“Since returning from the United States after several years in New York, I have been struck by the differences between cancer in the US and Southeast Asia. The problem is an enormous one here, with cancer being the leading cause of death in Singapore, and one of the leading causes for other countries in the area. Despite economic fluctuations, patients and their tightly-knit family units are keen to have treatment comparable to what is available in the West. This has led to a tremendous demand to be enrolled in well-run drug trials when standard therapy either has poor results, or when it fails.
“New anti-cancer drug development has traditionally been performed in Europe, the United States and Japan. While many exciting new compounds have been tested in those patient populations, little is known about these drugs in cancers which afflict the large majority of the world’s population. Cancers of the nasopharynx, hepatocellular carcinoma, cervix cancer, oesophageal cancers, stomach cancers and melanoma need new anti-cancer therapy.
“In line with Johns Hopkins’ tripartite mission dedicated to research, medical education and quality patient care, we are very pleased to be working together with our colleagues both in Singapore and the region to develop new areas of clinical expertise. Since arriving in Singapore, I have noted that many cancers in Asian patients are different from those in the United States. This is further compounded by differences in cultural and social behaviour between the two regions.
“The Department of Clinical Oncology at The Chinese University of Hong Kong established the “Centre for Trials, Drug Development and Novel Therapeutics” in 1996 with the aim of conducting clinical trials according to the Good Clinical Practice guidelines. As of today, more than 100 Phase I/II/III clinical trials have been completed. Currently, there are approximately 30–35 ongoing studies with several more at the planning stage.
“It is our great privilege and pleasure to join the Cancer Therapeutics Research Group as a new member. Korea, located in North East Asia, is a unique country with a single ethnic background. In Korea, cancer is the most common cause of death. There are more than 100,000 new cancer patients yearly and the mortality is more than 50,000 per annum. And the cancer incidence is still rapidly increasing. The common cancers in Korea are Stomach Cancer, Lung Cancer, Hepatocellular Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Breast Cancer and Uterine Cervix Cancer. It is well known that such cancers as Stomach Cancer and Hepatocellular Cancer are far more common in Asia compared to the West. Our collaboration will be helpful in defining the differences in pharmacogenetics and biology of cancers between Caucasians and Asians.
