Videos

Too many lives are lost to cancer because it’s found too late. Current detection methods are slow, costly, and sometimes unreliable. But what if our blood holds the key? Researcher Ehsan Mohammadi (VITO - KU Leuven - imec) is exploring how tiny particles released by our cells can signal early signs of cancer.

Niké Guilbert (UGent) discovered mysterious bacterial packets in the blood of some patients. Danger or medical breakthrough? Find out in this 2-minute video.

In more than 1 in 10 colon cancer patients, metastases emerge to a barely known body part: the peritoneum. Such peritoneal metastases are extremely deadly and difficult to treat. Cancer researcher Jesse Demuytere reveals how the peritoneum is not only a victim, but also possibly a henchman of the cancer cells. Watch the video.

In Belgium, one in nine women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. With radiation, the disease can be treated. Although that radiation can also be harmful to the heart. Fortunately, there is a simple solution: hold your breath! Renée De Noyette (UGent) explains how this works.

Chemotherapy has been an important weapon in the fight against cancer for decades. But unfortunately, it affects not only cancer cells, but also healthy cells - resulting in severe side effects. Doctoral student Nuran Caz wants to change this with her research. She is working on an innovative therapy in which the chemotherapy, as in the Trojan Horse, is hidden in order to target the unsuspecting cancer cells.

Have you ever wondered why some breast cancer survivors develop a new cancer years after successful radiotherapy? Every person has a unique biology, influencing how they respond to treatments like radiotherapy. Yet, most patients receive standardized treatment plans. But what if we could tailor treatments to each individual? Cancer researcher Renu Dayal is working to make radiotherapy safer and more personalized. She hopes to ensure that every patient stays protected long after treatment.

What if every school day felt like a mental marathon? For a lot of children receiving radiotherapy to treat a brain tumor, that is the reality. Radiotherapy saves lives, but unfortunately also comes with side effects, such as memory and concentration problems. To counteract this, Isabeau De Bie is setting her sights on noradrenaline, a hormone that can reinvigorate memory and attention. With promising initial results!

Everyone knows breast cancer and lung cancer, but have you ever heard of sarcoma? This rare cancer can occur throughout the body and affects 1% of cancer patients. Because sarcoma is so rare, large studies with patients are difficult. That's why Stefanie Gijsels is developing innovative models to mimic tumors in the lab and test new treatments.

Did you know alpacas are more than just cute and fluffy? 🦙 They create special antibodies that can help us fight cancer! 🎗️ These tiny but mighty "nanobodies" are 10x smaller than regular antibodies, meaning they can easily reach hidden cancer cells in the body. But there's a catch: nanobodies tend to stick around the kidneys for too long, potentially causing damage. Researcher Dora Chigoho (VUB) tries to understand better why this happens. Her goal is to help develop nanobodies that track down cancer and don't stick in the kidneys at all.

Did you know that researchers can rebuild white blood cells in the lab to fight cancer? Professor Eva Lion (UAntwerpen) explains how she pulls out her scientific toolbox to equip white blood cells with the right tools to track and kill cancer cells.

Some 300,000 people overcame cancer in Belgium in the past decade. Great news, but there is a downside: chemotherapy can cause permanent damage to the sense of hearing and balance, leading to hearing loss, tinnitus, or balance problems. To better identify the problem, Heleen Vander Biest (UGent) will test patients' ears just before starting, during, and after chemotherapy.

If you get a glioblastoma, you usually only have about 15 months to live.This malignant tumour spreads rapidly through the brain and unfortunately cannot be cured. Yanti De Visser is working on a personalised treatment to already slow down the brain tumour - with success. "The first results show that our approach has the potential to extend patients' lives by years, rather than months," she says.