By Pinkerala News Desk | Jan 12, 2023

~ Precision oncology uses advanced technologies to personalize treatment for cancer ~

Kochi, January 11, 2023: Karkinos Healthcare, a purpose driven technology-led oncology platform, in partnership with Cochin Oncology Group and Cochin University of Science and Technology, successfully hosted a seminar on ‘Understanding Precision Oncology’ as part of the Karkinos colloquium series. The seminar, which was held at Kochi, featured presentations on a range of topics related to precision oncology including next-generation sequencing (NGS). The specialists speaking at the seminar included members of the Global Advisory Board of Karkinos Healthcare and other senior oncology specialists and researchers.

Welcoming the guests, Dr Moni Abraham Kuriakose, Medical Director, Co-founder & CEO Kerala Operations, Karkinos Healthcare said, “Precision oncology has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment with promising results already being seen in some cancers. Precision oncology uses advanced technologies, such as genomic sequencing to improve patient outcomes and reduce the side effects of treatment. The treatment is tailored to the specific genetic makeup of an individual patient's tumor by identifying the specific mutations or abnormalities in the cancer cells and targeting those with the most effective therapies.”

Dr Rajiv Sarin, Professor of Radiation Oncology & In-Charge Cancer Genetics Unit, Tata Memorial Hospital & Advanced Centre for Treatment Research & Education in Cancer (ACTREC) spoke on the application of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in hereditary cancers, exploring its role in identifying genetic mutations that may increase the risk of hereditary cancers and the potential for targeted treatments based on these findings. NGS makes it possible to identify rare genetic mutations that may not be detectable by other methods.

Dr Keith Flaherty, Director of Clinical Research-Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Professor of Medicine - Harvard Medical School, and member of the Global Advisory Board, Karkinos Healthcare took the audience through the application of NGS for advanced cancers. His presentation examined the use of NGS to identify targeted therapies for patients with advanced cancers and to monitor the effectiveness of these treatments. NGS can help in identifying genetic mutations that can be targeted with specific cancer therapies, such as certain mutations in cancer cells that can be treated with immunotherapy. NGS can guide treatment decisions, helping to identify genetic markers that may predict how a patient is likely to respond to a particular treatment as well as monitor a patient’s response to treatment. 

Dr Aparna Parikh, MD, Director of the Global Cancer Care Program, Medical Director- Young Adult Colorectal Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer, and Asst. Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School spoke on the role of liquid biopsy in cancer. Liquid biopsy involves analyzing a patient's blood or other body fluids to detect cancer or monitor the disease, as an alternative to traditional tissue biopsy. Liquid biopsies being non-invasive offer a convenient and less invasive way to detect and monitor cancer, and can be repeated as often as needed. They help in detecting recurrences in certain cancers earlier than other diagnostic tests, improving the chances of successful treatment.

R Venkataramanan, Founder and CEO, Karkinos Healthcare presented Karkinos’ vision for molecular medicine. He said, “We are pleased with the outcome of this seminar and the opportunity it provided for experts to share their knowledge and insights on precision oncology. Our vision for molecular medicine is to use the latest advances in molecular and genomic testing to provide the most personalized and effective cancer care possible. Our aim is to create ease of access to screening and diagnostic tools that can detect cancer at an early stage, when it is most treatable. 

He added, “We will also be collaborating with other hospitals and research institutions in improving patient outcomes using molecular medicine as well as participating in clinical trials to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of new molecular therapies for cancer. We will also be providing training in the use of molecular medicine in cancer care. Events like this promote collaboration and stimulate innovation to help us move closer to achieving that goal."

The highlight of the evening was a panel discussion on the role of a Molecular Tumor Board, a multidisciplinary team that reviews and interprets genomic data to inform treatment decisions for cancer patients. The panel discussion threw light on how a Molecular Tumor Board that brings together a range of expertise and perspectives can help cancer patients receive the most appropriate and personalized care possible. They emphasized that the board, which reviews the molecular profiles of cancer patients and make recommendations for their care, must use the latest advances in molecular and genomic testing to guide the selection of the most appropriate cancer treatments for individual patients.

The Molecular Tumor Board panel discussion was moderated by Dr Aju Mathew, MD, Consultant- Medical Oncologist, MOSC Medical College Kolenchery and Ernakulam Medical Centre, and Senior Medical Advisor, Karkinos, The panel included experts Dr.Bhawna Sirohi, Consultant Medical Oncologist-GI & Breast Cancers, Director, Medical Oncology, BALCO Medical Centre, Nava Raipur; Dr.Arun Warrier, Consultant- Medical Oncology, Aster DM Healthcare; Dr.Sanju Cyriac, Consultant – Medical and Hemato Oncology, Rajagiri Hospital; Dr.Pavithran K, Professor and Head of the Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences; Dr.Mahul Amin, VP & Divisional Medical Director, West Division, Labcorp, Clinical Professor of Urology and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, USC Keck School of Medicine and University of Tennessee Health Science Center; Dr.Keith Flaherty, member of the Global Advisory Board, Karkinos Healthcare; Dr. Valsamma Joseph, Director, National Centre for Aquatic Animal Health (NCAAH) Cochin University of Science and Technology; Dr.Ajith Vengellor, Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), India; Dr.Ajit Nambiar, Director of Lab Services - Karkinos Healthcare, Kerala; and, Dr.Sourabh Radhakrishnan, Senior Consultant and Director (All India), Medical and Precision Oncology

About Karkinos Healthcare

Karkinos Healthcare is a health technology platform that supports comprehensive managed cancer care. The primary focus is on early detection, democratizing precision oncology, integrating primary health and cancer care to deliver treatment closer to patients home, and to gain newer insights for next-generation cancer care. Overall Karkinos is on a mission to provide end-to-end cancer care solutions where no person is deprived of care for lack of access or affordability. For more information, visit https://www.karkinos.in/.

Advanced Center for Cancer Diagnosis and Research Center (ACCDR), Kochi

The ACCDR is established to deliver appropriate and affordable cancer diagnostics to democratize precision oncology. It is a one-of-a-kind comprehensive oncology focused lab that has immunohistochemistry, histopathology and molecular diagnostics under the same roof. The lab’s contribution to the amalgamation of data from screening, pathology, imaging, molecular analysis, and digital scanning will help build robust data that can revolutionize cancer treatment delivery in India. The vision of the lab is to be a world class referral lab transforming patient care and research. It has established a biorepository to promote a cancer research ecosystem in partnership with academic and clinical organizations.