Best Of ASCO UAE Conference 2025 Highlights Advancements In Cancer Diagnosis And Treatment

The Best of ASCO UAE Conference 2025, organised by SEHA and Tawam Hospital, concluded after two days of insightful sessions. This event gathered oncology experts worldwide to discuss the latest in cancer diagnosis and treatment. The conference highlighted scientific advancements and technological innovations in oncology.

Professor Debu Tripathy from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center shared insights on breast cancer research. He emphasised targeting oestrogen receptors, a crucial pathway in breast cancer progression. "We are witnessing a paradigm shift with the emergence of new therapies beyond conventional hormonal treatments," he stated.

Tripathy elaborated on targeted biological agents like CDK inhibitors and PI3 kinase inhibitors, which are changing advanced-stage disease treatment. These therapies show promise in early-stage settings, potentially reducing relapse rates. He noted ribociclib and abemaciclib results as particularly encouraging for improving patient outcomes.

Tripathy also discussed circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) technology advancements. This method tracks molecular changes in blood samples, allowing proactive treatment adjustments before clinical progression is evident. He highlighted this fast-evolving field as a focal point of the conference.

Dr. Faisal Alterkait from Kuwait Cancer Center highlighted a study on HER2-positive breast cancer. The findings suggest reducing traditional chemotherapy use in early-stage cases without compromising efficacy by combining targeted therapies like Herceptin and Perjeta.

Regional Challenges and Strategies

Dr. Alterkait stressed the importance of scientific collaboration across the GCC and UAE due to regional challenges like younger breast cancer patient demographics. While high-risk patients in the US and Europe average 64 years old, many Gulf patients are diagnosed before 40.

He advocated for intensified early screening programmes for women under 40, noting that early detection can boost survival rates to over 90 percent if caught early. Delaying screening can lead to disease progression and complicated treatments.

Importance of Regional Conferences

Tripathy underscored the significance of such conferences in the Middle East, where patients tend to be younger than those in Western countries. This necessitates region-specific treatment strategies and research efforts tailored to these demographics.

The conference's third edition featured expert-led sessions covering major oncology domains like breast cancer, gastrointestinal malignancies, and gynaecologic tumours. Discussions included advances in immunotherapy, targeted therapies, and modern technologies for early detection.

The event concluded with optimism about applying these findings in clinical practice across the region. Continued collaboration among experts is essential for addressing unique regional challenges effectively.

With inputs from WAM