Via a collaboration between the Jessa Hospital, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Hasselt University, and the faculty Medicine and Life Sciences, we are able to perform high quality, scientific research. Moreover, LOwLIght is part of the Limburg Clinical Research Center (LCRC). A multidisciplinary team of experienced health care professionals, scientists, and academics will be managing the research in the right direction. Further, we can rely on the support and facilities of Jessa & Wetenschap en Future Health, scientific platforms that combine all the medical-scientific activities inside the Jessa Hospital and Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, respectively. Further, they guide us in our clinical trials from start to finish. For statistical support we can rely on the services of CenStat (UHasselt).
Since 2007, our research group is investigating the use of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy for the prevention and management of oral mucositis and acute radiodermatitis. These trials have led to beneficial results which were presented at several (inter)national conferences and published in scientific journals. They even were granted with multiple awards at both national and international meetings.
In order to go further on what we have built up as a research team, we will perform more clinical trials on the application of PBM in the field of supportive cancer care (neuropathy, alopecia, hand-foot syndrome, lymphedema, gynecological toxicities). Our research group also contributed to the guidelines (2022) on PBM use in supportive cancer care in collaboration with the WALT.
Since 2007, our research group is investigating the use of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy for the prevention and management of oral mucositis and acute radiodermatitis. These trials have led to beneficial results which were presented at several (inter)national conferences and published in scientific journals. They even were granted with multiple awards at both national and international meetings.
In order to go further on what we have built up as a research team, we will perform more clinical trials on the application of PBM in the field of supportive cancer care (neuropathy, alopecia, hand-foot syndrome, lymphedema, gynecological toxicities). Our research group also contributed to the guidelines (2022) on PBM use in supportive cancer care in collaboration with the WALT.
Projects
PBM to manage acute radiodermatitis in breast cancer patients
Validation trial: PBM to prevent acute radiodermatitis in breast cancer patients
PBM to manage lymphedema in breast cancer patients
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PBM to prevent acute radiodermatitis in breast cancer patients
PBM to prevent chemotherapy-induced neuropathy in breast cancer patients
PBM to manage hand-foot syndrome and hand-foot skin reaction
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PBM to prevent acute radiodermatitis in head and neck cancer patients
PBM to manage chemotherapy-induced hair loss in breast cancer patients
PBM to manage chemotherapy-induced neuropathy
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PUBLICATIONS
Censabella S, Claes S, Robijns J, Bulens, Mebis J. Photobiomodulation for the management of radiation dermatitis: the DERMIS trial, a pilot study of MLS® laser therapy
in breast cancer patients. Support Care Cancer. 2016 Sep;24(9):3925-33.
Robijns J, Censabella S, Bulens P, Maes A, Mebis J. The use of low-level light therapy in supportive care for patients with breast cancer: review of the literature. Lasers Med Sci. 2017 Jan;32(1):229-242.
Robijns J, Censabella S, Bulens P, Maes A, Mebis J. Letter regarding "Same strategy for pitfalls of radiotherapy in different anatomical districts. Lasers Med Sci. 2017 May;32(4):965-966.
Robijns J, Censabella S, Bulens P, Maes A, Noé L, Brosens M, Van den Bergh L, Claes S, Mebis J. The role of photobiomodulation therapy in the care of cancer patients: review of the literature. Belg J Med Oncol 2017; 11 (8):364-374.
Robijns J, Laubach HJ. Acute and chronic radiodermatitis: clinical signs, pathophysiology, risk factors and management options. Journal of the Egyptian Women’s Dermatologic Society 2018, 15:2–9.
Laubach HJ, Robijns J. Laser and light therapy for treatment of radiation dermatitis. Hautarzt. 2018 Jan;69(1):5-9.
Robijns J, Censabella S, Claes S, Pannekoeke L, Bussé L, Colson D, Kaminski I, Bulens P, Maes A, Noé L, Brosens M, Timmermans A, Lambrichts I, Somers V, Mebis J. Prevention of acute radiodermatitis by photobiomodulation: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial in breast cancer patients (TRANSDERMIS trial). Lasers Surg Med. 2018. 50(7): p.763-771.
Robijns J, Censabella S, Claes S, Pannekoeke L, Bussé L, Colson D, Kaminski I, Lodewijckx J, Bulens P, Maes A, Noé L, Brosens M, Timmermans A, Lambrichts I, Somers V, Mebis J. Biophysical skin measurements to evaluate the effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy in the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis in breast cancer patients. Support Care Cancer. 2019 Apr;27(4):1245-1254.
