:: 01, Aug 2014 :: TAKING THE GUESSWORK OUT OF CANCER THERAPY

Singapore, August 1, 2014 Researchers and doctors at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN), Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) have co-developed the first molecular test kit that can predict treatment and survival outcomes in kidney cancer patients. This breakthrough was recently reported in European Urology, the worlds top urology journal.

According to IBN Executive Director Professor Jackie Y. Ying, By combining our expertise in molecular diagnostics and cancer research, we have developed the first genetic test to help doctors prescribe the appropriate treatment for kidney cancer patients based on their tumor profile.

Dr. Min-Han Tan, who is IBN Team Leader and Principal Research Scientist and a visiting consultant at the Division of Medical Oncology NCCS, shared his motivation, As a practicing oncologist, I have cared for many patients with kidney cancer. I see the high costs of cancer care, the unpredictable outcomes and occasional futility of even the best available drugs. This experience inspired our development of this assay to improve all these for patients.

The study was conducted retrospectively with tissue samples collected from close to 280 clear cell renal carcinoma patients who underwent surgery at SGH between 1999 and 2012.

High quality tissue samples are crucial in achieving significant findings in biomedical research. As an Academic Medical Center, we wish to promote the translation of research into advances in healthcare and personalized medicine. The development of this test kit for patient care, utilizing the robust tissue archive that we have at SGH, is a good example of this, said Professor Tan Puay Hoon, Head and Senior Consultant, Department of Pathology, SGH.

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:: 01, Aug 2014 :: TAKING THE GUESSWORK OUT OF CANCER THERAPY