Cef 65 tahun kini bebas barah prostat selepas jalani keadah inovatif kurangkan kesan sampingan rawatan radiasi di NUH (65-year-old chef is now prostate cancer-free after undergoing an innovative procedure to reduce the side effects of radiation treatment

​Dr Syadwa Abdul Shukor, Senior Resident Physician, Department of Radiation Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, said an ageing population and lifestyle factors such as obesity contribute to the rising trend of prostate cancer in Singapore. She explained how a rectal spacer works to protect the rectum from unwanted exposure to radiation. Dr Arshvin Kesavan, Associate Consultant, Department of Urology, National University Hospital, put Mr Zulkiffli Baba through the procedure. The 65-year-old chef is happy that his treatment is successful.

Miracle Baby

E may well be the only child in the world to survive an aggressive congenital cancer in her brain stem. Shortly after she was born, she had difficulty swallowing and the right side of her face drooped. Her parents took her to National University Hospital (NUH) for a second opinion. Clinical A/Prof Yeo Tseng Tsai, Senior Consultant, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, NUH, brought together a team, including several international experts, to explore if anything could be done. 

The multi-disciplinary team of doctors, led by Asst Prof Vincent Nga, Head & Senior Consultant, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, suggested doing a biopsy, which was a fairly complex procedure. A scan three months post-biopsy showed no change to the size of the tumour, which was deemed “a miracle”. Dr Balamurugan Vellayappan, Senior Consultant, Department of Radiation Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, said the fact that E's tumour did not double in size nor grow in three months was unusual. Asst Prof Nga said the medical team believe that the tumour regression is related to the biopsy that was performed. Dr Miriam Santiago Kimpo, Consultant, Division of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Department of Paediatrics, Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, is also part of the team.

• AsiaOne, 23 June 2024, ‘They didn’t even give my daughter a chance’: Miracle baby with rare brain stem tumour beats the odds to survive
  

• Shin Min Daily News, 23 June 2024, 原活不过数周 2岁女童创奇迹 (2-year-old girl considered ‘a miracle’)
  

城市号列车： 前列腺癌 （City train: Prostate cancer）

​In a live radio interview, A/Prof Edmund Chiong, Head and Senior Consultant, Department of Urology, National University Hospital, and Senior Consultant, Division of Surgical Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS), said Singapore’s ageing population has contributed to a rising rate of prostate cancer, which is more common among men aged 50 and above. Adj A/Prof Jeremy Tey, Senior Consultant, Department of Radiation Oncology, NCIS, explained how rectal spacers work to protect the rectum from overexposure to radiation. They shared that the technique has improved treatment outcomes and quality of life for patients.

The impact of cancer on women’s sexuality, self-image, and relationships: 3 survivors share their stories

​Dr Joline Lim, Consultant, Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, said cancer is a life-changing event that affects a patient physically, psychologically and socially. She elaborated on some of the side effects of treatments, such as hair loss from chemotherapy and weight gain with hormonal therapy.

How cancer affects a woman's sexuality, self-image, relationships: 3 cancer survivors share their struggles

​Dr Joline Lim, Consultant, Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, said cancer is a life-changing event that affects a patient physically, psychologically and socially. She elaborated on some of the side effects of treatments, such as hair loss from chemotherapy and weight gain with hormonal therapy.

Singapore ramps up cancer fight with S$50 M in national grant funding for precision oncology

​Singapore’s fight against cancer has received another boost, with $50 million in national grant funding awarded to two research teams to study Asian-centric lymphomas and colorectal cancer. The two research programmes – SYMPHONY 2.0 (Singapore Lymphoma Translational Study 2.0) and Colo-SCRIPT – involve multiple institutions, including National University Hospital, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore and NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.

$50m grant for research to find better ways of treating lymphoma, colorectal cancer in S’pore

​Singapore’s fight against cancer has received another boost, with $50 million in national grant funding awarded to two research teams to study Asian-centric lymphomas and colorectal cancer. The two research programmes – SYMPHONY 2.0 (Singapore Lymphoma Translational Study 2.0) and Colo-SCRIPT - involve multiple institutions, including National University Hospital and National University Cancer Institute, Singapore.

• ScienMag, 24 May 2024, SG ramps up cancer fight with S$50 million in national grant funding for precision oncology
  

First made-in-Singapore antibody-drug conjugate EBC-129 progresses to phase 1B dose expansion

​The phase 1 trial for EBC-129, the first made-in-Singapore antibody-drug conjugate, has progressed into dose expansion. EBC-129 is being tested in National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, among other institutions.

New NUH technique reduces risk of radiation side effects for prostate cancer patients

​In a live studio interview with Channel NewsAsia, Dr Arshvin Kesavan, Associate Consultant, Department of Urology, National University Hospital, explained how rectal spacers work to protect the rectum from overexposure to radiation. He said National University Hospital's experience with more than 150 patients showed that none developed adverse side effects after radiation. One such patient, Mr David Peter Dowdell, 63, was diagnosed with prostate cancer last August and underwent a rectal spacer procedure before he had 41 sessions of radiotherapy at National University Cancer Institute, Singapore.

The Straits Times and other media reports cited A/Prof Edmund Chiong, Head and Senior Consultant, Department of Urology, National University Hospital, and Senior Consultant, Division of Surgical Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, who said with this technique, doctors are not just aiming to treat prostate cancer, but are also focused on enhancing the comfort and improving the quality of life for patients. Adj A/Prof Jeremy Tey, Senior Consultant, Department of Radiation Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, said the technique reduced the occurrence of radiation proctitis from 10 per cent of patients to under five per cent. 