Robijns J, Censabella S, Claes S, Pannekoeke L, Bussé L, Colson D, Kaminski I, Broux V, Lodewijckx J, Puts S, Bulens P, Maes A, Noé L, Brosens M, Timmermans A, Lambrichts I, Somers V, Mebis J. Letter to the Editor concerning the article “Application of red light phototherapy in the treatment of radioactive dermatitis in patients with head and neck cancer”. World J Surg Oncol. 2019, 23;17(1):57.
Robijns J, Lodewijckx J, Mebis J. Photobiomodulation therapy for acute radiodermatitis. Current Opinion in Oncology: 2019, 31:291–298.
Bensadoun RJ, Nair R, Robijns J. Photobiomodulation for Side Effects of Cancer Therapy. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2020 May 4
Robijns J, Lodewijckx J, Bensadoun RJ, Mebis J. A Narrative Review on the Use of Photobiomodulation Therapy for the Prevention and Management of Acute Radiodermatitis: Proposed Mechanisms, Current Clinical Outcomes, and Preliminary Guidance for Clinical Studies. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2020 May 27.
Tam M, Hu K, Arany P, Robijns J, Vasconcelos R, Corby P. Photobiomodulation Therapy to Mitigate Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome (RFS). Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2020 May 27.
Lodewijckx J, Robijns J, Bensadoun RJ, Mebis J. Photobiomodulation Therapy for the Management of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: An Overview. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2020 May 28.
Bensadoun RJ, Epstein JB, Nair RG, Barasch A, Raber-Durlacher JE, Migliorati C, Genot-Klastersky MT, Treister N, Arany P, Lodewijckx J, Robijns J; World Association for Laser Therapy (WALT). Safety and efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy in oncology: A systematic review. Cancer Med. 2020 Nov;9(22):8279-8300. doi: 10.1002/cam4.3582. Epub 2020 Oct 26. PMID: 33107198; PMCID: PMC7666741.
Robijns J, Lodewijckx J, Claes S, Van Bever L, Pannekoeke L, Censabella S, Bussé L, Colson D, Kaminski I, Broux V, Puts S, Vanmechelen S, Timmermans A, Noé L, Bulens P, Govers M, Maes A, Mebis J. Photobiomodulation therapy for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis in head and neck cancer patients (DERMISHEAD trial). Radiother Oncol. 2021 Mar 10;158:268-275. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2021.03.002.
Robijns J, Lodewijckx J, Puts S, Vanmechelen S, Van Bever L, Claes S, Pannekoeke L, Timmermans A, Noé L, Govers M, Van de Werf E, Maes A, Bulens P, Mebis J. Photobiomodulation therapy for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis in breast cancer patients undergoing hypofractioned whole-breast irradiation (LABRA trial). Lasers Surg Med. 2021 Sep 4. doi: 10.1002/lsm.23475.
Lodewijckx J, Robijns J, Claes M, Evens S, Swinnen L, Lenders H, Bortels S, Nassen W, Hilkens R, Raymakers L, Snoekx S, Hermans S, Mebis J. The use of photobiomodulation therapy for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: a randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial (NEUROLASER trial). Support Care Cancer. 2022 Mar 21:1–9.
Robijns J, Nair RG, Lodewijckx J, Arany P, Barasch A, Bjordal JM, Bossi P, Chilles A, Corby PM, Epstein JB, Elad S, Fekrazad R, Fregnani ER, Genot MT, Ibarra AMC, Hamblin MR, Heiskanen V, Hu K, Klastersky J, Lalla R, Latifian S, Maiya A, Mebis J, Migliorati CA, Milstein DMJ, Murphy B, Raber-Durlacher JE, Roseboom HJ, Sonis S, Treister N, Zadik Y, Bensadoun RJ. Photobiomodulation therapy in management of cancer therapy-induced side effects: WALT position paper 2022. Front Oncol. 2022 Aug 30;12:927685.
Robijns J, Lodewijckx J, Claes M, Lenaerts M, Van Bever L, Claes S, Pannekoeke L, Verboven K, Noé L, Maes A, Bulens P, Mebis J. A long-term follow-up of early breast cancer patients treated with photobiomodulation during conventional fractionation radiotherapy in the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis. Lasers Surg Med. 2022 Dec;54(10):1261-1268.
