Breakthroughs in cancer research could reshape perception of disease, say experts in Abu Dhabi
Cancer treatment is becoming so advanced that researchers believe the disease could one day be treated like a manageable condition, rather than as a death sentence.
“We will see an acceleration of clinical trials and treatments which will reduce death rates as more data is gathered and [the rate of] genome sequencing increases,” Nobel laureate Prof James Allison told The National at the global congress of the WIN Consortium in Abu Dhabi last week.
The UAE’s role in researching cancer was praised by experts speaking at the event, which gathered the world’s leading physicians, researchers and scientists in precision oncology.
“With immunotherapies already approved and a remarkable level of investment dedicated to cancer care, the nation is forging ahead in clinical research and infrastructure development to propel advancements in patient outcomes,” said Prof Allison.
“By harnessing data from clinical trials, the UAE aims to tailor immunotherapy treatments effectively, marking a significant stride towards personalised medicine.”
Prof Allison, who works at the MD Anderson Carter Centre
at the University of Texas, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2018.
He was recognised for his pioneering research on cancer immunotherapy, specifically for discovering the CTLA-4 protein, which led to the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors.
He lost his mother, brother and two uncles to cancer, spurring his dedication to finding innovative treatments.
He also praised the UAE for its efforts to learn from prior setbacks and fine-tune treatments. He emphasised the potential to redefine cancer as a manageable condition similar to hypertension.
His words were echoed at the event by Prof Padmanee Sharma, also of the MD Anderson Carter Centre.
She voiced optimism over the likelihood of a breakthrough in the fight against cancer, fuelled by continued advances in research.
“One day, cancer will not be considered as a death sentence. The people can think of cancer like they think of high blood pressure,” she said.
“Now, with immunotherapy and the revolution in genomic medicine and precision oncology, you can now look at a person’s data, look at their genetics and formulate a correct therapy.
“We are at the tip of the iceberg, but we have to get going because we are on the right path.”
There is no single accepted estimate of the likelihood of developing cancer, but according
to the International Agency for Research on Cancer – part of the World Health Organisation – about one in five people develop cancer in their lifetime, with about one in nine men and one in 12 women dying from the disease.
In 2022, about 20 million people got cancer diagnosed, while about 9.7 million died of the disease, the IARC said in a report last month, which covered 185 countries and 36 types of cancer.
Lung cancer was the most deadly form of cancer that year, accounting for 1.8 million deaths, or 18.7 per cent of the year’s total. It was followed by colorectal cancer (900,000 deaths, 9.3 per cent), liver cancer (760,000 deaths, 7.8 per cent), breast cancer (670 000 deaths, 6.9 per cent) and stomach cancer (660, 000 deaths, 6.8 per cent).
The British National Health Service provides a bleaker estimate of cancer risk, saying one in two people is likely to develop the disease in their lifetime.
Meanwhile, the US Cancer Society has said the likelihood of getting cancer diagnosed is one in two for men, and one in three for women.
More than 457 cancer patients and their families are taking part in a tailor-made oncology programme at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, which seeks to determine the effects of genetics on the prevalence of the disease.
“The stigma around cancer is becoming less and less because of the new discoveries and also the new modalities of prevention and diagnosis,” said Dr Asma Al Mannaei, executive director of the Research and Innovation Centre at the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, who was also speaking at the WIN Consortium event.
“We can see that cancer might soon be considered as a chronic disease, and we can see a glimpse of a cure happening in the next 10 years.”
The WHO estimates one in five people will get cancer, while the British NHS believes one in two will develop the disease