ASCO 2023 – World’s Largest Oncology Congress – Highlights New Classes of Treatment Offering Better Efficacy and Fewer Side Effects for Patients in Advanced Stages of Disease
The world’s leading cancer event, the Congress of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO, its acronym in English) concluded on Tuesday, June 6 in Chicago, United States, offering promising possibilities for the treatment of various forms of cancer disease . One of the highlights was the sessions on bladder cancer, which, although not statistically at the top of the list of the most common types, is considered by doctors to be one of the most aggressive and difficult to intervene.
According to data from the National Cancer Institute (Inca), 11,370 new cases of this neoplasm were diagnosed in Brazil in 2022, affecting mainly men. It happens when parts of the cells in the bladder begin to grow and multiply in a disorderly way, creating tumors that can invade nearby organs. Its origin, in addition to genetics, is associated with smoking in 50-70% of cases, being the habit of smoking one of the major risk factors.
Among the symptoms, experts warn that blood in the urine is the first indication for further investigation. “In the clinical analysis, we also identify if the patient has increased urinary frequency and pelvic pain. When this condition is constant and appears in addition to weight loss, bone pain and shortness of breath, it can indicate a more advanced stage,” he explains Denis Jardim, national leader of oncological tumors of Grupo Oncoclínicas and scientific director of the Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group – Genitourinary organization (Lacog-GU).
The doctor was present at ASCO and says unpublished data has been presented demonstrating the feasibility of more modern options for treating the disease. “The new research offers patients less aggressive and invasive alternatives to better known options, such as chemotherapy and surgery. This is important because there are cases where there may be survival without the need to remove the organ, for example,” he explains.
“Trojan horse” treatment.
Until recently, the two options Jardim mentioned were the leading bladder cancer medical practices available. Currently, immunotherapy, target drug treatment and antibody drug conjugate (ACD) therapy are added, the latter being the newest in the list of approved drugs in Brazil. “Many patients are unaware or unaware of these options, but they need to be aware of them to decide which is the best alternative. Depending on the characteristics of the tumor and the patient, preserving the bladder is as effective as removing it with surgery,” he says .
According to Eduardo Issa, medical director of the pharmaceutical company Adium Brasil, drug-conjugated antibody therapy holds promise because it targets only the cancer cell, preventing the drug from affecting other cells in the body. “It’s like a Trojan horse [na analogia à história grega]. The ACD is an antibody that delivers a disguised chemotherapy drug, making it silently reach the tumor,” she points out.
He also explains that, unlike chemotherapy, which uses drugs that are not innovative and have many adverse effects, or immunotherapy and target drugs, which are not suitable for all cases, ACD therapy has a better tolerability profile and offers survival of a larger number. of people.
Today it is considered a second or third line treatment procedure, i.e. recommended only after the disease has progressed with other alternatives no longer feasible in remission of the tumor. However, for the foreseeable future, it will be able to handle other cases. “We envisage the possibility of this drug acting in the first line of treatment, without the patient having to resort to chemotherapy, for example. This is a type of advance that was also exhibited at ASCO and is currently under discussion in Brazil,” he completes Eduardo Issa.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
