In 2023 there were numerous groundbreaking developments in diabetology, metabolic diseases and endocrinology. In the field of diabetes, recommendations for managing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in patients with Type 2 diabetes were revised, and a new algorithm for estimating cardiovascular risks in primary prevention was introduced. In addition, patients with diabetes mellitus eligible for a category B convention may claim full reimbursement for a continuous interstitial glucose measurement system using a subcutaneous sensor. The widespread use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists for the therapeutic management of obesity was a notable feature of 2023. In the field of endocrine pathologies, new international guidelines on prolactinoma treatment have been published. Moreover, the 2016 recommendations on the management of adrenal incidentalomas, issued by the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE) in collaboration with the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors (ENSAT), have been updated

The recent introduction of the artificial intelligence-powered linear accelerator Ethos® in our department now allows us to offer patients continuous and real-time adaptation of their radiation therapy treatment based on the patients’ daily anatomy.

In 2023, this adaptive radiotherapy was performed for the first time in the world in “breath-hold” to treat gastric lymphomas. This approach allows for a reduction of the irradiation margins while preserving adjacent organs.

Another area of innovation is stereotactic radiotherapy (SBRT) for liver tumors with mechanical ventilation assistance, which is an alternative to surgery for selected cases. Since 2018, non-invasive ventilation assistance, called MANIV, has been adopted, reducing irradiation margins and improving treatment quality. In October 2023, the Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc became the first center to integrate MANIV into their routine clinical practice for treating liver tumors.

Stereotactic radiotherapy can also be offered for localized prostate cancer. It represents a faster and more precise alternative compared to traditional radiotherapy. Studies show comparable success rates with fewer side effects, highlighting the potential of SBRT for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Finally, an increasing number of patients are being treated with radiotherapy for bladder cancer. This conservative treatment is a new therapeutic alternative that can be offered under certain conditions. The application of adaptive radiotherapy in this indication is of maximum benefit due to the rapid and frequent variation in bladder volume during treatment. This makes it possible to avoid cystectomy and offer patients a better quality of life.

All these developments in radiotherapy align with our department's commitment to progress and improve patient care regarding oncological outcomes and quality of life.

The year 2023 witnessed a significant revolution in oncology, marked by the emergence of new anti-cancer molecules and innovative strategies.

Antibody conjugates have considerably improved patient survival in numerous cancer types. These treatments are likely to play a key role in advanced-stage disease of urothelial cancers and in several breast cancer types as well, including triple-negative, HER2-positive, and a new entity known as “HER2 weak”.

Considering renal cancer, targeting the HIF transcription factor by means of a targeted therapy that inhibits not only angiogenesis, but also various survival pathways, looks rather promising. This novel therapeutic strategy can be administered either as a single agent or in combination.

Uveal melanoma is the most common primary malignant intraocular tumor. Despite the efficacy of local treatments, half of all affected patients experience extra-ocular recurrence, with liver involvement observed in 90% of them. Median survival for patients with metastatic disease has been proven to range between 6 and 12 months. Targeted treatments, such as thermo-ablation or surgery, likely improve the prognosis of patients with single-site recurrences. Chemotherapy is not very effective. Treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as anti-PD-1 antibodies, only modestly increases overall survival in metastatic disease patients. Tebentafusp, a new form of immunotherapy, is the first molecule to demonstrate a real improvement in overall survival of metastatic patients. Tebentafusp is a T-cell receptor coupled with an anti-CD3 antibody, being able to transform all lymphocytes into anti-melanocyte lymphocytes. Nevertheless, only patients with an HLA-A*02:01 allele, meaning 50% of Caucasians, are likely to benefit from this therapeutic innovation.