For cancer:

In the course of the darkish tunnel during which Lebanon has discovered itself for months, and after going through numerous crises which have shaken its foundations at completely different ranges, drugs is quietly making its means and spreading the hope you need that appears like a plan of salvation within the midst of the current darkness.

A 12 months in the past, the American College of Beirut Medical Middle efficiently obtained the privilege of utilizing a qualitative medical check that determines the sample of genetic defects to find out focused therapy, if accessible. This research is taken into account to be the primary of its type in Lebanon and the area How necessary is it? How does it assist improve possibilities of restoration and save time to win the battle?

There is no such thing as a doubt that preliminary research of most cancers ailments attempt to discover genetic imbalances, that’s, errors within the composition of the genetic sequence current within the most cancers cell. Dr. Rami Mahfouz, Head of the Division of Molecular Pathology on the American College of Beirut Medical Middle, explains, “Variations within the genetic sequence have been proven to result in these most cancers cells interacting, multiplying, or transferring from one place to a different in We all know very nicely that these genetic imbalances result in proteins.

Why is focused remedy so necessary? Mahfouz begins from this query and dives deeper into the world of most cancers therapies that cope with genetic imbalances in his opinion, “conventional most cancers therapies, give a -in chemotherapy, killing most cancers cells in addition to destroying wholesome cells, inflicting negative effects and different issues. However by means of the focused therapy used, the most cancers cell could be killed with out destroying or affecting different cells, due to this fact, as soon as the genetic dysfunction or this most cancers genetic dysfunction is recognized, this could put the affected person on a optimistic course of therapy that provides hope. and good leads to response to those new varieties of focused therapies.”

Right this moment we have now moved from the extent of evaluating or learning one gene, for instance, to the extent of learning the genetic sequence of a bigger variety of genes. After two years of labor on this check, the American College of Beirut Medical Middle succeeded in acquiring a concession from an American worldwide firm to carry out this check solely, referred to as CGP (Complete Genomic Profiling), which ‘ means a united genetic line, in Lebanon and the area. Please observe that this survey is accessible in America solely.

Research of over 300 genes

Intimately, this research examines greater than 300 genes, permitting the affected person to know the final notion of the most cancers he’s affected by, whether or not the analysis, the course of therapy, response, or drug resistance. How necessary is that this transfer? In response to Mahfouz, we get a quicker time in figuring out the kind of genetic defect and never having to take out the biopsy or the tissue pattern to investigate the genetic defect to begin its therapy. Research have proven that precision drugs and focused remedy are the brand new prospects of the longer term in most cancers therapy. Likewise, for instance, the US Meals and Drug Administration final 12 months permitted greater than 150 medicine for focused remedy in numerous varieties of most cancers.

We all know very nicely that tons of of genetic mutations are accountable for several types of most cancers, and we additionally know that figuring out the mutation in a number of genes may be very useful in figuring out the most effective therapy and promising outcomes get Due to this fact, the affected person will get the next likelihood of restoration, a greater high quality of life, and a quicker time in beginning therapy with out ready.

How is that this research finished?

Mahfouz says that previously we used to ship the biopsy to america, the place it took between 6 and eight weeks to get the results of the CGP check. Right this moment, after the check is accessible in Lebanon, particularly on the American College of Beirut Medical Middle, the consequence will take between 5 and 10 days at most.

Why deal with the significance of CGP testing? Mahfouz doesn’t conceal that this research supplies a complete genetic fingerprint of the eardrum, which might reveal with nice accuracy, with the assistance of next-generation sequencing know-how, all of the mutations that seem within the genes at present identified to be related to most cancers, and that are accountable for inflicting tumors.

On this context, a tissue pattern is taken, whether or not from the cell or from the tumor after its removing. Along with this fundamental research, which is a milestone on the planet of most cancers, there’s the Medical Middle on the American College of Beirut works. to do a parallel check referred to as a liquid biopsy It’s a affirmation course of based mostly on a blood pattern.

Mahfouz explains that the most cancers cell, which is taken into account like every other cell, dies by itself after a sure age, and after the loss of life of this most cancers cell, it sheds DNA or proteins that – into the blood, for instance, and we strive by means of the skin. blood to catch these indicators that assist to know extra about the kind of most cancers and the dysfunction Genetic evaluation, examination and analysis of exterior blood, and to guarantee that the most cancers is proof against therapy.

Due to this fact, in the present day it is suggested to take a tissue biopsy with a liquid biopsy check to seek out out the similarities and variations and based mostly on the consequence to find out essentially the most acceptable course of therapy.

After the check was situated on the American College Medical Middle for improvement and analysis in collaboration and coordination with the American worldwide pharmaceutical firm, the check has been accessible to sufferers for the reason that summer season of -last 12 months, after proving its effectiveness and high quality. The research is pricey, however it’s cheaper in Lebanon than overseas, the place the research price greater than $3,000.

Mahfouz hopes that the Ministry of Well being and insurance coverage firms will work to determine the right research and that the affected person won’t bear the price, because it helps to cut back the burden of experimental therapies that could be on the affected person to combat most cancers. This hospital invoice that the affected person could have throughout his therapy part could be decreased by figuring out the course in keeping with the consequence given by the kind of defect and the therapy focused most fitted for him.

May these assessments be used to detect most cancers sooner or later? Mahfouz says that these assessments solely apply to the eardrum and due to this fact not for early detection of most cancers. Checks for early most cancers detection haven’t been very efficient and dependable, and so they should be beneath medical supervision to information the affected person as as to whether it’s vital to do that check or not.

The brand new genetic sequence research has helped about 500 sufferers in Lebanon who’ve gone by means of it to find out essentially the most acceptable therapy path for them. You will need to know {that a} damaging check consequence means not continuing with the focused therapy possibility, however accepting conventional therapies to deal with most cancers, and the suitable therapy directed to the affected person , no matter whether or not the CGP check result’s damaging or optimistic. The mixed genetic sequence (CGP) included roughly 100 sufferers domestically.

Scientific trials

By issuing a report with the ultimate consequence, the CGP check permits a suggestion to be made by a medical middle that’s investigating a brand new drug that isn’t but internationally permitted, however at effectiveness is checked by means of a scientific trial involving a sure quantity. sufferers and the extent of response to the experimental therapy.

Alternatively, if there is no such thing as a drug accessible for this genetic mutation, the affected person can bear scientific trials on medicine which might be nonetheless beneath investigation, permitting him to profit from the experimental drug, in addition to conventional therapy. We all know very nicely that there are lots of experimental medicine that at the moment are acknowledged as efficient therapies for most cancers.

One thing of concern in Lebanon

What’s shocking in the present day is the rise in bladder and lung cancers in Lebanon as a result of smoking and the unfold of the hookah, in addition to the rise in air pollution and an unhealthy way of life that improve the elements threat for illness. What we discover in the present day is that most cancers circumstances are recorded in younger age teams between 20 and 30 years, however up to now it affected the age group between 50 and 60.