Professional Experience
Dr. Hompes holds senior clinical, academic, and leadership roles, demonstrating her expertise in oncological surgery and her commitment to research, rare tumour treatment, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
- Current Positions:
- Head of Surgical Oncology, UZ Leuven
- Coordinator of the Expert Centre for Bone Sarcomas and Soft Tissue / Visceral Sarcomas – Leuven Cancer Institute (ERN reference centre)
- Professor at KU Leuven’s Faculty of Medicine
- Member of UZ Leuven’s Management / Board Committee (Medical Board; Board of Directors)
- Past Roles:
- Surgery and clinical training in general and abdominal surgery in Belgium and Netherlands prior to 2009
- Research fellowship focused on metastatic colorectal disease and HIPEC at Netherlands institutions 2009-2012
- Special Clinical Activities:
- Treats rare tumours in both children and adults (soft tissue sarcoma, adrenal tumours, etc.)
- Pediatric oncological surgery
- Coordination of multidisciplinary oncological surgeries, sarcoma programmes, and rare tumour care pathways
Academic Contributions
Her academic output is strong: she leads research laboratories, co-promotes major projects, publishes extensively, and trains future surgeons and researchers.
- Head of the Surgical Oncology Laboratory at Leuven Cancer Institute: research on prognostic and predictive biomarkers in sarcoma, melanoma; molecular annotation of somatic mutations; creation of tumour models (xenografts, cell lines)
- Co-promotor in projects such as “Contemporary view and new insights in mid- and long-term vascular access” and “Exploring the biology and drug sensitivity of selected mesenchymal malignancies”
- Recent publications include studies in sarcoma imaging, biopsy techniques, rare tumour outcomes, venous access devices, prognostic analyses in liposarcoma, and neurofibromatosis type 1 follow-up
- Supervision and mentorship of surgical trainees, involvement in clinical guideline development, educational lectures in national and international settings
Areas of Expertise
Dr. Hompes’ expertise covers a broad but focused set of oncological surgical specialities. She manages complex tumour cases and works in expert centres for rare cancers.
- Sarcoma surgery (soft tissue and visceral) including adult and pediatric cases
- Adrenal gland tumour surgery
- Pediatric oncological surgery including rare tumours
- Management of rare tumours (bone sarcoma, soft tissue sarcoma, malignant melanoma)
- Multidisciplinary treatment including cytoreductive surgery, HIPEC, tumour board coordination
Publications and Research
Recent research by Prof. Hompes demonstrates her leadership in studies that have direct relevance for patient outcomes, diagnostics, and treatment guidelines.
- “Diagnostic work-up of lipomatous tumors: a decision-making analysis among European sarcoma centers” (2025)
- “Port REMoval Outcomes (PREMO) study” (2025)
- “Close Follow-Up of Patients with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Reduces the Incidence of Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumour” (2025)
- “Clinical course and prognostic factors of patients with dedifferentiated liposarcoma: a retrospective analysis” (2025)
Patient Care Philosophy
- Emphasizes shared decision-making and clear communication with patients.
- Strong advocacy for treating rare tumour cases in specialized centres.
- Acts as a staff coach for surgical residents to promote resilience and professional growth.
- Focus on research-driven, evidence-based surgical oncology.
Professional Affiliations
- Coordinator, Expert Centre for Bone Sarcomas & Soft Tissue / Visceral Sarcomas – Leuven Cancer Institute
- Member of KU Leuven Faculty of Medicine – full professor
- Member of the Management and Medical Board at UZ Leuven
- Participant in KU Leuven’s Surgical Oncology Laboratory and European sarcoma research consortia
FAQs
- Is Prof. Dr. Daphne Hompes board-certified?
- Yes, she holds MD and PhD degrees and is certified in surgical oncology, with specialization in abdominal and sarcoma surgery.
- What types of surgeries does she perform?
- She performs procedures for rare tumours (soft tissue and bone sarcomas), adrenal tumours, pediatric oncology, colorectal cancer, cytoreductive surgery, and HIPEC.
- Does she treat international patients?
- Yes, as part of a recognized European Reference Network, UZ Leuven treats international patients, especially for rare cancers and complex oncological surgery.
- How long is the typical hospital stay?
- It depends on the procedure — from short stays for limited resections to extended recovery after complex sarcoma or HIPEC surgeries.
- What languages does she speak?
- Dutch, English, and French.
- What is her availability for consultations?
- Private oncological surgery consultations are available on Fridays from 10:00 to 12:00 at UZ Leuven Gasthuisberg.
- Does she charge extra fees?
- No, she is fully contracted (“volledig geconventioneerd”) and does not charge extra fees for standard consultations.