Behroozian, T, Bonomo P, Patel P, Kanee L , Finkelstein S, van den Hurk C, Chow E, Wolf JR, on behalf of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) Oncodermatology Study Group Radiation Dermatitis Guidelines Working Group: Suvam Banerjee, Carlotta Becherini, Christine Boers-Doets, Marta Carlesimo, Gemma Caro, Maria Caterina Fortuna, Adrian Wai Chan, Lorraine Drapek, Azael Freites-Martinez, Satoshi Hirakawa, Emily Hoffman Smith, Nicola Alessandro Iacovelli, Bernice Kwong, Shing Fung Lee, Alina Markova, Robert Miller, Gustavo Nader Marta, Silvina Pugliese, Claire Marie Reyes Habito, Jolien Robijns, Viola Salvestrini, Leonard Christopher Schmeel, Mateusz Spalek, Mark Trombetta, Henry Chun Yip Wong. Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) clinical practice guidelines for the prevention and management of acute radiation dermatitis: international Delphi consensus-based recommendations. The Lancet Oncology, 2023. 24(4): p. e172-e185
Lodewijckx J, Robijns J, Claes M, Pierson M, Lenaerts M, Mebis J. The use of photobiomodulation therapy for the management of chemotherapy-induced alopecia: a randomized, controlled, pilot trial (HAIRLASER trial). Support Care Cancer. 2023 Apr 15;31(5):269.
Robijns J, Censabella S, Bulens P, Maes A, Mebis J. The use of low-level light therapy in supportive care for patients with breast cancer: review of the literature. Lasers Med Sci. 2017 Jan;32(1):229-242.
Robijns J, Censabella S, Bulens P, Maes A, Mebis J. Letter regarding "Same strategy for pitfalls of radiotherapy in different anatomical districts. Lasers Med Sci. 2017 May;32(4):965-966.
Robijns J, Censabella S, Bulens P, Maes A, Noé L, Brosens M, Van den Bergh L, Claes S, Mebis J. The role of photobiomodulation therapy in the care of cancer patients: review of the literature. Belg J Med Oncol 2017; 11 (8):364-374.
Robijns J, Laubach HJ. Acute and chronic radiodermatitis: clinical signs, pathophysiology, risk factors and management options. Journal of the Egyptian Women’s Dermatologic Society 2018, 15:2–9.
Laubach HJ, Robijns J. Laser and light therapy for treatment of radiation dermatitis. Hautarzt. 2018 Jan;69(1):5-9.
Robijns J, Censabella S, Claes S, Pannekoeke L, Bussé L, Colson D, Kaminski I, Bulens P, Maes A, Noé L, Brosens M, Timmermans A, Lambrichts I, Somers V, Mebis J. Prevention of acute radiodermatitis by photobiomodulation: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial in breast cancer patients (TRANSDERMIS trial). Lasers Surg Med. 2018. 50(7): p.763-771.
Robijns J, Censabella S, Claes S, Pannekoeke L, Bussé L, Colson D, Kaminski I, Lodewijckx J, Bulens P, Maes A, Noé L, Brosens M, Timmermans A, Lambrichts I, Somers V, Mebis J. Biophysical skin measurements to evaluate the effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy in the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis in breast cancer patients. Support Care Cancer. 2019 Apr;27(4):1245-1254.
Robijns J, Censabella S, Claes S, Pannekoeke L, Bussé L, Colson D, Kaminski I, Broux V, Lodewijckx J, Puts S, Bulens P, Maes A, Noé L, Brosens M, Timmermans A, Lambrichts I, Somers V, Mebis J. Letter to the Editor concerning the article “Application of red light phototherapy in the treatment of radioactive dermatitis in patients with head and neck cancer”. World J Surg Oncol. 2019, 23;17(1):57.
Robijns J, Lodewijckx J, Mebis J. Photobiomodulation therapy for acute radiodermatitis. Current Opinion in Oncology: 2019, 31:291–298.
Bensadoun RJ, Nair R, Robijns J. Photobiomodulation for Side Effects of Cancer Therapy. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2020 May 4
Robijns J, Lodewijckx J, Bensadoun RJ, Mebis J. A Narrative Review on the Use of Photobiomodulation Therapy for the Prevention and Management of Acute Radiodermatitis: Proposed Mechanisms, Current Clinical Outcomes, and Preliminary Guidance for Clinical Studies. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2020 May 27.
Tam M, Hu K, Arany P, Robijns J, Vasconcelos R, Corby P. Photobiomodulation Therapy to Mitigate Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome (RFS). Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2020 May 27.
