There are about 13446 clinical studies being (or have been) conducted in Belgium. The country of the clinical trial is determined by the location of where the clinical research is being studied. Most studies are often held in multiple locations & countries.
Liver transplantation (LT) is the only curative option for a selection of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on clinical selection criteria known as the Milan criteria. Nevertheless, 15% of these patients still show tumour recurrence after LT. In a monocentric pilot study, we have demonstrated that specific changes in N-glycan profiles (measured before LT) occur in HCC patients receiving LT1. These specific changes proved to be strongly associated with the risk of HCC recurrence and overall death after LT, independent of the criteria used for stringent patient selection. Pathophysiologically, it is known that abberations in protein glycosylation are involved in the onset en development of HCC. As such, a prognostic biomarker was developed that can clearly differentiate between patients with and without increased risk of HCC recurrence. The primary goal of this research study is to set up a prospective, multicentre study in order to validate the prognostic value of this glycomics-based serum biomarker. As such, the risk of tumour recurrence in patients undergoing LT for HCC will be estimated independent from the Milan criteria and the French alpha-fetoprotein model as the current standard. The secondary goal is to explore the potential of serum glycomics as markers of early recurrence after LT for HCC. More specifically, we aim to investigate whether serial glycomics determination at fixed time points after LT could allow early detection of recurrent HCC even before it is visible on conventional imaging. Consequently, a diagnostic biomarker for monitoring early recurrence after LT could be developed with the potential of redirecting treatment strategies already in an early disease stage. In case the promising data from the pilot study will be confirmed, the prognostic biomarker could be implemented in daily clinical practice leading to optimization of patient selection using a simple blood test before LT. More specifically, this marker could improve organ allocation thus preventing unnessecary treatment toxicity for the patient and reducing the costs of treatment for society. Moreover, it should be emphasized that a patent application was already submitted and accepted in collaboration with TechTranfer of Ghent University (PCT/EP2021/057788-Prognostic markers of disease recurrence in liver transplant recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma).
This study is open to adults aged 18 years and older with cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. The purpose of this study is to find out whether a medicine called BI 1291583 is tolerated by people with cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. Participants are put randomly into 2 groups. One group takes BI 1291583 tablets and the other group takes placebo tablets. Placebo tablets look like BI 1291583 tablets but do not contain any medicine. Participants in both groups take 1 tablet once a day for 12 weeks. Participants have twice the chance of being placed in the BI 1291583 group than in the placebo group. Participants are in the study for about 6 months. During this time, they visit the study site 7 times. At the visits, the doctors check the health of the participants and note any health problems that could have been caused by BI 1291583.
Akkermansia muciniphila is a naturally occurring bacterium found in the healthy human gastrointestinal tract. Analysis of the gut microbiota of NSCLC or RCC patients shows that the presence of Akkermansia is associated with the clinical efficacy of immunotherapy. In preclinical models, oral administration of the Akkermansia p2261 strain reverses resistance to PD-1 blockade. In the clinical setting, it is therefore hypothesized that the oral administration of Oncobax®-AK to cancer patients under immunotherapy, but whose gut microbiota is deficient in Akkermansia will restore / improve the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with NSCLC or RCC.
The overall aim of this observational study is to investigate how individual differences influence the effects of mindfulness meditation to uncover for whom mindfulness is beneficial and for whom it may be harmful. The first objective is to identify the mechanisms underlying the effects of mindfulness meditation on mental health. The second objective is to examine how three candidate factors, namely trauma symptoms, tendency to dissociate, and repetitive negative thinking, influence the effect of mindfulness meditation on mental health. Adults who enrolled for a Mindfulness-Based Intervention (MBI) at the participating sites (n=120 for each site) will be invited to participate. Before the start of the MBI, after half of the sessions, at the end of the MBI and at 3-months follow-up, participants will complete self-report questionnaires. The main outcomes are symptoms of anxiety and depression, quality of life, wellbeing, and adverse effects resulting from the MBI. A subset of participants will be invited for a semi-structured interview after the end of the intervention.
