Events

Basic Course in Molecular Pathology 2024

for residents in pathology

The program is designed to provide an in-depth teaching of the basic science of molecular pathology and theoretical aspects of molecular analysis techniques on one hand, and a high-level introduction to a limited number of common clinical applications in the field of molecular pathology and immuno-oncology on the other hand.
The primary target audience of this course are pathology residents in the second or third year of training. This provides residents with the opportunity to apply the theoretical knowledge into clinical practice during the last two years of training which are often – at least partially – completed in academic labs offering molecular pathology services.

Organiser: Working group of Molecular Pathology on behalf of the Belgian Society of Pathology.

General structure of the course: The course consists of a two full-day program, mainly consisting of ex cathedra classes, and will cover 4 main areas of interest:

  1. Basic science in molecular genetics and signaling pathways in cancer.
  2. Molecular genetics tests in cancer diagnosis.
  3. Basic science and biomarkers of immuno-oncology.
  4. Introduction to practical applications.

Evaluation: The basic course in molecular pathology is considered an integral part of the general training in surgical pathology. As such, all residents in pathology are obliged to follow the course at least once during their training and passing an exam is required to meet criteria for professional recognition set by the ‘erkenningscommissie pathologische anatomie’. For residents under the authority of the Flemish chamber of the ‘erkenningscommissie pathologische anatomie’ the exam consists of an oral examination taken by a jury of at least two – preferably three –members of the WG of molecular pathology. Residents will receive a limitative list of questions prior to the exam. Each exam consists of four questions from this list:

  1. Terminology: briefly explain three terms randomly chosen from a terminology list covered throughout the course.
  2. Techniques: resident is asked to explain one of the molecular pathology analysis techniques covered during the course.
  3. A question about immuno-oncology.
  4. A question about a common clinical application of molecular pathology.

The exam is pass or fail. After passing the exam, the resident will receive a certificate of completion of the course that needs to be submitted with the request for professional recognition at the end of residency.

Course material: all course material will be distributed to attendants in digital format.

 

Detailed course program:

Parallel sessions in Dutch and French will be available

Friday 15 November

Molecular alterations in cancer

9.00

Basic introduction to molecular biology

Covered content: structure of DNA/RNA/proteins, control of cell cycle, control of transcription and translation, epigenetics
 

Nl: Nadine Van Roy Centrum Medische Genetica, UGent

Fr:  Ricardo De Mendonça ULB

9.45

Receptors, signaling transduction and molecular alterations in cancer

Covered content: working mechanism of receptor tyrosine kinases, main downstream signaling transduction pathways at least RAS-RAF-MAPK and PI3K-AKT, transcription factors, types of genetic alterations in cancer SNVs, CNVs, fusions/rearrangements, … and functional impact oncogene vs suppressor, driver vs passenger
 

Nl: Patrick Pauwels UCLouvain, UZA

Fr : Christine Galant UCLouvain

10.30

Break

10.45

DNA integrity control and DNA repair mechanisms

Covered content: biology of cell cycle control and overview of DNA repair mechanisms
 

Nl: Siska Dedeurwaerdere, AZ Delta

Fr :Lola Martin Matinez, IPG

11.20

DNA repair deficient types of cancer with link to familial cancer syndromes

Covered content: MMRd Lynch – sporadic, BRCAness, PARP synthetic lethality, HRD
Nl: Siska Dedeurwaerdere, AZ Delta

Fr: Lola Martin Matinez, IPG

12.10

Lunch

Molecular diagnostic analysis techniques

13.00

Toolbox of the molecular pathologist

Covered content: general overview bird’s perspective of the common techniques used in molecular pathology

 

Nl: Dieter Peeters UZA/AZ Sint-Maarten

Fr: Nicky D’Haene HUB Erasme

13.20

Introduction to PCR and NGS

Covered content: working mechanism of PCR, principles of sequencing, types of sequencing platforms, difference between DNA and RNAseq

 

Nl: Isabelle Vanden Bempt CME, UZ/KULeuven

Fr: Anne-France Dekairelle UCL -Claude Van Campenhout ULB

14.00

Introduction to NGS data analysis

Covered content: explanation of data analysis pipeline from raw data to variant calling, classification of variants, compermed pathogenic variant list

 

Nl: Leon Van Kempen UZA

Fr: Anne-France Dekairelle UCL

 

14.40

Break

14.55

Organisation of the NGS lab and QA

Covered content: tumour annotations and importance TCP estimation, sectioning, unidirectional sample flow, risks for DNA contamination, specific ISO requirements

 

Nl: Leon Van Kempen UZA

Fr: Claude Van Campenhout ULB

15.30

Molecular techniques beyond targeted sequencing panels

Covered content: role of methylation profiles, liquid biopsy, CGP and WES/WGS, GEP

 

Nl: Jo Van Dorpe UZ Gent

 

16:00

End

 

 

Saturday 16 November

Tissue section based analysis techniques and introduction to immuno-oncology

9.30

Principle of IHC and FISH

Covered content: working mechanisms of IHC and FISH, importance of controls, pre-analytical variables, QA aspects and test validation

 

Nl: Jacques Van Huysse AZ Sint-Jan Brugge

Fr: Sarah De Clercq ULB

10.10

Digital pathology, image analysis and artificial intelligence

Covered content: importance of digital shift in pathology, image analysis and how AI works

 

Nl: Glenn Broeckx ZAS

 

10.50

Break

11.10

General introduction to immuno-oncology

Covered content: biology of anti-tumour immune response, immune phenotypes

 

Vasiliki Siozopoulou UCLouvain

11.40

Biomarkers for immuno-oncology

Covered content: PD-L1, TMB, MSI from IO perspective

 

Vasiliki Siozopoulou UCLouvain

12.10

Lunch

Practical applications

13.00

General introduction to clinical applications

Covered content: role and working of compermed, difference with reimbursement, guidelines, theranostics vs diagnostics

 

Nl: Siska Dedeurwaerdere AZ Delta

Fr: Nicky D’Haene HUB Erasme

13.30

Molecular testing oncologist’s point of view

Covered content: working mechanism of main classes of targeted drugs, importance of drug resistance, role of the MOC and molecular tumour board

 

P. Aftimos

14.00

Practical topics in molecular pathology: NSCLC

Covered content: overview of main molecular alterations and testing algorithm in NSCLC

 

 

Nl: Dieter Peeters UZA/AZ Sint-Maarten

14.35

Break

14.50

Practical topics in molecular pathology: CRC

Covered content: overview of main molecular alterations and testing algorithm in CRC

 

 

Nl: Dr. Karen Deraedt ZOL

15.25

Practical topics in molecular pathology: hemato-oncology

Covered content: role of molecular testing lymphoma, role of molecular testing in lymphoproliferative and myelodysplastic disease, use and interpretation of IgH/TcR clonality analysis

 

Joan Somja  CHU Liège

16:00

End

15 to 16 November 2024 Add to calendar
University of Antwerp
Campus Drie Eiken
Universiteitsplein 1
2610 Wilrijk

Practical information

Registration: mandatory until 1 November
  In addition to pathology residents, the course will be open for enrollment for residents in medical oncology, clinical biology and clinical genetics, but no special program will be designed for this audience groups. Enrollment is obviously also open to interested registered pathologist.

  • Fellows in Pathology BSP members:   100 €
  • Fellows in Pathology non-BSP members : 125 €
  • Physicians BSP members: 100 €
  • Physicians non BSP members : 125 €

Payment on Belgian Society of Pathology (BSP) account: BE35 7320 2896 2837
communication: Molecular Course / name, first

lunch and refreshments during the breaks are included

The Course is in Dutch and French.