Lodewijckx J, Robijns J, Bensadoun RJ, Mebis J. Photobiomodulation Therapy for the Management of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: An Overview. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2020 May 28.
Bensadoun RJ, Epstein JB, Nair RG, Barasch A, Raber-Durlacher JE, Migliorati C, Genot-Klastersky MT, Treister N, Arany P, Lodewijckx J, Robijns J; World Association for Laser Therapy (WALT). Safety and efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy in oncology: A systematic review. Cancer Med. 2020 Nov;9(22):8279-8300. doi: 10.1002/cam4.3582. Epub 2020 Oct 26. PMID: 33107198; PMCID: PMC7666741.
Robijns J, Lodewijckx J, Claes S, Van Bever L, Pannekoeke L, Censabella S, Bussé L, Colson D, Kaminski I, Broux V, Puts S, Vanmechelen S, Timmermans A, Noé L, Bulens P, Govers M, Maes A, Mebis J. Photobiomodulation therapy for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis in head and neck cancer patients (DERMISHEAD trial). Radiother Oncol. 2021 Mar 10;158:268-275. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2021.03.002.
Robijns J, Lodewijckx J, Puts S, Vanmechelen S, Van Bever L, Claes S, Pannekoeke L, Timmermans A, Noé L, Govers M, Van de Werf E, Maes A, Bulens P, Mebis J. Photobiomodulation therapy for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis in breast cancer patients undergoing hypofractioned whole-breast irradiation (LABRA trial). Lasers Surg Med. 2021 Sep 4. doi: 10.1002/lsm.23475.
Lodewijckx J, Robijns J, Claes M, Evens S, Swinnen L, Lenders H, Bortels S, Nassen W, Hilkens R, Raymakers L, Snoekx S, Hermans S, Mebis J. The use of photobiomodulation therapy for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: a randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial (NEUROLASER trial). Support Care Cancer. 2022 Mar 21:1–9.
Robijns J, Nair RG, Lodewijckx J, Arany P, Barasch A, Bjordal JM, Bossi P, Chilles A, Corby PM, Epstein JB, Elad S, Fekrazad R, Fregnani ER, Genot MT, Ibarra AMC, Hamblin MR, Heiskanen V, Hu K, Klastersky J, Lalla R, Latifian S, Maiya A, Mebis J, Migliorati CA, Milstein DMJ, Murphy B, Raber-Durlacher JE, Roseboom HJ, Sonis S, Treister N, Zadik Y, Bensadoun RJ. Photobiomodulation therapy in management of cancer therapy-induced side effects: WALT position paper 2022. Front Oncol. 2022 Aug 30;12:927685.
Robijns J, Lodewijckx J, Claes M, Lenaerts M, Van Bever L, Claes S, Pannekoeke L, Verboven K, Noé L, Maes A, Bulens P, Mebis J. A long-term follow-up of early breast cancer patients treated with photobiomodulation during conventional fractionation radiotherapy in the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis. Lasers Surg Med. 2022 Dec;54(10):1261-1268.
Behroozian, T, Bonomo P, Patel P, Kanee L , Finkelstein S, van den Hurk C, Chow E, Wolf JR, on behalf of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) Oncodermatology Study Group Radiation Dermatitis Guidelines Working Group: Suvam Banerjee, Carlotta Becherini, Christine Boers-Doets, Marta Carlesimo, Gemma Caro, Maria Caterina Fortuna, Adrian Wai Chan, Lorraine Drapek, Azael Freites-Martinez, Satoshi Hirakawa, Emily Hoffman Smith, Nicola Alessandro Iacovelli, Bernice Kwong, Shing Fung Lee, Alina Markova, Robert Miller, Gustavo Nader Marta, Silvina Pugliese, Claire Marie Reyes Habito, Jolien Robijns, Viola Salvestrini, Leonard Christopher Schmeel, Mateusz Spalek, Mark Trombetta, Henry Chun Yip Wong. Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) clinical practice guidelines for the prevention and management of acute radiation dermatitis: international Delphi consensus-based recommendations. The Lancet Oncology, 2023. 24(4): p. e172-e185
Lodewijckx J, Robijns J, Claes M, Pierson M, Lenaerts M, Mebis J. The use of photobiomodulation therapy for the management of chemotherapy-induced alopecia: a randomized, controlled, pilot trial (HAIRLASER trial). Support Care Cancer. 2023 Apr 15;31(5):269.
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