Thanks to the latest breakthrough in the field of cancer treatments, tumors and malignant diseases are not considered inevitably fatal these days. The news came at the fourth International Conference on Oncology update “Best of Oncology 2008” which was launched last Monday at the Jeddah Intercontinental Hotel and organized by King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSH). The three-day conference presented an overview on tumor diseases and the latest biological medicines around the world. Scores of experts and Oncologists from different nations including Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, and United States shared their experiences. Eminent guests from Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Syria also contributed to the forum. Dr. Paul M. Hoff, Chairman of the Oncology and Endoscopy section at MD Anderson Cancer Center of Texas University and Dr. Yasser Bahader, a consultant at the Oncology Center in King Abdul Aziz Hospital guaranteed the efficiency of anti-body medicines in healing many types of cancers including the colorectal and colon cancers. “According to the National Record of Cancer, the colon and colorectal cancers are some of the most widespread amongst the ten different types of cancers in the Kingdom” said Dr. Bahader. “In this kind of cancer”, Bahader went on, “an infected cell demands nutrition and oxygen in order to continue and proliferate. This happens by forming new blood vessels on demand and this process is called “angiogenesis” which is critical to the development of cancer.” Dr. Hoff explained that in order for a rapidly growing tumor to maintain its growth, a tumor “signals” already existing blood vessels to sprout new branches to feed it and tiny new vessels develop in short bursts. Thus, the newly developed biological treatments work as anti-angiogenic therapies that prevent further blood vessel growth. These therapies are now at the forefront of cancer treatment. Avastin, a drug already approved to treat colorectal cancer, is showing benefit in breast and lung cancer, and two new therapies have recently entered the medical tool kit. In December, 2005, the FDA approved Nexavar for advanced kidney cancer, and one month later, approved Sutent, also to treat kidney cancer as well as gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Many other experimental agents are expected to come up for approval soon. Recently the FDA approved using Avastin accompanied with chemical therapy in the treatment of colon and rectal cancers, Dr. Hoff noted. “Such a biological medicine contains a medical substance called “bevacizumab”. Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody that works on the outside of a cancer cell to inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) - a protein that plays a critical role in tumor angiogenesis. The small molecule erlotinib is a tablet designed to work inside the cell to block the signaling pathway of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER1) pathway, also known as EGFR, which is involved in cancer cell growth” Dr. Hoff expounded. Discussions within this forum concluded that the new generation of targeted therapy will substitute the old-fashioned chemical therapy which attacks both infected and pure cells and causes many unwanted side effects. Commenting on the recent news about children's toys and Chinese toothpaste brands containing carcinogenic substances being discovered in the Saudi market, Dr. Hoff warned that most low-price toys which are cheaply made contain lead in the paint. This substance is very dangerous because it may cause cancer. Children must not be allowed to handle or deal with such toys, he concluded. On the other hand, Dr.Bahader asserted that unhealthy food and bad lifestyles in addition to smoking probably increase the capability of developing cancer diseases. Experts and doctors attending the forum advised that the earlier tumors are discovered, the more possible it is to heal and control them.
