Tumour gene profiling helps prolong cancer patients' lives: Dr Anurag Mehta

Organ specific diagnosis has been the bedrock of treatment of cancer patients. Two people with cancer in the same organ may not witness the same results from the treatment despite being at the same stage. But in India, the same treatment is given to all the patients having cancer in one particular organ.

Tumour gene profiling is a new phenomenon in India as it takes the treatment of cancer beyond the conventional ways of treatment i.e. chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. It opens up the possibility of targeted or personalised treatment, which is faster and more effective even in late stages of cancer.

Dr Anurag Mehta, director of laboratory services at Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre (RGCIRC),  Delhi, talks to dna about this new treatment method.

What is tumour gene profiling and how is it better?
So far, treatment for cancer is based upon organ specific diagnosis, which in many cases produces different results for different people. Tumour gene profiling is based upon molecular detection of the disease in that particular organ. Tumour in one organ of different people may look alike, even under a microscope. But it may still be very different in its genetic make-up and that’s what tumour gene profiling detects. This enables us to use direct or targeted medication for that one particular molecule. With this diagnosis process, we reach closer to the root of the disease. It’s far better and more focused in comparison to the old paradigm of the trail-and-error medicine.

Can it help those at an advanced stage of cancer?
To a certain extent, yes. Until now we haven’t been able to find a permanent cure for cancer. Patients can be cured at an early stage but at later stages, it can be contained at a minimal level. This diagnosis process enables us to provide personalised treatment to the root of the problem, which results in better containment of the disease. In a cancer signature, there are usually 12 sub-types of cancer and this diagnosis enables us to treat at least four sub-types directly which prolongs the patient’s survival.

Is this treatment costly in comparison to the conventional treatment?
No, not in all scenarios. In fact, it depends upon how soon we detect the root cause. If we detect it with initial tests, the cost of treatment may decrease by 60%. It also spares patients from the side-effects of chemotherapy as chemo also causes side-effects to healthy molecules. Personalised, targeted treatment, however, doesn’t harm the organ’s healthy molecules.

How successful and effective has treatment through tumour gene profiling been in the country?
We have seven people on trial since our research centre started this treatment, with Star Health Network, Yale School of Medicine and Thomas Jefferson University, in July 2013. The results have been satisfactory, and in one case, we have observed tremendous recovery by the patient, who was at an advance stage of cancer.