From insight to impact: building tomorrow's immunotherapy together

BRUSSELS, 8 June 2026 - To mark International Immunotherapy Month in June, academic and clinical experts from the Translational Oncology Research Centre (TORC) - a partnership of the Free University of Brussels (VUB) and the University Hospital Brussels (UZ Brussel) - are publishing a comprehensive whitepaper on the evolution of cancer immunotherapy in Belgium. The paper highlights pioneering Brussels innovations in melanoma, glioblastoma, pancreatic cancer and haematological cancers, but at the same time warns of far-reaching translational, operational and economic barriers to wide patient access.

Cancer immunotherapy has transformed the oncology landscape by harnessing the patient's own immune system to destroy tumour cells. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors, cell-based therapies and mRNA vaccines show unprecedented long-term survival in previously untreatable tumours, success remains elusive in large groups of patients. Even after initial success, some patients develop resistance, and the logistical and financial complexity of treatments puts increasing pressure on the healthcare system in Belgium.

Brussels innovation with 'nanobodies'

The white paper illustrates how the Brussels ecosystem is acting as a spearhead by directly linking fundamental immunology and clinical practice. Researchers at TORC are pioneering new applications for immune checkpoint inhibitors , innovative cellular therapy and 'nanobodies' (camelid antibody fragments). Nanobodies are being used to develop the latest generation of immune checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cell therapies, which directly attack the tumour and its protective microenvironment in pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma and multiple myeloma, among others.

"We are witnessing medical successes that were unthinkable 15 years ago," state the TORC authors. "The Brussels case shows that integration between basic research and clinical infrastructure is the key to accelerated innovation. However, to make the next generation of immunotherapies effective, sustainable and accessible to all patients in Belgium, we urgently need to reduce operational complexity and develop better biomarkers to combat overtreatment and high costs."

Local treatment of brain tumours

A particular clinical success is the Glitipni study in patients with recurrent glioblastoma that has now been running for eight years within UZ Brussel. Whereas intravenous immunotherapy in glioblastomas - the most aggressive form of brain tumours - has little or no effect, Brussels neurosurgeons and medical oncologists are pioneering the local administration of checkpoint inhibitors and endogenous dendritic cells in the brain after tumour resection. The latest clinical data show a remarkable survival benefit for this innovative combination therapy. Ongoing research focuses on developing further combinations with personalised, locally administered T-cell-based therapies in the hope of further improving outcomes for these patients over time.

In addition to biomolecular innovations, the white paper pays attention to the impact of lifestyle on treatment effectiveness. In the Brussels FORX study, scientists are investigating how a weekly box containing 30 different plants can enrich the gut microbiome of cancer patients. Initial results show that such a nutritional intervention can strengthen the immune response and potentially reduce the prevalence of serious immune-related side effects, such as colitis, by 20 per cent, significantly improving quality of life.

Financial and logistical barriers

Nevertheless, the authors also highlight societal and regulatory challenges. Advanced cell-based therapies (ATMPs) require prohibitively expensive manufacturing facilities that meet strict GMP standards, making scale-up complex. In addition, immune checkpoint inhibitors currently still involve huge cumulative costs, often exceeding the €100,000 per patient per year limit at current market prices. A concern that led to the development of lower-dose but proven efficient treatment regimens for those not eligible for reimbursement. The lack of widely validated, predictive biomarkers leads to many patients being exposed to expensive treatments without clinical benefit, refined application ifv the need is being further investigated in an ongoing clinical and translational trial for melanoma in early stages of this cancer (NeoSenti study).

Looking to the future, TORC calls for targeted investment in translational science, more flexible but safe regulatory frameworks for biologics and increased collaboration between academia, hospitals, the biotech industry and policymakers. Only by joining forces can Belgium maintain its international leadership role and ensure that the promise of immunotherapy is fulfilled in an ethically and financially responsible manner.

Read the full white paper here: https://torc.research.vub.be/en/white-paper

Expert list immunotherapy: VUB-UZ Brussel expert list immunotherapy

Contact: Dr Isabelle Houbracken Isabelle.houbracken@vub.be

Koen Stein

Perscontact wetenschap & onderzoek

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