Antwerp Surgical Training, Anatomy and Research Centre (ASTARC)

Co-promotor involved: Prof. dr. Jeroen Hendriks.

The Antwerp Surgical Training, Anatomy and Research Centre’s oncological research concentrates mainly on combination treatments of surgery and chemotherapy. Isolated lung perfusion has extensively been investigated for this in animal experiments and clinical studies. Phase I and II studies by ASTARC have shown that isolated lung perfusion and selective pulmonary artery infusion to deliver chemotherapy is feasible and effective in achieving high lung levels of chemotherapy, as well as in eliminating pulmonary metastases and improving survival. Furthermore, ASTARC is closely involved in the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) studies on bronchial carcinomas and pleural mesotheliomas. ASTARC participates in the new TNM classification of lung cancer and thymus tumors. ASTARC has also contributed to the elaboration of the surgical aspects of the new histological lung cancer classification of IASLC/American Thoracic Oncology. In addition, ASTARC has also been involved in the new guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy) published by the European Society of Medical Oncology in the Annals of Oncology.