Thiruvananthapuram: The Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) here is in the process of augmenting its clinical and research capabilities in the treatment of cancers of the liver and gastrointestinal tract, in collaboration with the National Cancer Centre, Singapore (NCCS).

A three-member team of experts from the NCCS, headed by London Ooi Peng Jin, Head of Surgical Oncology and Hepatopancreaticobiliary Surgery, held discussions with the RCC authorities on Friday to chalk out the areas where the two institutions could share their clinical and research experience.

The team members include Choo Su Pin, Consultant in Medical Oncology and Thng Choon Hua, Deputy Head of the Department of Oncologic Imaging, NCCS.

Data

The RCC, along with the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, had signed a memorandum of understanding with the NCCS in May this year for collaboration in the area of research and clinical practice, exchange of data and for exchange of medical faculty in certain key areas.

The idea was to create a network of Asian oncology institutes so that there could be more sharing of information on the cancers commonly seen in the Asia-Pacific region.

Hepatocellular carcinoma or liver cancer and cancers of the gastrointestinal tract such as colo-rectal cancer have not been the priority areas for the RCC so far because of the relatively lesser number of cases coming to the centre for treatment.

However, the incidence of liver cancer has been growing in India and South East Asia and it accounts for approximately 40 per cent of all cancer cases in South East Asia. It is the third most common cancer in Asia "The NCCS has a lot of expertise in the treatment of liver cancers, especially the highly complex liver surgery and has been attracting cases from across the world.

This is an area where the RCC is yet to venture into. We hope that with the clinical and technical support from the NCCS, we can provide better treatment options to our patients," said B. Rajan, Director, RCC.

"We are looking to the RCC for developing a treatment protocol for head and neck cancers because the RCC sees at least 1,000 cases every year. Breast cancer treatment is another area where we can collaborate for training and research. The two institutions will focus on developing guidelines for the management of cancers affecting Asian ethnic communities," Prof. Ooi told The Hindu.

Faculty exchange programmes have already started between the two institutions and nodal persons have been identified in each clinical department for exchange of information.

The RCC plans to establish telemedicine linkage with the NCCS so that it can be part of the oncology discussion groups and Asia-Pacific cancer trials.

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