Leading experts in pathology call for Thailand to embrace innovations in cancer diagnosis for better chance of cure

Leading experts from Chulalongkorn University and Roche Diagnostics have come together to discuss revolutionary advances in cancer management, namely the automation and standardization in tissue diagnostics that will change the face of cancer care in Thailand. During the talks, the experts agreed that automated tissue testing solutions and the new HER2 DISH test should be considered best practice to diagnose HER2 positive breast and gastric cancer, which are among the most common cancers in Thailand.

Studies show that up to one in four breast cancer patients could be misdiagnosed using conventional tissue testing methods. By embracing these innovations in tissue diagnostics, cancer patients in Thailand will get timely and accurate diagnosis, thereby receiving the most suitable treatment so that they can live longer, better quality lives and for some, this even means the possibility of cure.

Cancer is one of the world’s leading killers[i]. In Asia the prevalence is expected to rise by almost 60 percent by 2020[ii]. Cancer is responsible for around 7.6 million deaths every year and this figure is continuously rising. 112,000 people newly diagnosed with cancer each year in Thailand[iii].

 

Dr. Thomas Grogan, Professor Emeritus of Pathology at the University of Arizona (USA), Founder of Ventana Medical Systems – A Member of the Roche Group, and a renowned pioneer in the field of tissue diagnostics, said: “With advances in tissue diagnostics, many cancers no longer mean death. If cancer is diagnosed early and accurately, and subsequently treated with the right drug, there is increased likelihood of prolonging the patient’s life and, in some cases, even curing them. Advances in tissue diagnostics, including the automation and standardization of testing, as well as the identification of innovative tissue markers, make this early and accurate diagnosis possible.”

 

Automated tissue diagnosis key to the right treatment

 

Prof. Dr. Pongsak Wannakrairot, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, and President, Royal College of Pathologists of Thailand, said: “On a daily basis I see the devastating effects of cancer and it makes it all the more frustrating when you know it can be managed better or even be prevented.”

One critical factor for better management of cancer is ensuring an accurate and timely diagnosis. This is currently not the case in Thailand, where the use of old manual methods means results are very much dependent on the skill of the individual practitioner and are subject to human error.

 

“That is why I am championing the use of new automated tissue diagnostic solutions in Thailand, enabling the accuracy of diagnosis in a timely fashion. Along with standardization, test consistency is improved, which increases confidence  and subsequently their use, helping prevent under diagnosis and misdiagnosis. Furthermore, with automation, testing can be done reliably  in any part of the country as performance will be significantly less dependent on the skills of the specialists and resources of the  hospital or lab, which often varies in a vast country like Thailand,” added Prof. Dr. Pongsak.

 

HER2 DISH test demonstrates benefits of automated tissue tests and personalised healthcare

 

Another significant development in tissue diagnostics is the development of innovative cancer markers and tests, such as the HER2 DISH (dual in-situ hybridization assay) test that enables the tailoring of treatments to the individual cancer patient. Termed ‘personalised healthcare’, it is made possible by the ability to diagnose specific types of cancer by identifying the gene or protein expression on a tumour cell.

 

According to Dr. Grogan: “This approach has already shown significant promise in the management of various cancers including breast and gastric (stomach) cancers. It identifies cancer patients who will most likely respond to a certain treatment, helps prevent a trial and error approach, which wastes time and money, and exposes the patient to the risk of unnecessary side effects.”

 

Given that breast cancer is one of the top five cancers in Thailandiii and gastric cancer is particularly prevalent in certain regions (such as the North and Northeast)[iv], these developments are of particular importance to the country.

 

Studies show HER2 positive breast and gastric cancer responds to the latest targeted anti-cancer therapy trastuzumab.  [v]^,[vi]^,[vii]^,[viii]^,[ix]^,[x].  Roche Tissue Diagnostics’ HER2 DISH, which uses the Automated Advance Staining system, not only identifies those who are HER2 positive but does it in half the time of the fluorescent in-situ hybridization assay (HER2 FISH), which is currently the standard. This means HER2 positive patients, which comprise 25 to 30 percent of breast[xi]^,[xii] and approximately 20 percent of gastric cancer patients[xiii]^,[xiv]^,[xv], can more rapidly be prescribed trastuzumab. Furthermore, unlike the HER2 FISH test, Roche’s HER2 DISH allows for archiving of tissue samples, so physicians can revisit the sample to verify results as necessary, and it does not require any special set-up for viewing results, minimizing variability in result interpretation.

 

Prof. Dr. Pongsak concluded: “I urge clinicians in Thailand to make full use of the advances in tissue diagnostics to help them in providing each and every patient with the optimum care. In addition, women in Thailand have the responsibility to regularly perform a breast self-exam and see a doctor if they suspect something is wrong. Only then is it possible to prevent lives being lost unnecessarily.”

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About Personalised Healthcare

 

Personalised healthcare is a concept where the right treatment is prescribed to the right group of patients based on their common individual characteristics.  It requires the expertise of both diagnostics and pharmaceuticals for the concept to be realized. Personalised healthcare provides great value to all stakeholders; it allows physicians to identify the most appropriate treatment for the right patient. Ultimately, by receiving the right and effective treatment, patients could not only achieve better treatment results, but also avoid unnecessary side effects caused by ineffective therapies, saving time and costs. For payers and regulators, effective therapies through Personalised Healthcare solutions can potentially reduce healthcare costs and promote more cost-effective use of resources.

 

About Ventana Medical Systems, a part of Roche Tissue Diagnostics

 

Ventana Medical Systems was founded by Dr Thomas Grogan in 1985. Since then, it has grown to be the world’s leading developer and manufacturer of tissue-based diagnostic instruments and tests focused on the detection and treatment of cancer. In 2008 the company was acquired by Roche Holdings AG, the largest biotech company in the world, and now forms part of the Roche Tissue Diagnostics division.

Today Roche Tissue Diagnostics is the leading supplier of automated diagnostic systems to the anatomical pathology market. The instrument and reagent systems are used in clinical histology, cytology, and drug discovery laboratories around the globe. Through automation and systems integration, Roche is standardising and optimising the slide staining process, thereby helping pathologists recommend treatment solutions that deliver superior patient care.

 

About Roche

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a leader in research-focused healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is the world’s largest biotech company with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, virology, inflammation, metabolism and CNS. Roche is also the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics, tissue-based cancer diagnostics and a pioneer in diabetes management. Roche’s personalized healthcare strategy aims at providing medicines and diagnostic tools that enable tangible improvements in the health, quality of life and survival of patients. In 2011, Roche had over 80,000 employees worldwide and invested over 8 billion Swiss francs in R&D. The Group posted sales of 42.5 billion Swiss francs. Genentech, United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche has a majority stake in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information: www.roche.com.

 

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