioneer in the field of Alzheimer diagnostics

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ProDigest Specialists in intestinal research

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PharmAbs The KU Leuven Antibody Center

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VAXXIUM Your partner for the development of new vaccines

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ECSOR Expertise at the service of clinical research

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VIB: Excellence-driven basic research in life sciences with a strong societal impact

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Ecosynth NV Your partner for sustainable molecule and process development

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UZ Leuven - University Hospitals Leuven High-level research

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Becetel: high-performance materials research for industry and the public sector

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imec, a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies

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Becetel: Belgian research centre for pipes and fittings

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VITO Reducing the risk of sustainable innovation for companies

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Flemish universities must get the necessary means to remain appealing

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