Advances In Cancer Technology Improving Treatment, Says Doctor

By Kisean Joseph

Kisean.joseph@antiguaobserver.com

New cancer treatment technologies are improving patient care in Antigua and Barbuda, while the country still awaits a radiation therapy centre to complete cancer services.

Chair of Oncology at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, Dr Hanybal Yazigi, said that oncology is advancing rapidly, with new treatments improving patient outcomes. He noted that a recently approved treatment for pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of the disease, has already shown meaningful improvements in patient outcomes.

He said precision medicine is already changing lives locally by matching treatment to the genetic makeup of a patient’s cancer rather than treating it only by where it started.

“Among the most exciting advances are precision medicine, where treatment is tailored to the unique genetic makeup of a patient’s cancer rather than simply where it originated. I have already seen the impact firsthand. Two of my patients with aggressive lung cancer underwent advanced genetic testing, which we coordinated through OncoMed268 with help from our partners. This identified targeted treatments they were far more likely to respond to. Without that testing, they would have received standard chemotherapy that was unlikely to work. Both patients are doing well today.”

Dr Yazigi said antibody-drug conjugates, often called “smart chemotherapy”, have already been used locally to deliver cancer-fighting drugs directly to tumour cells while limiting damage to healthy tissue. He said bispecific antibodies are transforming treatment for several blood cancers and show promise in solid tumours, adding that patients in Antigua and Barbuda can also access those therapies. He added that engineered T-cell therapy remains available to only a small number of patients worldwide, but relationships with overseas centres allow eligible patients to be referred for treatment.

While highlighting advances in treatment, Dr Yazigi said Antigua and Barbuda still needs a modern radiation therapy centre to complete cancer care already provided through surgery and chemotherapy.

“One of the most important developments our country still needs is a high-quality radiation therapy centre. Antigua and Barbuda already has well-established surgical and chemotherapy services in both the SLBMC and private sectors. At OncoMed268, for example, we provide medical oncology, surgery, gynaecology, and palliative care, four of the major pillars of modern cancer treatment. The addition of radiation therapy would complete the spectrum of care for many patients and significantly reduce the number of patients who must travel overseas for treatment. While I understand the delay has been to ensure the highest standards of quality and safety, I believe that waiting is a worthwhile investment. When it comes to radiation therapy, it is far better to get it right than to get it quickly.”

Dr Yazigi said the cancers most commonly treated locally include breast, prostate, colorectal, lung, cervical, uterine and ovarian cancers, as well as lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

He also welcomed the planned installation of a mammography machine at SLBMC and the relocation of the old one to the Villa Polyclinic, saying, “expanded screening will improve access and help detect breast cancer earlier, when treatment is most effective.”

The oncologist added that although the total number of cancer deaths has increased as populations grow and age, the risk of dying from cancer has steadily declined because of advances in prevention, early detection and treatment. He added that about 30 per cent of cancers are preventable through healthy lifestyle choices, vaccination and recommended screening programmes, although many cancers still develop because of inherited genetics, ageing or random genetic changes.

Reflecting on OncoMed268’s recovery after a fire earlier this year, Dr Yazigi said the practice remained fully operational throughout the 88-day period without a permanent home. Chemotherapy, surgeries, biopsies and referrals for radiation treatment continued without interruption, supported by healthcare colleagues, the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, the Ministries of Health and Finance, and patients.