Mouscron

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive brain tumor, affecting about 600 patients annually in Belgium. Despite treatments including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, survival remains limited, with most patients living 12-18 months and only 5% surviving beyond 5 years. The BELGICA trial aims to determine if a more focused radiotherapy approach can reduce side effects and improve quality of life for patients with GBM. This trial compares two radiotherapy approaches: one with a smaller clinical target volume (CTV) margin of 10mm and the other with the standard margin of 15mm around the tumor or tumor bed. Reducing the CTV margin is expected to decrease the amount of healthy brain tissue exposed to radiation, potentially lowering treatment toxicity without compromising tumor control. Participants will be monitored from randomization until the study ends to assess overall survival. Researchers will also evaluate treatment side effects and quality of life. Eligibility requires adults with newly diagnosed glioblastoma who are suitable for chemoradiotherapy. Assessments include clinical evaluations and MRI scans, while safety and side effects are carefully tracked throughout the study.

Researchers are studying women who recently had gestational diabetes (GDM) and still show signs of glucose intolerance shortly after giving birth. These women are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2DM), with about half expected to develop it within five years. The study aims to see if the drug semaglutide, a long-acting GLP-1 agonist known for lowering blood sugar, reducing weight, and protecting the heart, can lower the risk of developing T2DM in these women compared to a placebo. This is a phase 3, multi-center, double-blind randomized controlled trial conducted in Belgium. Women 6 to 24 weeks postpartum with a history of GDM and glucose intolerance will be randomly assigned to receive either semaglutide or a placebo once weekly via injection. The semaglutide dose will be increased over eight weeks to a maintenance dose of 1 mg per week. Participants will also receive lifestyle guidance and be followed for three years. After stopping the intervention, they will undergo a 75g oral glucose tolerance test within 3 to 6 months. The study also groups participants based on their body mass index at early postpartum. Participants will be regularly assessed through blood tests measuring fasting glucose, oral glucose tolerance, and HbA1c to track diabetes development up to 160 weeks. Secondary measures include the need for diabetes rescue therapy, return to normal blood sugar levels, weight changes, and other metabolic functions. Safety and compliance will be monitored throughout the study to ensure participant well-being over the total study duration.