The boy who was saved from a rare blood cancer by experimental treatment in Singapore

Viet Tai, a Vietnamese boy diagnosed with a rare form of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, sought experimental treatment at National University Hospital (NUH) Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute (KTP-NUCMI) after chemotherapy failed to work. Throughout the ordeal, Viet Tai endured isolation and gruelling treatments, but is now cancer-free and leading a normal life. His journey highlights the importance of hope, resilience, and exploring all medical and financial resources available when facing rare cancers.

Prof Allen Yeoh, Head and Senior Consultant, Division of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, NUH KTP-NUCMI and National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, and VIVA-Goh Foundation Professor in Paediatric Oncology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, shared how the CD7 CAR T-cell therapy helped Viet Tai in his leukaemia journey.

• CNA Youtube, 10 October 2024

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• CNA Instagram, 10, October 2024

• The Asianparent, 10 October 2024

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CytoMed Therapeutics’ first-in-human Phase I ANGELICA clinical trial using its patented donor allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T cell) against blood and solid tumours received co-funding support from the NMRC Clinical Trial Grant

​CytoMed Therapeutics has obtained full approval for its first-in-human Phase I clinical trial using its patented allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor T-cell against several blood and solid tumours in collaboration with National University Hospital. Dr Anand Jeyasekharan, lead investigator of the study and Senior Consultant, Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, said the investigator-initiated trial protocol has been carefully developed with a team of experts in early phase trials, CAR-T cells and allogenic transplantation.

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அந்திமகால பராமரிப்புக்கான தேவை அதிகரிப்பு (Increasing demand for end-of-life care)

​Over 40 leaders from National University Health System and other health clusters shared best practices to enhance synergy in end-of-life care at the Singapore Hospice Council's Palliative Care Quality Improvement Conference (SPCQIC). Dr Yee Choon Meng, Head & Senior Consultant, Division of Palliative Care, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, and Chairman, SPCQIC Organising Committee, emphasised the need to develop capabilities to address the increasing demand for end-of-life care as the population ages.

绝经后出血别大意 当心子宫内膜癌 (Don't take post-menopausal bleeding lightly, beware of endometrial cancer)

​After being diagnosed with stage 1 endometrial cancer in National University Hospital (NUH), Mdm Yon Yuet Meng, 54, had minimally invasive surgery to remove her uterus, cervix, ovaries and fallopian tubes and was discharged a day later. Her doctor, A/Prof Jeffrey Low, Head & Senior Consultant, Division of Gynaecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, NUH, who is also Head & Senior Consultant, Division of Gynaecologic Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, said endometrial cancer is more common in post-menopausal women. He has also observed that more women in their 30s are afflicted by this type of cancer, which is associated with obesity. A/Prof Low explained the risk factors for ovarian and cervical cancers and offered recommendations for screening based on different age groups. 

六旬妇腹痛切盲肠 惊悉患胃癌第四期 (Woman in her 60s undergoes appendix removal surgery after having abdominal pain; shocked to learn that she had stage 4 gastric cancer)

​Mdm Hau Chan Kim, 65, was diagnosed with stage 4 gastric cancer and peritoneal spread after undergoing an appendix removal surgery. Despite the grim prognosis, she remained positive and underwent intraperitoneal chemotherapy, which she responded well to. Mdm Hau also contributed her tumour cell tissues for research spearheaded by a team comprising clinicians and researchers from National University Hospital, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, National Cancer Centre Singapore, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Duke-NUS Medical School. 

NUH develops AI tool to accelerate lumbar spinal stenosis diagnosis

​Spine AI is a deep learning tool developed in-house by National University Hospital (NUH) in collaboration with a team from the NUS School of Computing and the National University Spine Institute. Dr Andrew Makmur, Group Chief Technology Officer at National University Health System and Consultant in the Department of Diagnostic Imaging at NUH, said previously when radiologists had to read and analyse MRI scans, the process can be labour-intensive and repetitive. He said there is great potential for Spine AI to augment radiologists’ efficiency and allow them to focus on more complex cases.

• Singapore Business Review, 14 September 2024, NUH develops AI tool to accelerate lumbar spinal stenosis diagnosis
  

• Healthcare IT News, 13 September 2024, NUH AI interprets spinal stenosis in '47 seconds' and more AI briefs
  

BeiGene Singapore raises awareness for World Lymphoma Awareness Day 2024: It's time for honest talk

​This year marks the 20th anniversary of World Lymphoma Awareness Day. Individuals seeking guidance on how to start conversations on lymphoma can turn to resources available across Singapore, such as National University Cancer Institute, Singapore.

