Training program II for the interpretation and scoring of HER2 IHC in breast cancer!

We are happy to announce that our evaluation of the initial training program for the interpretation and scoring of HER2 IHC in breast cancer has been completed and that the HER2 training project can continue as planned. Thus we can present the second round of the* TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THE INTERPRETATION AND SCORING OF HER2 IHC IN BREAST CANCER!
The Belgian Working Group for Breast Pathology (BWGBP) organises an online training program for the HER2 IHC in close collaboration with the Biomedical Quality Assurance (BQA) Research Group of the KULeuven.

Our online training is a combination of the latest scientific information/guidance on HER2 scoring and digital IHC-stained slides of breast biopsy/resection lesions. The digitalised slides will be assessable via a digital microscopy and the participants are asked to score them according to the ASCO/CAP guidelines for HER2 testing in Breast Cancer. At the time of registration you will have the option to choose according to which version of the guidelines you want to score, this can be either 2007/2018 or both. Expert information on difficult cases and pitfalls will be provided. Participants can compare their scoring skills with their peers and learn optimally. The aim of this training program is to prepare pathologists for the upcoming changes in test reimbursement, therefore the training puts a big focus on IHC 2+ and IHC 3+ cases. Next, the second important aim of this project will focus and include the novel so called HER2 low category, which is predicted to have major impact in our practice in the coming months. To this extent, the second part of our training highlights the IHC negative versus IHC low cases (IHC 0 and 1+ cases).

We invite all pathologists (and pathologists in training, technicians reading IHC) working in Belgian pathology laboratories to participate in our training program. THE PARTICIPATION IS FREE, THE REGISTRATION IS MANDATORY. RIZIV credit points will be awarded for all participants able to complete the training.

The Belgian Working Group for Breast Pathology – experts

• Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Floris (President of the Belgian Working Group for Breast Pathology; Laboratory of Translational Cell&Tisuue Research KU-Leuven; Department of Pathology UZ Leuven)
• Dr. Gert Van Den Eynden (Secretary of the Belgian Working Group for Breast Pathology & Department of Pathology Heilig Hart Lier Hospitals Antwerp)
• Dr. Cecile Colpaert (Department of Pathology AZ Turnhout; Department of Pathology UZ Leuven)
• Dr. Kathleen Lambein (Vice President of the Belgian Working Group for Breast Pathology, Department of Pathology AZ St Lucas Ghent; Department of Oncology KU Leuven)
• Prof. Dr. Mieke van Bockstal (Department of Pathology University Clinics St-Luc in Brussels)
• Dr. Franceska Dedearwaerdere (Department of Pathology AZ Delta Roeselare-Menen-Torhout)
• Dr. Valérie Duwel (Department of Pathology AZ Klina) Dr. Maria-Dolores Martin-Martinez (Institute for pathology and genetics Charleroi)
• Dr. Dieter Peeters (Department of pathology UZ Antwerpen)
• Dr. Lieve Vanwalleghem (Department of pathology AZ Sint-Jan, AZ Sint-Lukas Brugge)
• Dr. Ghita Tagmouti (Pathologist at CellCarta)
• Dr. Frederik Deman (Department of pathology GZA/ZNA Antwerpen)
• Dr. Wim Waelput (Department of pathology UZ Brussel)

Biomedical Quality Assurance (BQA) Research Group – scheme coordinator

• Prof. Dr. Els Dequeker (KU Leuven, head of BQA Research Group)
• Siebe Van Bijlen (KU Leuven, PhD student)

Under the patronage of the president of the BSP and the BSP board:

• Prof. Dr Pieter Demetter (President of the Belgian Society of Pathology)
• Dr Romaric Croes (Vice-president of the Belgian Society of Pathology) Prof. Dr Birgit Weynand (Vice-president of the Belgian Society of Pathology)
• Dr Karl Dhaene (Treasurer of the Belgian Society of Pathology)
• Dr Claire Bourgain (Secretary Flemish-speaking of the Belgian Society of Pathology)
• Dr Joan Somja (Secretary French-speaking of the Belgian Society of Pathology)