dr. Giorgio G. G. Hallaert (MD, PhD)

Our clinical research focuses on glioblastoma. We studied the role and the influence of the subventricular zone on glioblastoma patient survival. We showed that contact of the contrast-enhancing part of glioblastoma at diagnosis is a negative prognostic factor, but the explanation for this observation remains elusive.
We studied the influence of incidental irradiation of the subventricular zone on glioblastoma patient survival but no correlation was shown. Methylation of the O-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) gene promoter is an important prognostic and predictive factor.
We showed that patients harbouring a glioblastoma with “weakly” methylated MGMT, using the qMSP method, also have a significantly better prognosis than patients with fully unmethylated tumors.
We also studied the impact of extent of surgical resection on glioblastoma patient survival, and we showed that partial resection results in an improved survival as compared to biopsy-only.
Our ongoing research focuses on the role of miRNAs and methylation in glioblastoma.
 

• Giorgio G. G. Hallaert is interested to receive invitations for presentations or talks