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NUS Medicine uses AI platform to effectively treat patient with rare cancer

​Researchers from the Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM) at NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine leveraged small amounts of data from a single patient with a rare disease to guide his treatment, with promising results. The team works closely with National University Cancer Institute, Singapore clinicians to utilise an AI platform called CURATE.AI to optimise personalised medication dose for patients.

Novel 'spray’ gives hope to patients with advanced gastric cancer

​A new clinical trial led by researchers from National University Hospital (NUH), National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS), NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National Cancer Centre Singapore and Duke-NUS Medical School has shown that using a novel pressurised intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy technique to administer chemotherapy directly into the abdominal cavity, combined with immunotherapy through the bloodstream, could significantly improve survival rates for patients with gastric cancer peritoneal metastases. The same team also discovered the crucial role of the tumour microenvironment in the spread of gastric cancer, using advanced genomic analysis to identify specific genetic factors contributing to metastasis. 

多发性骨髓瘤无法治愈? 新疗法控制病情更有效 (No cure for multiple myeloma? New treatments more effective in controlling the disease)

​Prof Chng Wee Joo, Senior Consultant, Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, and Vice President (Biomedical Sciences Research), National University of Singapore, said the absence of symptoms in the initial stages of multiple myeloma makes early diagnosis challenging. The drug development for multiple myeloma is rapidly progressing, with new drugs or therapies being approved every other year. He added that new therapies, such as immunotherapy and CAR-T therapy, have shown promising results.

Breakthrough research extends hope for gastric cancer patients with peritoneal metastasis

Pesakit barah prostat jalani rawatan baru kurangi kesan radioterapi (Prostate cancer patients undergo new treatment to reduce side effects of radiotherapy)

A/Prof Edmund Chiong, Head and Senior Consultant, Department of Urology, National University Hospital (NUH), said the challenge with radiation therapy for prostate cancer has always been how to target the cancer effectively while minimising damage to surrounding tissues, especially the rectum, which is in close proximity to the prostate. A/Prof Chiong is also Senior Consultant, Division of Surgical Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS), and the Chairman of the Genitourinary Cancer Programme at NCIS. NUH started offering the rectal spacer procedure in May 2022 and its doctors are training doctors in other public hospitals on this new procedure, making it accessible to a wider group of patients.

Dr Arshvin Kesavan, Associate Consultant, Department of Urology, said that NUH’s first 120 rectal spacer patients who were followed up for up to two years after undergoing the procedure experienced significantly fewer side effects than patients who had radiation therapy without spacer placement. His 65-year-old patient, Mr Zulkiffli Baba, underwent the procedure when he was diagnosed with stage 2 prostate cancer.

NUS AI platform shows promise in rare cancer treatment

​Researchers from the Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM) at NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine leveraged small amounts of data from a single patient with a rare disease to guide his treatment, with promising results. Prof Dean Ho, Director of WisDM, said CURATE.AI's approach, which tailors treatment using small data sets, offers a practical solution for the urgent and challenging need of developing personalised strategies for rare diseases. Dr Sanjay de Mel, Senior Consultant in the Division of Haematology, Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, and the clinical lead for the trial, said a personalised approach to medication dosing is required to address inter-individual variability.

• GovInsider, 4 September 2024, AI platform using small data sets improves treatment response
  

调查：50岁到69岁妇女乳腺癌筛查有所减少 (Survey: Breast cancer screening for women aged 50 to 69 has dropped)

​Findings from the National Population Health Survey 2023 showed that screening for breast cancer dropped from 37.6 per cent in 2022 to 34.7 per cent in 2023. National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS) noted that despite high awareness of breast cancer among women here, screening rates remain much lower than in Western countries, often due to personal or cultural beliefs. Dr Samuel Ow, Senior Consultant, Department of Haematology-Oncology, NCIS, said that many women think breast cancer is suspected only when a lump is felt, but in fact, the cancer can be picked up in very early stage through mammogram screening, even before any lumps are palpable.

SG study underscores use of germline testing to guide cancer therapeutics

​A study by the Cancer Genetics Clinic in National University Cancer Institue, Singapore, showed the use of germline genetic testing in guiding therapeutic decisions for people with advanced cancers. The researchers found that about one-third of cancer patients tested carried a pathogenic germline variant and about 80 per cent of them were clinically actionable.