Prof. Patrick Neven

Prof. Patrick Neven is one of Belgium's most respected medical oncologists and one of Europe's leading breast cancer specialists, based at UZ Leuven—the clinical arm of KU Leuven (Catholic University of Leuven), one of Europe's oldest and most distinguished research universities. UZ Leuven's breast cancer program is recognized as a comprehensive center of excellence, combining expertise in oncology, surgery, radiation therapy, genetics, and supportive care within a tightly coordinated multidisciplinary framework that ensures patients receive individualized, evidence-based treatment.

Over his 28-year career, Prof. Neven has focused almost exclusively on breast cancer, developing exceptional depth across all the major biological subtypes of the disease. He is particularly expert in the management of hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer—the most common subtype—with a thorough command of the sequencing and optimization of endocrine therapies (tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors, fulvestrant) and the newer CDK4/6 inhibitors (palbociclib, ribociclib, abemaciclib) that have dramatically changed outcomes in metastatic HR+ disease over the past decade.

Prof. Neven is also known for his deep involvement in clinical trial research. He served as a collaborator on the landmark SOFT and TEXT trials—international randomized studies that defined the role of ovarian suppression in premenopausal women with early HR+ breast cancer—and has been active in Belgian and European breast cancer research networks. His patients at UZ Leuven often have the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge clinical trials, giving them access to new treatments before they are widely available.

He is a sought-after speaker at major international breast cancer conferences and participates as faculty in the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), the world's most important breast cancer research meeting.

Prof. Neven completed his medical degree at KU Leuven, followed by specialist training in internal medicine and medical oncology at UZ Leuven, where he was immersed in a highly academic environment that emphasized clinical research alongside patient care. His PhD dissertation, also conducted at KU Leuven, focused on hormonal aspects of breast cancer biology—the relationship between estrogen receptor signaling, endocrine therapy sensitivity, and drug resistance, which remains a central theme of his research to this day. He pursued additional training through international collaborative programs, spending periods at leading breast cancer centers in France and the United Kingdom. He was appointed to his current senior faculty position at KU Leuven and UZ Leuven, where he has taught oncology residents and medical students for many years. He has also served on the examination committees for the Belgian Board of Medical Oncology.

Prof. Neven's clinical practice covers the full spectrum of breast cancer management, with particular depth in systemic medical oncology. For HR+/HER2- breast cancer—both early-stage and metastatic—he applies comprehensive endocrine therapy strategies, including the optimal sequencing of aromatase inhibitors, selective estrogen receptor degraders, and CDK4/6 inhibitors, guided by molecular profiling (including genomic tests such as Oncotype DX and MammaPrint for early disease risk stratification) and PI3K/AKT pathway mutation analysis for targeted therapy selection.

For HER2-positive breast cancer, he oversees pertuzumab/trastuzumab-based regimens, TDM-1 (trastuzumab emtansine), and the newer antibody-drug conjugate trastuzumab deruxtecan, which has redefined HER2-low disease classification. For triple-negative breast cancer, he integrates immunotherapy (pembrolizumab) with chemotherapy for eligible patients, and evaluates BRCA-mutated patients for PARP inhibitor therapy. He participates in the UZ Leuven multidisciplinary breast cancer tumor board, which reviews all new cases and complex management decisions. He coordinates clinical trial enrollment and is experienced in the design and conduct of investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored studies.

Prof. Neven has authored and co-authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications, reviews, and book chapters in breast oncology. His contributions to the SOFT and TEXT trials—landmark international studies that established ovarian suppression plus endocrine therapy as standard of care for premenopausal early breast cancer—are among his most cited works, as these trials fundamentally changed treatment guidelines worldwide. His research on CDK4/6 inhibitors has explored mechanisms of response and resistance, helping to identify which patients are most likely to benefit from these agents and which may develop primary or acquired resistance. His work on endocrine resistance mechanisms has been published in major oncology journals including the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Annals of Oncology, and Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. He has been involved in Belgian and international collaborative studies through BIG (Breast International Group) and EORTC networks, which coordinate large-scale clinical trials across European centers.

UZ Leuven has a well-developed international patient service that receives patients from across Europe and beyond, particularly for complex cases where specialized oncological expertise or access to specific clinical trials is sought. Prof. Neven consults in Dutch, French, and English, making his clinic accessible to the majority of Belgian patients as well as French, British, Dutch, and other European visitors. EU patients can access care at UZ Leuven under the European Health Insurance Card or EU cross-border healthcare directive; non-EU patients are accommodated on a private basis with detailed cost information provided before arrival. Video consultations are available for second opinions, which Prof. Neven regularly provides for patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer elsewhere and wish to review their treatment plan with a specialist of international standing before committing to a therapy course.

Prof. Neven has received the Belgian Society of Medical Oncology (BSMO) Outstanding Researcher Award, the most prestigious recognition within Belgian oncology, in acknowledgment of his contributions to breast cancer clinical research and his role in bringing the results of international trials such as SOFT/TEXT into Belgian clinical practice. KU Leuven has awarded him the Research Excellence Grant for his sustained high-quality output in breast cancer translational research. He holds ESMO Fellow status (FESMO), reflecting his recognition within the European oncology community. He has served on ESMO faculty and scientific committees for breast cancer sessions and contributes to ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline development for early and metastatic breast cancer. His participation as a faculty member at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium reflects his standing as one of Europe's leading voices in breast cancer medicine.