Cancer has been a pressing issue worldwide, with approximately 9.6 million deaths attributed to cancer in 2018 alone.

Hence, there is an urgent need for advancements in the field of oncology to discover new therapeutic solutions and improve patient care and treatment outcomes. The ASIA Oncology Symposium is a platform for researchers, healthcare professionals, and experts to discuss recent developments in the field of oncology.

Introducing Innovative Therapies for Cancer Treatment

With the technological advancements, it has become possible to develop more precise and targeted therapies to treat cancer.

Various new therapeutic developments were introduced in the symposium, that have the potential to change cancer treatment protocol and improve patient outcomes.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that harnesses the body’s immune system to fight cancer. It is also called biologic therapy, biotherapy, or immunomodulatory therapy.

This therapy uses substances made from living organisms that improve or restore the immune system’s function. A few years ago, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first-ever immunotherapy drug, which is a checkpoint inhibitor that targets the PD-1 pathway.

New checkpoint inhibitors have been introduced in the market, including the IKKβ inhibitor, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), which stop cancer growth and spread.

Advanced Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy is another form of cancer treatment that has shown great promise in recent years. It interferes with specific molecules that allow cancer cells to grow and spread, without affecting normal cells.

Advancements in the field of targeted therapy are leading to the development of better and more effective drugs, such as EGFR inhibitors, HER2 inhibitors, and BCL-2 inhibitors. These drugs are specifically designed to target particular genes and proteins that are instrumental in cancer development and progression.

Personalized Medicine

Personalized medicine is the future of cancer treatment, and it tailors the treatment to individual characteristics of each patient, such as their genetic profile, medical history, and lifestyle choices.

The advancements in genomic profiling and gene sequencing techniques have enabled doctors to prescribe specific treatment for each patient, which has shown promising results in improving treatment outcomes and patient care. Personalized medicine has also led to more efficient drug development, where clinical trials can be conducted on smaller patient groups, and drugs can be customized to cater to the needs of a particular patient group.

Robotics and Artificial Intelligence

Advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence have transformed the field of cancer treatment.

Robotic surgery has allowed for more precise and targeted removal of cancerous tissues, significantly reducing the risk of complications and recovery time. Similarly, artificial intelligence has enabled doctors to analyze vast amounts of data and images to detect cancer earlier and with greater accuracy.

Additionally, artificial intelligence has shown promising results in predicting treatment outcomes and suggesting personalized cancer treatment plans.

Challenges and Future Directions

Despite the significant advancements in oncology, there are still significant challenges in discovering new therapies and improving cancer treatment outcomes.

The primary challenge is the high cost of cancer treatment, which puts it out of reach for many patients. Additionally, cancer remains a complex disease, and its heterogeneity makes it challenging to develop uniform and effective treatment protocols.

Nevertheless, the future of oncology is bright, with promising advancements in personalized medicine, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, robotics, and artificial intelligence.

The ASIA Oncology Symposium provides an excellent platform for oncologists, researchers, and experts to collaborate and share their research findings to make further advancements in the field of oncology.