dr. Kiara Peirens (MD)
Doctoral fellow - Department of diagnostic sciences - Ghent University
Resident in Training for Medical Oncology - Department of Medical Oncology - Ghent University Hospital
Principal Investigators: prof. Lore Lapeire (MD, PhD), prof. David Creytens (MD, PhD) and dr. Fleur Cordier (MD, PhD)
Research focus
High-grade sarcomas are rare, heterogeneous, aggressive tumors of mesenchymal origin, with high metastatic risk. Despite advances in surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, survival remains poor for many subtypes, and determining the prognosis remains challenging. Currently, prognostic stratification in clinical practice relies on traditional risk factors such as age, histology, grade and tumor size. Different nomograms have been developed for this purpose, of which SARCULATOR is currently most generally used. Recent major advances in the fields of biochemistry, radiology (radiomics, radiogenomics) and pathology (immunohistochemistry, micro-environmental factors, molecular genetics) could possibly lead to better prediction of prognosis. However, although genomic testing is more and more part of our daily clinical practice, molecular profiles are currently not yet used for standardized risk stratification or therapeutic decisions. During this research project, we will attempt to refine this traditional risk model by including biomarkers of biochemistry, radiology and pathology, in order to better guide therapeutic strategies in this aggressive disease.
Biography
Dr. Kiara Peirens obtained her medical degree summa cum laude in 2021 at Ghent University, Belgium. She then completed three years of residency training in internal medicine in AZ Sint-Jan Brugge, AZ Groeninge Kortrijk and UZ Gent. In 2024, she started her subspecialisation in medical oncology. Since October 2025, she has also started a PhD project, focusing on prognostic stratification and biomarker integration in high-grade soft tissue sarcoma. Her research aims to refine traditional risk models by incorporating biochemical, radiological and pathological markers, to improve personalised treatment strategies in this rare and aggressive cancer type.
Contact & links
- Lab address: Department of Medical Oncology, Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- ResearchGate
- Member of the Consortium for Sarcoma Research Ghent (ConSaRGhent)
- Kiara Peirens is interested to receive invitations for presentations or talks