14 Jun 2006 - National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) oncologist, Dr Tan Min-Han, was recently conferred the prestigious Merit Award by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Georgia, USA. Besides being the only Singaporean to receive the award this year, Dr Tan has the honour of being a winner of the Merit Award for two consecutive years in 2005 and 2006. The current award was in recognition of his work affecting targeted therapies for kidney cancer treatment. Dr Tan had achieved a breakthrough in his research on the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene, a tumour suppressor gene. Up to this point, it is generally believed that the loss of function of this gene promotes blood vessel and kidney cancer growth.
Dr Tan's research on patients from an international setting has found that mutations of the VHL gene are curiously associated with a biologically benign tumour behaviour. "What this means is that we hope to further tailor therapies for individual patients based on their unique molecular features." said Dr Tan. Increasingly such molecular research is needed to individualize targeted therapies and assess who might benefit most from them.
Targeted Therapy in Kidney Cancer
Among the major advances announced at the 2006 ASCO Annual Meeting, new standards of care through targeted therapy for metastatic kidney cancer was a main highlight. These targeted therapies stop or slow the spread of cancer by correcting or modifying the defective communication pathways in a cancer cell. Some treatments block multiple enzymes inside the cancer cell, resulting in slower cancer growth and fewer tumor blood vessels. "These positive research findings come as a wonderful surprise to everyone involved in cancer care," said Dr Tan Min-Han.
The Way Forward
Together with Singapore General Hospital's Department of Urology, Dr Tan hopes to validate his findings with further research into the profile of kidney cancer patients on a molecular level. "The next logical step is to establish which patients with early kidney cancer will benefit from the same treatment options that metastatic kidney cancer patients now have," said Dr. Tan.
About NCCS Research
Research work conducted by NCCS has over the years offered patients with the latest cutting edge therapies. As a premier cancer centre, NCCS houses many clinician scientists who have clinched international and national awards. "Their expertise is crucial in helping NCCS offer clinical excellence through a multi-disciplinary and holistic approach to cancer treatment, " said Prof Soo Khee Chee, Director, NCCS
Background on The American Society of Clinical Oncology
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is the world's top professional society of multidisciplinary medical professionals who treat people with cancer. ASCO has more than 23,200 members from the United States and over 100 countries who set the standard for patient care worldwide and spearhead the fight for more effective cancer treatments as well as increased funding for clinical and translational research. This ultimately contributes to cures for the many different cancers that strike people every year.
More information on ASCO can be found on http://www.asco.org
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