• Channel NewsAsia Online, 21 May 2024, New NUH technique reduces risk of radiation side effects for prostate cancer patients
  
• Shin Min Daily News, 20 May 2024, Page 6，国大医院 前列腺癌新疗程盼减直肠炎风险 (NUH: New procedure for prostate cancer patients reduce risk of rectal inflammation)
  
• 8world, 20 May 2024, 国大医院采用新疗程 大幅降低前列腺癌病人副作用 (NUH offers new procedure to significantly reduce risks of side effects for prostate cancer patients)
  
• Capital 958, 20 May 2024, 国大医院采用新疗程 大幅降低前列腺癌病人副作用 (NUH offers new procedure to significantly reduce risks of side effects for prostate cancer patients)
  
• Shi Cheng News, 21 May 2024, 国大医院采用新疗程 大幅降低前列腺癌病人副作用(NUH offers new procedure to significantly reduce risks of side effects for prostate cancer patients)
  

New NUH procedure reduces side effects for prostate cancer patients undergoing radiation treatment

​Adj A/Prof Jeremy Tey, Senior Consultant, Department of Radiation Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, said up to 10 per cent of patients may experience clinically significant side effects that last beyond three months following the completion of radiation therapy. A/Prof Edmund Chiong, Head and Senior Consultant, Department of Urology, National University Hospital, and Senior Consultant, Division of Surgical Oncology, National University Cancer Instituite, Singapore, said with the new rectal spacer procedure, doctors are not just aiming to treat prostate cancer, but are also focused on enhancing the comfort and improving the quality of life for patients. Dr Arshvin Kesavan, Associate Consultant, Department of Urology, National University Hospital, explained how rectal spacers work to protect the rectum from overexposure to radiation.

The National University Hospital team is providing training of this new procedure to surgeons at other public hospitals. 

Mitigating side effects of radiation therapy amid rising prostate cancer rates in Singaporean men

I slathered sunblock, but a bad sunburn still left me crippled for a week

​According to National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, skin cancer is the sixth and seventh most common form of cancer that affects Singaporean men and women respectively. 

New genetics testing lab facilitates targeted therapy for cancer patients

National University Hospital (NUH) and biotech company Mirxes launched the NUH Diagnostic Molecular Oncology Centre (DMOC) at Biopolis, with the official opening inaugurated by DPM Heng Swee Keat on 13 May 2024. DMOC@Biopolis is one of Singapore's first public-private partnership centres for specialty molecular testing and offers the APEX cancer treatment selection test, a 50-gene targeted Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) panel. This test identifies genetic alterations in tumours that may respond favourably to specific targeted therapies, helping to predict patients’ response to certain treatments and potentially improving patient outcomes. 

A/Prof Tan Soo Yong, Head & Senior Consultant, Department of Pathology, NUH shared that more than 350 patients, mostly from National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS), have benefited from the NGS test since it was first offered in June 2023. He explained that as compared to single-gene sequencing, the NGS panel offered cost savings and a faster turnaround time for patients. Not only does it detect the actionable mutations that determine if the tumour is suitable for targeted therapy, but it also identifies most, if not all, of the resistant mutations that indicate that the patient will not be suitable for targeted therapy.

Media reports featured interviews with Mdm Choo Mee Kung, an NCIS patient who had undergone the NGS test after being diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. The test identified a rare cancer gene mutation and Mdm Choo was started on targeted therapy in February 2024, which resulted in improvements in her cancer condition and symptoms. Her doctor, Dr Kenneth Sooi, Associate Consultant, Department of Haematology-Oncology, NCIS shared that Mdm Choo’s cancer gene mutation could have been missed in the past, if single-gene testing was conducted. He added that the NGS could potentially result in more treatment options for cancer patients, leading to a better prognosis and fewer side effects with the targeted therapy.

• Lianhe Zaobao, Page 6, 14 May 2024, 国大医院与私企引进新技术 癌患基因检测更快费用减半 (NUH and private company introduce new technology, offering faster genetic testing for cancer patients at half the cost)
  

• Shin Min Daily News, Page 4, 大医院新设分子肿瘤诊断中心 更快更便宜 助癌患寻更合适的治疗 (NUH establishes DMOC: Faster, cheaper option in helping cancer patients look for more suitable treatment)
  

• 8world, 13 May 2024, 国大医院与私人领域合作 提供先进癌症诊断测试 (NUH cooperates with the private sector to provide advanced cancer diagnostic tests)
  

Singapore launches DMOC@Biopolis, innovative centre for molecular testing

​National University Hospital and Mirxes launched the National University Hospital Diagnostic Molecular Oncology Centre at Biopolis, with the official opening inaugurated by DPM Heng Swee Keat on 13 May 2024. DMOC@Biopolis offers the APEX cancer treatment selection test, which identifies actionable genetic alterations in tumours using a 50-gene targeted Next Generation Sequencing panel, unlocking new possibilities for individualised and precision medicine to become a reality for cancer patients. The test also offers cost savings and a faster turnaround time for patients.

A/Prof Tan Soo Yong, Head & Senior Consultant, Department of Pathology, National University Hospital, shared that with cancer being the leading cause of death in Singapore, collaborations with industry partners such as Mirxes remain a critical cornerstone in the pursuit towards the development of patient-focused innovation and life-changing therapies, for the early detection, diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Singapore unveils first public-private partnership center for specialty molecular testing

​National University Hospital and Mirxes launched the National University Hospital Diagnostic Molecular Oncology Centre at Biopolis, with the official opening inaugurated by Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Heng Swee Keat on 13 May 2024. DMOC@Biopolis offers the APEX cancer treatment selection test, which identifies actionable genetic alterations in tumours using a 50-gene targeted Next Generation Sequencing panel, unlocking new possibilities for individualised and precision medicine to become a reality for cancer patients. The test also offers cost savings and a faster turnaround time for patients.