Fundamental Research

By its very nature,  the activity of the pathologist makes it possible to develop both fundamental research and clinical research.  

Fundamental Research - Erasme Hospital

Research and Development Unit in Neuro-Oncology

For many years now we have been interested  in the biology of astrocyte brain tumours in general and their migratory and invasive properties in particular. These properties are largely responsible for the aggressiveness of these tumours and the high rate of mortality in these patients. 

The tumour invasion is a complex process that requires interaction between the host tissue and the tumour cells.   

Our aims are:

  • To identify new diagnostic and/or prognostic markers for astrocyte tumours so as to improve the treatment available to patients. 
  • To study the role of new markers in the fundamental processes of migration of these astrocyte cells.
  • To study the process of astrocyte cell migration taking into account the host tissue and the extracellular matrix whose composition varies depending on the anatomical location within the brain. 

Research and Development Unit in Gastroenterology

This unit is interested essentially in the role of galectins in neoplasmic and inflammatory diseases of the digestive tube and carries out clinical trials as well as in vivo and in vitro experimental studies.  

The group uses a large database, developed within our department, with which to study the prognostic role of galectins in cancers of the digestive tube. The role of galectins in cancers and inflammatory diseases is studied using animal models and cell lines. 

The unit also supports a number of research projects managed by the Digestive Oncology Units of the Erasmus Hospital and Ghent University Hospital. 

Research and Development Unit in Pneumology

The centre of interest of this unit is lung cancer, with a particular focus on research into diagnostic and/or prognostic markers, such as the contribution of glycohistochemistry through the role of galectins in lung cancer.  

The Anatomical Pathology Laboratory participates in a national study initiated by the company N.V. Roche: a comparative study of the immunohistochemical expression of various anti-EGFR antibodies in non-small cell lung cancer.

Research and Development Unit in Gynaecology

This unit is interested essentially in the morphological and prognostic characterisation of non-tumour  (endometriosis, ano-genital pathologies) and tumour pathologies in gynaecopathology and senology with the aid of molecular and immunohistochemical biology techniques, in cooperation with clinical teams in surgical gynaecology and senology, mucous pathologies, radiology and the medical oncology team. 

The principal scientific publications that report on the fundamental and clinical research of this multidisciplinary team are accessible on the website www.pubmed.com.

Recherche Fondamentale - Institut Jules Bordet

The Anatomical Pathology Department cooperates actively with the Jules Bordet Institute research teams in the framework of translational research. In addition, many multicentre clinical trials (EORTC, BIG, etc.) are coordinated from the anatomopathological point of view by the department that has also become a reference centre. We also carry out more specific projects, such as: 

PROJET 1

OPTIMISATION DES ÉTAPES PRÉANALYTIQUES POUR LE SÉQUENÇAGE. INFLUENCE DE L’ÉTAPE PRÉANALYTIQUE SUR LA DÉTECTION DE MUTATIONS GÉNIQUES PAR SÉQUENÇAGE HAUT DÉBIT (NGS).

PROJET 2

CONTRÔLE DE QUALITÉ PAR SPECTROSCOPIE INFRAROUGE. ANALYSE DE LA QUALITÉ ET DE LA PRÉSERVATION (STABILITÉ) DES PROTÉINES DES ÉCHANTILLONS CONGELÉS DE LA TUMOROTHÈQUE PAR SPECTROSCOPIE À INFRAROUGE.

PROJET 3

BIOPSIES LIQUIDES. EXTENSION DE LA TUMOROTHÈQUE AUX ÉCHANTILLONS DE SANG/PLASMA GRÂCE AU FINANCEMENT DE TUBES STABILISANTS DE PLASMA PAR LES AMIS DE L’IJB. ANALYSE QUALITATIVE ET QUANTITATIVE DE L’ADN TUMORAL DANS LE PLASMA.

PROJET 4

ANALYSE DE L’INFILTRAT INFLAMMATOIRE, INTRA- ET PÉRITUMORAL CHEZ LES PATIENTS OPÉRÉS POUR CARCINOME HÉPATOCELLULAIRE APRÈS RADIO-EMBOLISATION INTRA-ARTÉRIELLE.

PROJET 5

CEA ET CTDNA, FACTEURS PRONOSTIQUES POST CHIRURGIE DES CANCERS COLORECTAUX PRIMITIFS ET MÉTASTATIQUES HÉPATIQUES.

Mise à jour : 04/2021