The purpose of this extension study is to provide continued treatment with Roche investigational medicinal product (IMP[s]) monotherapy or Roche IMP(s) combined with other agent(s) or comparator agent(s) for eligible participants with cancer who are still on study treatment at the time of roll-over from the parent study and who do not have access to the study treatment locally.
The primary objective of the study is to examine whether there is a difference in disability after 12 months of Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) in patients with Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome Type 2 (PSPS T2) after receiving a standardized pain medication tapering protocol before SCS implantation, a personalized pain medication tapering protocol before SCS implantation, or no tapering protocol before SCS implantation. The secondary objective of the study is to examine whether there is a difference after 12 months of SCS in PSPS T2 patients after receiving a standardized pain medication tapering protocol before SCS implantation, a personalized pain medication tapering protocol before SCS implantation, or no tapering protocol before SCS implantation on pain intensity, health-related quality of life, participation, domains affected by substance use, anxiety and depression, medication use, psychological constructs, sleep, central sensitization, and healthcare expenditure.
To evaluate the intra-operative efficacy of a new intra-operative viewing device.
Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) affects 30% of women worldwide. It negatively influences physical activity, work productivity, sexual life and overall quality of life. In 2018, the FIGO (International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics) revised its definition of AUB (FIGO-AUB system 1) and the classification of the underlying causes (FIGO-AUB system 2). It includes HMB, which is a subjective parameter and therefore patient determined. The FIGO-AUB system 2 describes the underlying causes of AUB through the acronym PALM-COEIN: Polyps, Adenomyosis, Leiomyomatosis, Malignancy, Coagulopathy, Endometrial, Iatrogenic and not otherwise specified. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline on HMB recommends the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) 52 mg as the treatment of first choice in women with no identified pathology, fibroids less than 3cm in diameter, which are not causing distortion of the uterine cavity, or adenomyosis. If a woman declines a LNG-IUS, non-hormonal (fibrinolytics or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)) and other hormonal pharmacological treatments can be considered. If treatment is unsuccessful, the woman declines pharmacological treatment, or symptoms are severe, an endometrial ablation (EA) or hysterectomy can be an alternative option. The latter is a definitive solution, but it is an invasive option, with a risk of serious complications. An EA is a procedure that destroys the endometrium. It aims to reduce the menstrual flow, sometimes causing amenorrhea. Initially, it was performed through hysteroscopy. Later on, second-generation devices became available. NovaSure is an example of a second-generation EA device, using a bipolar radiofrequency impedance-controlled system that evaporates endometrial tissue. The EA procedure is a minimally invasive alternative to hysterectomy. It is known to result in amenorrhea in 50% of women, with satisfaction rates between 80-96% and reported reintervention rates around 10%. Moreover, it is feasible to perform the procedure using only local anaesthesia. The investigators aim to assess the patient acceptability and feasibility of NovaSure EA in an outpatient setting with a short observation (≤4 hours) This observational prospective cohort study will be performed in the Ghent University Hospital (Ghent), Leuven Catholic University Hospital (Leuven) and Turnhout General Hospital (Turnhout). The surgeon performing the procedure will be the same per institution. The duration of the study is estimated at 4 months.
This study is open to people with a skin disease called Netherton syndrome (NS). People can join the study if they are 12 years and older. The purpose of this study is to find out whether a medicine called spesolimab helps people with NS. Participants are divided into a spesolimab and a placebo group. Placebo injections look like spesolimab injections but do not contain any medicine. Every participant has a 2 in 3 chance of being in the spesolimab group. In the beginning, participants get the study medicine as an injection into a vein. Afterwards, they get it as an injection under the skin every month. After 4 months, participants in the placebo group switch to spesolimab treatment. Participants are in the study for about 1 year. During this time, they visit the study site 16 times. Where possible, 4 of 16 visits can be done at the participant's home instead of the study site. The doctors regularly check participants' NS symptoms. The results are compared between the groups to see whether spesolimab works. The doctors also regularly check participants' general health and take note of any unwanted effects.
The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of perioperative dostarlimab compared with standard of care (SOC) in participants with untreated T4N0 or Stage III (resectable), defective mismatch repair/ microsatellite instability high (dMMR/MSI-H) colon cancer.