Targeted therapy, immunotherapy to dominate cancer treatment

Kolkata: Cancer care is set to take a leap forward across multiple city hospitals that are enhancing oncology units even as World Cancer Day is observed on Tuesday. Besides significant increases in clinical and infrastructural facilities for cancer, several hospitals are also ready to adopt the ‘United by Unique' strategy — the theme of World Cancer Day this year — stressing the importance of personalised, patient-centred care in the fight against cancer. Around 10%-15% of patients in Kolkata now receive personalised care through gene profile assessment."Broad spectrum chemotherapy will be phased out in the next five years. We introduced NGF panel assessment, which is a 50-gene panel test that tracks the mutation pattern of cancer genes. For lung cancer, we are in the process of shifting to immunotherapy and targeted therapy based on gene panel tests. It has improved the survival rate and period, as well as the patients' quality of life," said Ruby General Hospital oncologist Sanjoy Roy. Ruby will have 80 more oncology beds by Feb. The hospital currently has 100 oncology beds with a capacity of 316. ‘United by Unique' also refers to the need to treat each cancer patient differently, based on financial status, physical condition, and practical necessities, said Medica Superspecialty Hospital oncologist Subir Ganguly. "It calls upon doctors to tailor a patient's treatment according to resources available — financial and social," he said.Saroj Gupta Cancer Centre & Research Institute Thakurpukur has just inaugurated a cancer genetic clinic to identify patients who are genetically prone to cancer. RN Tagore Hospital has introduced robotic and open surgeries. Better reconstructive facilities are providing patients with a good quality of life. In head and neck and breast oncosurgery, organ preservation is being done regularly, say senior onco-surgeons. The hospital has lined up additional infrastructure for cancer, like OTs, 15-bed surgical onco-ICUs, and digital mammo.BP Poddar Hospital has introduced a 200-bed oncology unit with OT, ITU, HDU, and palliative care unit. "Along with chemotherapy, we will soon offer radiation facilities, including gamma knife, 320 slice CT scan, brachytherapy, PET-CT scan, and a 1.5 Tesla MRI," said group advisor Supriyo Chakrabarty. Immunotherapy and targeted therapy can almost cure cancer, said IPGMER professor Diptendra Sarkar. "The only barrier is the cost, and if it can be brought down, cancer will be nearly curable," he said. Desun Cancer Care will launch a four-bed iodine therapy unit, offering specialised care for thyroid cancer patients. "By May, we plan to establish a four-bed bone marrow transplant facility and install a second LINAC (linear accelerator)," said Sajal Dutta, chairman and MD of Desun Hospital. Check out the Valentine Day 2025 , along with the Valentine’s Day Wishes and Messages.