Best Of ASCO UAE Conference Launches In Abu Dhabi Featuring Global Oncology Leaders

The Best of ASCO UAE Conference commenced in Abu Dhabi, hosted by SEHA and Tawam Hospital, part of the PureHealth Group. The event, held at Dusit Thani Hotel, will run until tomorrow. It gathers oncology experts globally under the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) licence. Over 70 speakers from international, regional, and local backgrounds are participating.

Professor Julie Gralow, ASCO's Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President, shared insights with the Emirates News Agency (WAM). She highlighted key developments from the annual ASCO meeting. These include using circulating tumour DNA for diagnosis and artificial intelligence aiding pathologists in accurate tumour assessments.

Gralow stressed the significance of healthy lifestyle habits for better patient outcomes. A recent study showed that regular exercise after a colon cancer diagnosis reduced recurrence and mortality rates. She advocated combining physical activity with a balanced diet and weight loss to boost treatment effectiveness.

Immunotherapy has seen rapid progress, particularly in antibody-drug conjugates and immune checkpoint inhibitors. These therapies are now being applied to new therapeutic indications and earlier stages of cancer.

Gralow explained precision medicine's goal: identifying molecular mutations that cause cells to become cancerous and developing treatments targeting those mutations precisely. Many targeted therapies have shown success in treating abnormal cancer-causing cells.

Dr. Khalid Saeed Balaraj, Chair of the Oncology Centre at Tawam Hospital and Vice-Chair of the Conference, highlighted more than seven specialist scientific workshops for junior doctors. These sessions aim to prepare them for future roles in cancer care through direct engagement with leading international oncology researchers.

Emerging Treatments and Individualised Care

Balaraj discussed new drugs effective against various cancers. The conference explores incorporating these treatments into formal care protocols, focusing on advances in treating breast cancer in women. He noted breakthroughs in immunotherapies and targeted therapies that attack tumours while preserving healthy tissue.

Balaraj added that modern medical care increasingly relies on individualised treatment plans tailored to each patient's unique biological profile. This approach can lead to different strategies for two patients with the same diagnosis based on their responses to treatment.

New Initiatives in Oncology

Mouza Al Amri, Consultant Breast Surgeon and Acting Director of Breast Cancer Care Centre at Tawam Hospital, announced the launch of the Emirates Society of Radiation Oncology (ESRO) during the conference. Based in Abu Dhabi, ESRO focuses on patient care, continuing medical education in oncology, radiation therapy, and cancer surgery. The society officially began operations today.

The conference programme includes over 70 scientific papers that have significantly influenced oncology treatment strategies this year. Dr. Balaraj mentioned ASCO's annual international conference attended by leading oncology scientists worldwide as a platform for sharing such advancements.

With inputs from WAM